The Detroit Auto Show was home to a huge debut party for the all-new 2024 Ford Mustang family of models – the seventh-generation of America’s pony car bringing a more chiseled evolution of styling, features and performance to keep it running strong.
In a world fast giving up gasoline powered performance, Ford doubles down on the Mustang’s performance pedigree offering a 2024 model nearly identical in size and weight of the outgoing model and not giving anything up in horsepower to ever tightening emissions and efficiency regulations.
To continue being offered in both a convertible and fastback body the 2024 Mustang is clearly a mild evolution of the last but has a more chiseled and edgier form from front to rear. This is most notable at the rear flank which has a sharply extended deck that frames its iconic three-bar LED tail lamps.
The beltline rides slightly lower now with a more contemporary line across the doors and into the rear side glass. At the front is a more squared off shape, a low low horizontal brow that’s reminiscent of the 1971-1973 Mustangs. It’s finished off with set of new tri-bar element LED headlamps.
At the front end, the Mustang EcoBoost and GT models each feature their own unique fascia treatments that can help you set them apart from a distance. The GT has the largest and most aggressive hood vents yet.
Wheels sizes range from a standard 17-inch on base models to 19-inch for GT with optional 20-inchers at the top. There will be 11 exterior colors including two new ones, Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash. Notable are two design series packages, the Bronze Design Series Appearance Package and a Black Appearance Package. And yes there will be lots of stripe options.
Inside you will find the dual cowl interior design gives way to a new curved “fighter jet” inspires layout with large curved cockpit panel with lots of digital goodness. A customizable 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver and to its right is a large 13.2-inch SYNC4 infotainment display.
An available 12 speaker B&O Sound System features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Amazon Alexa Built-In features and will offer over the air updates for software.
A thick flat bottom steering wheel is new for 2024 and adds magnesium paddle shifters on automatic models. Really intriguing is the new electric parking brake lever on the center console that has a drift brake mode that allows a quick snap lock and slide.
Cloth seats are standard with varying levels of interior trims ranging to ActivX vinyl to full grain leather on top models. Recaro seats are even available with the Track Package. Dash and door trims also vary by trim grade and four different color themes will be available.
Under the hood for 2024 are powertrains evolutionary rather than evolutionary. The 4th generation of the fan favorite 5.0-liter Coyote V8 returns with 480 horsepower by way of a new dual throttle body intake tract. It will be available with either a 6-speed manual with rev-matching or a 10-speed auto.
There will also be what Ford calls an “all-new” 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine for base models but not detail or specs were given other than to say it too will be available either with the 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. Horsepower figures will have to wait for now but should be in the neighborhood of the current generation’s 310. Time will tell.
Both engines will be available with a Performance Pack, which adds a front Tower Brace, Torsen Limited Slip differential, wider rear wheels and tires, and larger, 390-millimeter front and 355-millimeter rear Brembo brakes.
On Mustang GT the Performance Pack gets brake ducts for better cooling and an engine oil cooler. Performance Pack also offers optional Recaro seats, active exhaust, and MagneRide active suspension.
Chassis design and componentry is essentially carryover from the current generation with a dual ball joint front strut suspension and independent rear. Looking at the specifications Ford provided for the 2024 Mustang, all major dimensions of wheelbase, track, width, height and even curb weight are virtually identical.
The all-new 2024 Mustang will go on sale in North America summer of 2023 and will continue to be built just south of Detroit at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant. More details, specifications and pricing will be along closer to launch.