FIRST LOOK 2024 Mustang gallops into the future
An injection of new technology, more power and chassis upgrades will power the original pony car into the future when the seventh-generation Ford Mustang goes on sale later this year.
Ford put modern electronics in the service of the Mustang’s timeless appeal of style, performance and fun.
From using an electronic hand brake to drift through turns to faster steering and high-def gauges that pay homage to the vintage 1979-’93 “Fox Body” Mustang, the new coupe and convertible are primed to carry the legendary model through the rest of the decade into its probable future as an electric vehicle.
Drift like a stunt driver
Developed with professional drifters Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Chelsea DeNofa, the optional performance pack comes with a handbrake to lock the rear wheels while your steer the front. That allows you to slide the car like a stuntman through a turn or sideways into a parking spot.
In drift mode, the hand brake is faster and more precise than a regular parking brake. Out of drift mode, the hand break works like a regular parking brake, except that instead of the usual button on the tip of the lever, you push the lever down to release the brake.
A conventional switch on the center tunnel activates the parking brake in Mustangs without the performance package.
Another useful feature warns of oncoming vehicles when you’re parked, reducing the chances of opening a door into an oncoming Door Dash cyclist.
Finally, a remote rev feature allows you to use remote start to rev the car from a distance.
Dramatic new instrument display
The Mustang’s traditional “double brow” dash, higher in front of the driver and passenger than in the middle, is gone, replaced by a long digital display that rises above the steering and stands
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clear of the dash.
It extends to the middle of the car, where a touch screen offers controls for climate, audio, navigation, ambient lighting, instrument cluster styles and more.
The 13.2-inch touch screen is angled 10 degrees toward the driver, making it easy to view and use.
There are no physical controls for climate settings, but touch points for temperature, fan, seat ventilation and heat are permanently available along the bottom of the screen. They’re responsive, but finding them requires more attention than physical buttons and switches.
The 12.4-inch instrument cluster is sharp and clear. It can be set in several modes, including sport, track and throwback gauges that duplicate the look of the “Fox Body” Mustang, the longest-running model in the pony car’s 59-year history.
2024 Mustang prices and model line
● Ecoboost coupe: $30,920
● Ecoboost Premium coupe: $36,445
● Ecoboost Premium convertible: $41,945
● GT coupe: $41,495
● GT Premium coupe: $46,015
● GT Premium convertible: $51,515
● Darkhorse coupe: $59,270
Prices exclude coupe $1,595 destination charge
Sharper edges, clever use of light
The exterior is all new, with crisp creases along the fenders, new grilles and air intakes, and an undercut trunk lid that creates a stark shadow across the taillights and rear. The visual trick makes the new Mustang look lower and wider than the previous model, despite the fact that the car’s exterior dimensions change only marginally.
The ’24 Mustang gets new wheel designs. Optional Brembo brake calipers come in four colors.
The front ends of the four-cylinder powered Ecoboost models and the V8 GT share only their lights. The grilles, brake-cooling intakes and hoods are unique. GT hoods have a big black air extractor for engine cooling.
In addition to the new instrument panel, new interior materials include softer arm rests, a small but welcome change.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. Alexa with streaming music and podcasts are available.
Safety and driver assistance features
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Adaptive cruise control
Lane centering
Evasive steering assist
Blind spot and cross-traffic alerts Traffic sign recognition Bicycle detection door warning Reverse braking assist
More power, manual transmission still available
Every engine in the lineup offers more horsepower for 2024. The base 2.3-liter turbocharged Ecoboost fourcylinder generates 315 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque and a 1 mpg increase in EPA-estimated combined city/ highway to 26 mpg. Upgrades include new turbocharger, fuel injection and valve train. It comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The 5.0L Coyote V8 engine power increases to a maximum of 486 hp and 418 pound-feet with the optional active exhaust, 480 hp and 415 pound-feet with standard exhaust. Changes to the V8 include air intakes, new left side exhaust manifold and optional active-valve exhaust.
A new Darkhorse model will wring 500 hp and 418 pound-feet from the 5.0L. A six-speed manual is standard on GT and Darkhorse. Ford’s slick-shifting 10-speed automatic is optional on both V8s.