The last of a dying breed, the 2024 Ford Mustang is a coupe and convertible that carries on the muscle car era begun in the 1960s. It comes with available V-8 power and puts an emphasis on style and handling. It takes on the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, both of which will end production after 2023.
That’s yet to be seen, but it adds more power and ramps up the interior technology of a car that we already liked. We’ll give it a rating after we drive it this summer. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Most of it is new. While the 2024 Ford Mustang rides an only slightly tweaked version of the outgoing platform, it gets a new look, more power, more screen space inside, and new performance gadgets.
While the Mustang keeps the same basic dimensions, all of the body panels are new. The grille gets a different look by model. It takes on the same basic retro shape it has since 2005, but it’s more upright at the sides, the GT and Dark Horse have outer air intakes in the grille, and the Dark Horse has the largest lower air intakes below the grille. New three-element headlights flank the grille of every model, and they’re mirrored by three-element taillights, Along the sides, the new beltline sits lower, the rear haunches grow more pronounced, and the flanks are smoother without as many creases. Ford claims the new Mustang has the lowest coefficient of drag yet but more downforce than the outgoing model.
Inside, increased screen space is the biggest change. A 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen come standard, though they are separate in the base model and sit under a single piece of glass in other models. Both screens run Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment interface, and both are configurable. Ford gives owners the choice of Normal, Sport, Track, Calm, and Fox Body themes for the instrument cluster, and the center screen offers several performance displays, including three- and five-gauge readouts.
The cabin also features a thicker, flat-bottom steering wheel, more soft-touch surfaces, improved materials, and contrast stitching. Buyers can choose a new Carmine Red interior color.
The Mustang sticks with familiar engines, but both have more power. The base 2.3-liter turbo-4 improves from 310 to 315 hp thanks to the addition of port injection to direct injection, a higher compression ratio, higher thermal efficiency, and reduced internal friction. Ford said the turbo-4 offers up to 25 mpg combined.
The 5.0-liter V-8 in GT models increases from 455 to 480 hp with the adoption of dual electronic throttle bodies fed by a new dual airbox, and a longer duration exhaust camshaft. It also has port and direct injection like the last model.
A version of the 5.0-liter V-8 in the Dark Horse makes 500 hp. All models offer the choice of a 10-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual with rev matching.
Ford keeps the Mustang on the DC2 platform from the last model, but company engineers have tweaked the shocks, springs, rear suspension links, aluminum lower control arms, and stabilizer bars to improve dynamics. They also quickened the steering ratio from 16.0:1 to 15.5:1.
The brakes are upgraded for 2024, with Brembo calipers on all models. The top of three brake packages, offered for Performance Pack cars, uses 15.4-inch front rotors with 6-piston calipers and 14.0-inch rear rotors with 4-piston rear calipers. Performance Packs are offered for all models. The versions for the EcoBoost and GT models add a Torsen limited-slip differential and a front strut tower brace. For Performance Pack cars, Ford also offers wider rear wheels and tires, magnetic dampers, an active exhaust, Recaro bucket seats, and an active exhaust.
A couple of new performance gadgets provide a little flair for 2024, Remote Rev, which lets owners rev the engine from outside the car with the key fob, and an Electronic Drift Brake. The latter is an L-shaped electronic parking brake that is enabled on the center screen and also puts the car in Track mode. The other driving modes are Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, and a customizable setting with up to six profiles. The Mustang’s line lock and launch control features carry over.
How much does the 2024 Ford Mustang cost?
The 2024 Ford Mustang is offered in EcoBoost, Ecoboost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark Horse, and Dark Horse Premium trim levels. So far, Ford has pricing available only for the coupe.
The base EcoBoost model starts at $32,515. Those who want a V-8 will have to spend $44,090 for a GT, and move all the way up to $60,865 for a Dark Horse. The Dark Horse Premium tops the lineup at $64,860, but Ford will also offer Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R models, though the latter may only be for racing customers.
Ford hasn’t released a complete list of standard and available features, but the company has shared which safety features come standard. They include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, speed limit recognition, active lane control, evasive steering assist, and rear automatic emergency braking.
Where is the 2024 Ford Mustang made?
In Flat Rock, Michigan.
