Ford unveiled the 2024 Mustang Wednesday night during the Detroit Auto Show media preview, but the biggest news for its iconic pony car might be what hasn’t changed. The coupe and convertible won’t be electrified, instead adopting updated versions of Ford’s 2.3-liter turbo-4 and classic 5.0-liter V-8.
This V-8 could be alone in the stunted muscle car world. Production of the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger will end in late 2023, and with it the many V-8 variants wrested from the mechanical magic of the Dodge SRT. Dodge plans to abandon internal combustion engines in favor of a new version of the electric car. The near-production Charger Daytona Concept shows muscle car characteristics with a booming exhaust note and a multi-speed gearbox, wrapped in a stunningly beautiful design.
Dodge Charger Daytona concept
Dodge Charger Daytona concept
Dodge Charger Daytona concept
While we know the plans for Ford and Dodge muscle cars, Chevy remains inscrutable. The Camaro has hardly been updated in recent years, and rumors have suggested that production of the current sixth-generation Camaro will end in 2024 and be replaced by a high-performance electric sedan. With Chevy planning to sell full-battery electric versions of the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV and 2024 Chevy Blazer EV alongside internal combustion engine versions of these popular crossovers, could Chevy carry two Camaros with different powertrains?
That seems unlikely. But it also seems unlikely that Chevy will leave Ford alone as the sole builder and seller of a true American icon, the V-8 muscle car. Which is more unlikely?
Chevy has played to follow the market leader as it ramps up its Ultium battery propulsion system strategy. The Chevy Silverado EV followed the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Blazer EV followed the Ford Mustang Mach-E in the booming electric crossover segment.
2022 Chevrolet Camaro (ZL1)
Does the market still support multiple ICE muscle cars? In 2021, Ford passed its muscle car crown to the aging Dodge Challenger, which outperformed the Mustang by about 1,900 units. Dodge sold approximately 54,300 Challengers to the Mustang’s 52,400. Camaro sales are down at less than half. GM sold fewer than 22,000 Camaros in 2021, compared to around 50,000 in 2018 and 2019. When the sixth-generation Camaro came out for 2016, sales topped 70,000, the same as almost the previous decade.
There’s no denying that the Camaro is slipping, but would an automaker abandon a segment it helped create that still accounted for 120,000 vehicles annually?
What is known for sure is the continuation of the Ford Mustang. Expected to hit dealerships early next summer, the 2024 Ford Mustang has a more windswept style and houses many technological upgrades. The seventh generation pony car will sport new body panels and will have more downforce and a lower drag coefficient compared to its predecessors, according to Ford. The low waistline, long nose, and short deck remain, but the rear hips curve out more Camaro-like, and Ford has updated its front and rear tri-bar lighting theme.
Inside, each Mustang features a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster configurable with five different themes. The most interesting theme is Fox Body, which projects an analog look in homage to the third generation Mustang that spanned the ’80s and wooed a new generation of Mustang fans. It’s complemented by a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, and on top-of-the-line models the screens will be housed under a single piece of glass.
A flat bottom steering wheel is mixed with higher quality cabin materials with softer surfaces, contrast stitching and a red upholstery option. An Electronic Drift Brake introduces a new take on a vulnerable feature, with a 90-degree rotating handle instead of a pull-up handbrake. The key fob allows remote starting and revving of the engine.
2024 Ford Mustang
Underneath the whooshing bang, the Mustang remains mostly the same and rides on the same platform since the sixth-gen version came out for 2015. The lower control arms, rear suspension arms and other suspension components have been updated, as has the steering system, which has been redesigned for faster steering ratios, Ford said.
Ford didn’t announce any specs, but the engines will receive updates that should boost power and increase the Turbo-4’s fuel efficiency. The 2022 Ford Mustang features a 310hp 2.3-liter turbocharged 4 that can be upgraded to 330hp with a Performance Pack.
The 5.0-liter V8 channels more air with the latest update, and Ford suggests the upgrades should improve performance beyond the current 450hp rating for the GT and the 470hp rating in the Mach 1 . A 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse aims for a power output of 500 hp and produces a number of track-ready Dark Horse variants. A 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission handles the turbo-4 and V-8, and the rear wheels, and only the rear wheels, get all the torque.
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
An optional Performance Pack can be added to both the GT and Turbo-4 for better handling and stability with a front strut tower brace and rear limited slip differential. Available add-ons with the Performance Pack include magnetic suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, larger brakes, Recaro bucket seats, and an active exhaust.
Expect more news and specs, and perhaps an announcement from Chevy, in the months leading up to the arrival of the 2024 Ford Mustang next summer.
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