The 2024 Ford Mustang has an attitude and dash full of modern tech.

• The 2024 Ford Mustang rings in the seventh generation with more muscular styling and a tech-centric interior. (It will be a 2023 model year carrier.)
• The Mustang still has a 2.3-liter turbo-four and a 5.0-liter V-8, but both engines are greatly improved for the new generation.
• Ford has introduced interesting features that include electronic floating brakes and a way to switch the engine remotely.

It’s been 60 years since the first Ford Mustang was introduced at the 1964 World’s Show. The rest is automotive history, with the Stang becoming an instant hit and essentially creating the horse-car genre. Now, after nearly six decades and countless iterations, the 2024 Ford Mustang has arrived and marks the start of the seventh generation and possibly the last of the gas-powered ponies.

A more muscular, tech-centric Mustang

Of course, the design of the seventh-gen Mustang is more evolutionary than revolutionary, but the bodywork is completely new and more pronounced than before. The previous generation was designed for an international audience, and the new one certainly maintains the same level of excitement as before, but now offers more muscle vibes. The front end is square and is said to be inspired by the original Mustang, but the new headlights with three-bar LED elements are a modern touch. The three-bar taillights remain a signature detail, but stand out more than ever. The car’s hips are also wide, and the rear overhang is short.

There is no doubt that the most striking difference between the new Mustang and the previous versions is its interior. Gone is the familiar “double bubble” dashboard design. Instead, the cockpit now features a more driver-focused layout, dominated by digital displays. Most 2024 Mustangs have a giant glass panel that combines a 12.4-inch gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen; The base model has screens of the same size, but separated. The new-look interior is a big break from tradition, but Ford says it’s meant to appeal to a younger demographic that grew up playing video games.

Like video games Forza Motorsport It also inspired the animation and how users interact with the Mustang’s Sync 4 infotainment system, which Ford says has a new architecture that allows for over-the-air updates and a lot of customization. Among the system’s many features is the ability to select a variety of instrument-panel designs, including the retro dials found on ’87-’93 Fox-body Mustangs. that’s great. Too bad there aren’t any options other than old school Mustangs.

Ford didn’t just make the new Mustang’s interior technology-centric; He also improved the materials, which had plagued the previous generation. Not only is the dash and doors wrapped in leather-like material, other trim pieces wear a sophisticated carbon-weave pattern, but all the plastics are laser-etched with a fine-grained finish that looks premium.

Next-Gen EcoBoost and Coyote engines

The 2024 Mustang continues to be offered as a coupe or convertible. Both body styles are still available with the EcoBoost turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four or the Coyote’s 5.0-liter V-8. However, both engines have been significantly improved for the new generation and each can be distinguished by different front-end details, such as the larger grille and air intakes on the V-8-powered GT models.

The EcoBoost engine has significant changes, including better packaging, new fuel delivery and ignition systems, a higher compression ratio and an improved turbocharger, among other improvements. Ford says the upgrades make the four-cylinder more fuel-efficient and improve performance. While we’re told horsepower and torque figures won’t be released until closer to launch, we expect to see a modest increase in the EcoBoost ratings, up to 330 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, the four-pot is now only offered with a 10-speed automatic due to the manual transmission’s low take-up values.

The fourth-generation Coyote’s engine feeds dual-throttle bodies through two air intakes, an arrangement Ford says provides better airflow and helps increase horsepower. We don’t know the engine’s exact output yet, but Ford says the updated V-8 is the most powerful yet in a Mustang, so it should exceed the current 480 horses and 420 pound-feet of torque. The 5.0 also receives a new cast iron oil pan that is said to help improve fuel flow and reduce friction. The driver’s side exhaust manifold has also been updated, and the camshaft timing on the exhaust side has been improved. The V-8 is still standard with a six-speed manual transmission, which Ford says is paired with a new dual-mass flywheel that’s stronger. A 10-speed automatic remains optional, and has minor updates intended to improve shift speeds and programming.

One of the new features Ford has introduced with the seventh-gen Mustang is called Remote Rev, which as the name suggests allows people to remotely rev the engine using the car’s key fob, much to the delight of teenagers and the annoyance of older audiences. Remote Rev works with its own preset volume and comes with an active exhaust system on any Mustang, except manual models. Look at the sad trombone.

Improved steering and sliding stick

Overall, the new Mustang shares the same platform as its predecessor, with the two sharing an essentially identical 107.0-inch wheelbase. Still, Ford tweaked things by specifying aluminum for both front and lower links on all cars, changing the design of the suspension joints and updating the rear suspension links to Shelby GT350-inspired units. The Mustang has new spring rates and shocks that are said to better match each model’s ride and performance targets. Best of all, the drivetrain has been improved with a new rack, quick ratio, and other changes that Ford says make the automaker more responsive (by 20 percent, to be exact). The Mustang now also features a flat-bottom steering wheel with thicker rims and a slightly smaller diameter.

The seventh generation also has new brake packages to go along with electronic brake assist. Models with 19-inch wheels also get new Brembo six-piston fixed front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. More noteworthy is the new electronic drift brake—not to be confused with the “Drift Stick” Ford offered on the Focus RS. It comes on all Mustangs equipped with the optional Performance Package. Although it looks like a traditional e-brake lever, when drift mode is activated, it instantly locks the rear wheels with four to five times more force than a standard parking brake. It doesn’t matter. It’s a great option, but it’s probably meant for cars and coffee slander.

Coming back to the Performance Package, it is available on EcoBoost and GT models. It brings more traction, a larger radiator and cooler, larger front and rear brakes, a Torsion limited-slip differential, thicker anti-roll bars and wider rear wheels and tires. When it comes to tires, Mustangs with the Performance pack now wear Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires instead of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires. They are standard for continental all seasons collection. On GT models, the Performance Package includes brake hoses and an auxiliary engine oil cooler.

Regardless of what’s under the hood, opting for the Performance Kit unlocks a set of Recaro front seats and MagniRide adaptive dampers. The neatest rear end includes what Ford calls Active Pothole Mitigation, which regulates the speed of the shocks and overshoots the system when it encounters a pothole. Yet another novel feature, and one that’s sure to be useful for those of us living in the Snow Belt.

While Ford hasn’t yet announced how much the 2024 Mustang will cost, we expect pricing to be in line with the outgoing versions, which currently start at $29,000 for the base EcoBoost model and top out at $57,000 for the Mach 1. The new Mustang goes on sale next summer.