It's been almost sixty years since the original Ford Mustang came out. Over the decades, the nameplate has conquered the hearts of enthusiasts all over the world, and the previous generation was a true record-breaker in terms of sales.
But there is now a new kid on the pony car block, and it is the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. Unveiled last year, it builds on an updated version of its predecessor's platform. The styling is evolutionary on the outside, with a hint of OTT here and there, and the cockpit is said to have been inspired by fighter jets. Nonetheless, while fighter pilots don't get a lot of screen time, drivers of the S650 do, courtesy of the two large screens.
Made at Flat Rock in Michigan, the 2024 Ford Mustang retains the original layout, with the engine at the front and the power going to the rear axle. It is still offered with a six-speed manual transmission, though you will have to upgrade to the GT and Dark Horse to get it, as it is not available on the EcoBoost.
Speaking of which, the powertrain family comprises the 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit with 315 hp and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque and the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 with 486 hp and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm). The Dark Horse brings 500 hp to the V8 party.
Every petrolhead and their grandmother can tell you that the new-gen Mustang also features a supercharged 5.2-liter V8. But it's not on the new Shelby GT500 but on the GTD. With a targeted 800+ hp and a redline of over 7,500 rpm, the Ford Mustang GTD debuted last month and is a track-ready street-legal beast.
It boasts multiple other upgrades over the regular models, including a re-tuned chassis, carbon ceramic brakes, and sticky tires wrapped around the 20-inch wheels. It has updated aerodynamics, Recaro seats inside, no rear bench, and an eye-watering price tag expected at roughly $300,000. The Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024 or early 2025 and will be modified to this spec in Canada after being made in Michigan.
Mind you, this story isn't dedicated to the most extreme factory version of the Ford Mustang yet but to the regular variants, which have started hitting the road. MotorWeek got the chance to review both the EcoBoost and the V8-powered Stangs in the open, revealing the obvious and making some interesting observations about the ride and other aspects.
So, is the new-gen Mustang any good, and, better yet, is it an improvement of the old car that launched in 2014? You are about to find out, and you know what to do next, right? Yep, that would be scrolling down to the video and hitting the play button. And before you do, drop a line below and tell us what you think of this model.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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