Triggered by higher taxes on large-capacity engines, the sports car market has continued to decline in Europe. Despite increasingly stringent emissions regulations, Ford is determined to please fans. The seventh-generation Mustang debuted last night at NAIAS 2022 and will be heading to the Old Continent next year. Thankfully, Blue Oval will feature a naturally aspirated V8, which we might as well label a dinosaur in the best way possible.
With AMG omitting the V8 from the next C63 in favor of a plug-in hybrid four-cylinder engine, it’s refreshing to hear that the Euro-spec Mustang will stick with the iconic 5.0. Unlike the previous V8, the GT will boast dual air intakes and a dual throttle body design. Typically, ‘Stangs previously sold in Europe have slightly less power due to stricter laws, and we wouldn’t be too surprised if the story would be the same as the new ones.
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Nevertheless, we are pleased that it will remain in the Ford Euro lineup alongside other sporty cars such as the Fiesta ST and Focus ST. The 2024 Mustang will also retain the six-speed manual gearbox for the GT, but we can’t say the same about the 2.3-liter, smaller four-cylinder EcoBoost as it will only be automatic, as in the United States. .
Ford Europe also mentioned a new Dark Horse for 2024, which will be positioned above the GT with a fourth-generation Coyote engine with a projected 500 horsepower, at least for the North American variant. It benefits from beefy Brembo front brakes with 13.9-inch rotors and six-piston calipers, turret support from Ford Performance, Torsen rear limited-slip differential, larger sway bars and heavy-duty front shocks.
The Mustang 2024 for Europe will come with 12 paint options, including new finishes such as Vapor Blue, Yellow Splash, and Blue Ember. The Brembo brakes we mentioned will be offered with red or black calipers, along with two new 19-inch wheel designs. Just like in the US, a pony car will look different depending on the number of cylinders under the hood.
Ford has designed the S650 in a right-hand drive configuration and has confirmed the availability of the model in RHD countries such as the UK and Australia by the end of next year.
