Ford has killed multiple big names in the push for crossovers and electrification. They dropped the Fiesta, Focus, and Mondeo (Fusion) in Europe, and on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, they only have high-riders in their lineup. Save for one low-slung model, a last stand, if you will: the Mustang.
Overhauled for the 2024 model year, the new-gen Ford Mustang looks more dynamic and sharper. It is still instantly recognizable as a pony car made under the Dearborn company's umbrella, and given that its two main rivals, the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, are about to drive off into the sunset, it will probably remain the sole offering in the segment – at least for a short period of time.
Underpinned by an updated version of the old car's architecture, it is pretty much the same vehicle beneath the skin. However, the biggest mechanical upgrade revolves around the steering. It has stiffer mounting points and a faster rack. For improved driving credentials on twisty roads, customers can get adaptive dampers as an option. And this is probably the only must-have thing if you plan on thrashing it.
Power-wise, the 2024 Mustang comes with the four-pot EcoBoost in the lesser flavors. The turbo'd unit makes 315 hp and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque. Upgrading to the V8 will get you the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated mill. It develops 486 hp and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm) of torque. Choose the Dark Horse flavor of the muscle car, and the output will increase to 500 hp. Transmission options include the six-speed manual, which is limited to the GT and Dark Horse, and the ten-speed auto.
Where it truly stands out over its predecessor is the interior tech. You have two main screens behind one pane of glass, which are customizable. This is probably the main selling point when it comes to tech geeks. Elsewhere, the front seats are not that supportive during fast cornering, although they are rather comfortable on long journeys, and the back seats are still very cramped. It may not impress you, but the overall quality of the interior components is slightly better.
In Europe, the new-gen Mustang is expected to launch in the coming months. The vehicle is already on sale stateside, kicking off from $30,920 for the base EcoBoost Fastback. The Premium starts at $36,445, and for the EcoBoost Convertible and Premium, you will have to pay at least $39,020 and $41,945, respectively. The V8 lineup starts with the GT Fastback and comprises the GT Premium Fastback and GT Premium Convertible, too. These have respective MSRPs of $42,495, $47,015, and $52,515. The Dark Horse and Dark Horse Premium top the range, priced from $59,270 and $63,265.
Now, as you already know, Ford has started allowing journos behind the wheel of the new Mustang. We've already seen a first hands-on review of the car recently, and in this instance, it is time to see what Top Gear had to say about it during their close encounter of the third kind with one example in Hawaii. Thus, all you have to do is scroll down to the video and click the play button to see if it is worth the upgrade over the old one. But has it convinced you to spend your hard-earned cash on it? Tell us your thoughts about it in the comments section below.
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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