Opinion: New Mustang is next verse, worse than the first
After much ado, the seventh-generation, 2024 Ford Mustang cometh. In the end, the rumors of hybridization, all-wheel drive, and the Explorer’s RWD/AWD platform were premature. The new Mustang, codename S650, remains pretty much business as usual. What it amounts to is more or less a mild, unremarkable evolution of the existing rear-drive architecture. But what does that mean for America’s pony car, and what might end up being this storied nameplate’s internal-combustion swan-song?
Ford is going all in on electrification as it reaps success from sticking batteries into the F-150 and leveraging the Mustang name to sell an electric crossover. For the moment, it appears to be happy to let the traditional Mustang wither on the vine … at least in the big-picture sense. Lest we forget, the Mustang is now the only non-pickup, non-crossover Ford you can buy in the United States. Maybe Ford realized its competition, the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, are not much longer for this world and it wouldn’t take much to keep the Mustang on top in the muscle car game.
The bare minimum appears to have been just enough. There were rumors that Ford would bolt its new Mustang onto the Explorer platform (CD6), which would have allowed for more up-to-date powertrains, including a hybrid setup. Historically, it should be mentioned, both the Mustang and the Camaro have kept up with prevailing technological and aesthetic trends. Both nameplates, for example, added a turbocharged four-cylinder model as a base engine in their most recent generations, but the Challenger and the Mustang in particular have been stressing a more retro vibe since the mid-2000s. Now it appears to be running over the same old ground, albeit in a new wrapper.
Part of the long-term success of the Mustang, even through its lean years, was how it has adapted to the market of its moment. It started in the Sixties when the Mustang was born as a way to give the common man flash for not much cash. Soon, Ford proved its mettle with growly Shelbys and considerable motorsports success. The hangover from the Sixties was the crisis-ridden Seventies, but the Mustang endured the Malaise Era and stayed alive through some questionable baroque styling and not much performance. Still, it was a reinvention that was correct for where the market was at the time.
When the Eighties arrived, the Mustang found itself with a hatchback and more considered Euro-style appearance, but again the pony car held true to making the best of its humdrum undercarriage with up-to-the-minute looks and features. (The Camaro marched in lockstep and did the same.)
Now for the full disclosure: Remember my old ’71 Duster, which I’ve mentioned in previous articles? When I realized that keeping such a highly strung beast on the road was out of my depth, I traded it for a Fox-body. Its motor was a boat-anchor 3.3 and it had a weird manual shift layout with an overdrive. I wired in my Sony CD changer wrongly, which left me to choose between headlights or music—not both at the same time. (This led to a rather interesting night out at the cinema with a girl I’d promised to take out in my Mustang.) But it was a Mustang nonetheless, and I’ve always lusted after one of the last ’93 Cobras after reading about them in a road test with its competitors.
Ford dipped it toes into the retro pool with the SN95 generation in 1994, before awkwardly forcing straight lines onto the 1999 redesign. But when S197 appeared in 2005, chief designer J Mays—who made his name with retrofuturism—set the controls straight for 1964. His work on this design was not influenced (as many believed) by the Mustang Giugiaro concept which would not appear until 2006. I’ve mentioned before how I think the 2005 Mustang is a bit blocky and ungainly, needing a bit more finesse to really sail as a successful throwback in the same way as the Challenger does.
So that’s where we’ve been ever since, Ford like Dodge and Chevrolet deciding that the first versions of these pony cars are the definitive ones. Translation: this is what these cars are and this is how you will remember them. No new Fox-body or pop-up headlight Camaros, no reinvention to keep up with the times; we’re selling you nostalgia rather than a contemporary update of the muscle car formula. Can you imagine a manufacturer green-lighting something as bold as the F-body glass tailgate today? The accountants would be in fits. The Charger has shamelessly kept up its rubber-burning reputation, but as we’ve seen with the new Daytona SRT concept, at least Dodge are trying something new.
S650 is, deep down, a remix of a remix of the 1964 original. It leans heavily on the outgoing S550 Mustang, using essentially the same underpinnings. It’s got a slightly more chiseled appearance, but the reality is one of a very big facelift.
Tooling up for a car is expensive, and among the biggest investments—apart from the lights—is the body in white. It’s the fundamental structure, the actual skeleton on which the car is built. Looking at this new Mustang, you can see the bones are carry-over. Doing it this way allows Ford to update the sheet metal, but I’d argue they’ve merely made it worse. It’s all a bit more of an exaggeration on the existing theme, with bigger hips and a more aggressive down-the-road graphic up front.
The front light to fender is a critical visual relationship, and this is one of those areas where we’re talking about fractions of an inch. Ford lowered the headlights for 2023 and made them a bit messy by trying to replicate the three vertical tail lamps, and by continuing a straight line across the grille managed to give the car a frowning look. The previous Mustang avoided this because its grille shape was more pronounced, so you didn’t notice as much. The S650 feels like a rearranging of existing graphical elements to no great effect.
The Mustang has dropped the black infill panel between the tail lights, reducing some of the visual break-up at the back. Having something to lessen the visual impact of painted sheet metal is important, because too much can bodywork can look bland. Of course, fewer parts means less cost.
It seems strange that car that trades primarily on its driving experience and tactile fulfillment settles for large touchscreens in its interior, especially after the previous model made such a big deal of having a “cockpit” inspired by aircraft design. We’ve seen good and bad TFT implementations over the last few years, but this feels terribly misguided. Ergonomics aside, the whole thing appears incongruous and not really in keeping with the muscle car aesthetic. Mostly the same, but worse, is not what I’d call a recipe for long-term success. Like the Camaro, the Mustang is no longer evolving to keep up with the times but remixing an existing concept to ever decreasing returns.
Now, I can hear you all saying that I’m contradicting myself, and after all, didn’t I praise the Challenger for doing exactly that? Here’s the difference. The Challenger had one look, stuck to it, and was always a unique ownership proposition. It never chased trends. The Mustang, for better or worse, did. It remained current and was even adaptable enough to be a huge hit in Europe, so its failure to do so this time around disappoints me.
I’m glad I didn’t stay up to watch the reveal like I may have done in the past. Because other than that ’93 Cobra, what I really want is a ’71 Mach 1 on dog-dish steelies.
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Adrian Clarke is a professional car designer, earning a degree in automotive design from Coventry University and a Masters in Vehicle Design from the Royal College of Art in London. He worked for several years at a major European OEM, and in the ’90s his daily driver in London was a 1979 Ford Thunderbird.
I own a 1988 Mustang GT hatch and a 2016 GT-350. The cars are very different. I love to drive them both. The ’88 is greatly modified with a Powerdyne supercharger, B-cam, X-303 heads, UPR K member, Coil overs, and much more. The GT-350 has the track pack. Do I love Mustangs ? You bet. I am glad that Ford continues to make them and update them as necessary. I read recently that there is a 6.8 OHV engine, a derivative of the 7.3 Godzilla engine for the Mustang. Hope they do it. Lots of options make these cars what they are. There is always a new one in my future. The Challenger and Camaro are nice and good competition, but after all, Ford CREATED the pony car, and they still own it.
Eye of the beholder I guess… I like the exterior… especially the head and tail lights.
Hey John, I saw your comment and decided to reply. I own a 2018 Genesis G80S. The G80 is of course larger but the frontal characteristics looked very similar to me to my Genesis. I’m a little partial to the looks of the 2006 era styling. I had a 70 Boss 302 with the Venetian blinds in the back, and I had to do a double take when I saw an 06 era one similarly equipped. Enjoy your cars👍🏻
I own a 2016 S550 EcoBoost with a manual, the Performance Handling Package and the EcoBoost Calibration from Ford Performance. Prior to that I owned a 2006 GT S197. When the S550 body style came out it took me about a year to finally like it. Then I bought it. The new chassis is light years ahead of the previous one. The fact that Ford basically kept the same chassis is a testament to how good it is.
I own a 69 Mustang GT convertible with. 351 Windsor. And a 2010 V6 convertible S197. The greatest of these imo is the S197 currently on tour in Italy & France out there in the fast lane with all the Audis and BMs. You previously praised the S197s as values are going up. I think they are the true Mustang, what the brand shoulder akwags have been.
Agree with the comments about touch controls for the instruments. Very out of place in a Mustang.
When I look at the new Mustang I’m reminded of Weird Al Yankovich’s parody of the Michael Jackson’s “I’m Bad” video, specifically the “I’m fat” lyrics.
Hmmmm, it’s the rear lights I dislike the most. Looks like it backed into a guard rail. Not a fan at all myself. The headlights are to busy and out of proportion for the car. However, this is just my opinion. I know some will go nuts for it.
Completely disagree. We can debate styling and ergonomics, but the concept is as sound as it was in 1964. Adapting the mustang almost killed it by the third generation and was slated to be the probe for the 4th. If people want an EV pretend mustang it’s already there for them. I applaud ford for sticking with the tradition and allowing it to sink or swim. The mustang is a rear wheel drive car with a stick and a gasoline V8. Nobody can ever claim it wasn’t a success because it only lasted 75 years. if the mustang is to die let it die as the noble steed it’s been, not some abomination desperate to stay relevant.
Amen brother, we need a rear drive, V8, stick shift car for many years to come. My son in his twenties is hoping to buy one in a few years and wants a new one. If Ford caves in to the Woke crowd, I’m out. And I’ve purchased more Fords than anyone I know, besides large companies. New Exploers – 8 F-150’s – 7 Raptor- 1 Boss Mustangs – 2 GT Mustang – 2 Ranger P/up – 1 Taurus – 1 Used Fords from a 63 to 2015 – 6 and one Mountaineer and one Cougar XR7. And am ordering a new F- 150 from Ford of Kirkland. And am bidding on 2008 Mustang 427R and crossing my fingers I get it. Go Woke, Go Broke. And why doesn’t Ford mention in there Ranger and F-150 commercials that a Tundra get 6 to 8 mpg in town. I got talked in to buying one. Sold it in less than a year. Luckily I bought it new from a old friend and got a great deal, then five months later they jumped in price. At ten months I sold it and made $5500.00. And the guy thought he got a great deal. Youth, they are amusing. He called two weeks later and said this thing drinks gas like a thirsty sumo wrestler in the hot sun. I said yup. And it had two recalls in ten months. Ford needs to offer some new colors, add some creative storage and other simple standard or options to it’s customers. I see stuff every commercial that they could do for low cost and would be a big benefit. JT
I thoughtthe mustang was supposed to resemble the 67/68 era not the 65/66 era ?????!
I haven’t liked the current Mustang’s styling – the goofy bowed fender shape, the width, or the nose – and to my eye it pales in comparison to the ’05-’08 version. Now they’ve swiped the Camaro side panel styling, vintage-Impala-tail lamp headlamps, and added a big TV to the dash. I’ll pass.
The 2023 Mustang looks stellar and is definitely high-performance! Proud of Ford for retaining one of the last V-8 performance engines with manual transmission. It’s a car you must drive because it is not set up to drive you. Performance enthusiasts are thankful to be the driver!!
Personally prefer a ‘69 or ‘70 Boss 302 with magnum 500s over the ‘71 Mustang with dog dish caps … a ‘71 Boss 351 is also mighty fine but still prefer the magnum 500s.
I disagree with most of what the author says regarding the new Mustang (and for that matter, the Camaro and Challenger). But my big gripe is with the auto makers, which seem to be managed by woke, non-car-guy-knuckleheads, who are quick to cow down to pressure from the government to conform to a new reality that is being forced upon us. True, electric cars offer stellar performance in many areas, but until battery technology is ready that equals similar driving range as a tank of gas, with a re-charge time comparable to the time it tanks to fill that tank, I’m out.
Having read several reviews of the new Mustang, only one writer expressed his concern of “the same old thing.” In fact, the other reviews made me want to go out and buy the Mustang. I have purchased other brands of vehicles, but the Mustang remains high on my list, with the exception of a few earlier years.
Complete nonsense the mustang will prove to be enduring.
As drivers are more and more becoming aware of the limitations of the ev cars .
Disasteres eco effects of mining .
Increased Limited availability of electric.
Inability to take trips longer then 200 miles. Try doing a 600 mile journey in an ev in less then 2 days .
Absurd cost of new batteries making ev throw away cars.
Almost triple the cost of a new gas car.
I love Mustangs. First one I was 14, couldn’t drive yet. My father bought it and drove it for two years til I was of age. It was a black on black K-code. I was lucky enough to hang with the Shelby club in Denver as long as I kept my mouth shut. Many auto crosses later learned how to drive it. I’ve learned over the years, and many trips to Barrett Jackson to appreciate the big three. I like ‘em all. Drive safe, and 60s for ever.