Analysis: The 2024 Ford Mustang GT Invites You to a Playground of Sports Car Pleasures

4

As I traverse the winding canyon pathways of Southern California’s Angeles Crest National Forest in the 2024 Ford Mustang GT, I’m tasked with exploring the numerous features this new Mustang presents, available in both the coupe and convertible. Ford is generous with the features in this seventh-generation Mustang, combining the desires of any car enthusiast with a wealth of technology, all of which enhances an already superior sports car.

This playground of offerings includes performance gear and tech characteristics, with the latter being supported by the former. A significant portion of these are managed via a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen, both powered by the Sync 4 infotainment system and the gaming-friendly Unreal Engine. For more details on the tech-loaded screens, refer to this comprehensive breakdown.

Quick Glance at the Ford Mustang

The GT I am driving has been outfitted as per my preferences: manual transmission, Performance Package, magnetic dampers, and an active exhaust system.

2024 Ford Mustang GT
2024 Ford Mustang: The reliable 5.0 gets an upgrade

The standard performance elements are initiated under the hood with the hearty hum of a quintessential American V-8. The fourth-generation Coyote 5.0-liter V-8 is equipped with a new dual air intake to supply dual electronic throttle bodies. In its standard configuration, it delivers 480 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, a notable improvement from the previous 450 hp and 410 lb-ft. Opt for the optional active exhaust system and the output slightly increases to 486 hp and 418 lb-ft. The exhaust system, priced at $1,225, is worth every penny for its aesthetic quad exhaust tips alone.

Its sound is equally appealing, echoing the spirit of Ford V-8s since the 1960s. Drivers have the flexibility to modify the sound through four different levels, starting from subdued to a track level that Ford suggests should be reserved for racetrack use due to its loud output. In a solitary canyon drive, the Track level creates an ideal backdrop. However, when accompanied, the Track and Sport levels can drown out conversation, which could be a boon or a bane depending on your co-passenger.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

The thrilling sound can be enjoyed from outside the car too, but only in models equipped with the 10-speed automatic. Dubbed “Remote Rev,” this novelty allows owners to impress onlookers at gatherings or neighborhood hangouts. To use it, remotely start the car by pressing the key fob’s lock button and then the start button twice. After starting, press the lock and unlock button in sequence and the car will issue a low rev. Repeat the sequence and the car revs higher, much to the delight of car enthusiasts. It’s essentially an adult remote-control rendition of the vroom-vroom sounds we made with our toy cars as children.

Power delivery in this model remains similar to its predecessor. The V-8 provides a powerful launch, revs effortlessly up to 7,500 rpm, and the Mustang GT accelerates from 0-60 mph in the low-to-mid four-second range.

Achieving these 0-60 mph times should be a breeze with the available 10-speed automatic transmission, but proves to be a challenge with the manual.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

Pulling over into one of the numerous turnouts on a secluded road stretch, I decide to test another feature, the launch control. To activate it, I press the MyMustang button below the central screen and select Track Apps. This allows me to set the car to launch anywhere between 2,500-7,000 rpm. I first attempt a launch at 4,900 rpm, which someone had set before me. But the engine falters as the tires grip too firmly, resulting in a disappointing 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. After another attempt at 5,500 rpm, tire spin slows the time down to 6.1 seconds. Deciding not to push further, I conclude that the revs were probably set too high for both attempts, a sentiment later confirmed by a Ford engineer who suggests 3,500 rpm as more suitable for an unprepared surface like a street.

Having paused at the spacious turnout, I opt to try out another feature: the line lock, essentially a burnout facilitator. To activate it, I navigate through Track Apps and hold down the OK button on the right side of the steering wheel to confirm I want the line lock. A 15-second countdown starts, during which the front brakes hold while the rear tires can spin freely. As I release the clutch, a cloud of smoke immediately envelops the Mustang, signalling that I’m engaged in some mischief. After a few seconds, I wait for the countdown to end, imagining how frequently one would need to replace tires if they fully utilized this feature on a semi-regular basis.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

The 6-speed manual transmission boasts a couple of performance extras of its own, namely downshift rev matching and a shift light, both managed through Track Apps. The shift light can be set anywhere between 4,000-7,200 rpm. The engine can rev up to 7,500 rpm, so why not set the shift light at the higher end? Depending on the mode, the shift indicator will display differently, either as a blue line on a red graph in Track mode or a bar coming together in the middle with the instrument cluster in the Fox Body ’87-’93 theme. Regardless, it’s a helpful addition.

The manual transmission feels similar to the one in the sixth-generation S550 Mustang, featuring a firm but not excessively heavy clutch pedal and a short shifter with a solid engagement. Driving this car is a delight, making me feel more connected with the vehicle than any automatic could. Although I didn’t get to test the 10-speed automatic in the GT, Ford assures that it has been recalibrated to handle the additional power and hold gears longer in Sport mode. However, I did test it in the turbo-4 Mustang EcoBoost model, where it functioned well to keep the car’s 315 hp readily accessible.

The only tech-based performance feature I didn’t test in the GT is the new Drift Brake. This electronic parking brake modifies its pressure based on how hard the driver pulls the L-shaped parking brake handle that rises from the center console, tempting the driver. As I found out on a closed course during my drive of the new Mustang EcoBoost, it functions as intended.

2024 Ford Mustang GT
2024 Ford Mustang: The Performance Package is the recommended choice

For those desiring their Mustangs to handle as smoothly as they accelerate, the $4,995 Performance Package incorporates all the necessary elements: wider 19×9 front and 19×9.5 rear gray-painted aluminum wheels mounting 255/40 and 275/40 Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires, heavy-duty front springs, a chassis K-brace, a strut-tower brace, a rear wing spoiler, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential with a 3.73 axle ratio, sports suspension tuning with a larger rear sway bar (33.3 mm vs 32 mm), and larger brakes. The brakes comprise 15.4-inch vented front discs with Brembo 6-piston calipers and 14.0

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 2024 Ford Mustang GT Review

More about 2024 Ford Mustang GT Review

• 2024 Ford Mustang GT Official Site
• Ford Mustang GT Performance and Specs
• Ford’s Sync 4 Infotainment System Overview
• Ford Mustang GT Reviews