Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The 2024 Ford Mustang is built for speed and for fun. It is stylish, fast and car show ready. We were able to take the Ford Mustang ecoboost coupe premium for a week and really get some good seat time with it. This is definitely an attention grabber and ignites the conversation on how this truck measures up to its’ current counterparts such as the GT and Dark Horse.
The Ford Mustang has been in continuous production since 1964 and is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. It is the namesake of the “pony car” automobile segment. Multiple nameplates have spawned from the Ford Mustang series such as the GT, Mach 1, Boss 302/429, Cobra (separate from Shelby Cobra), and Bullitt, along with “5.0” fender badging.
Executive stylist John Najjar is mentioned by Ford with bringing the name to the brand inspired by the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane. Robert J. Eggert, Ford Division market research manager, is also mentioned as having suggested the Mustang name. Eggert, a breeder of quarterhorses, stated that the book, The Mustangs by J. Frank Dobie, gave him the idea of adding the “Mustang” name for Ford’s new concept car.
The Mustang I made its formal debut at the United States Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, New York, on October 7, 1962. Formula One race driver Dan Gurney lapped the track in a demonstration using the second “race” prototype.
Upon first look you immediately recognize the fastback coupe body style. The front end features a bold grille and LED headlights with signature lighting, while the rear has a tri-bar LED taillight design and active valve performance exhaust system with quad chrome tips. There is a shark fin antenna, easy fuel capless filler and a galloping horse emblem on the trunk. The Mustang sits on 19-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with various pocket finished in carbonized gray-paint.
The interior of the Mustang EcoBoost offers seating for up to four passengers. There is a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and Recaro front sport seats. The front seats are spacious and comfortable, but in typical sport car style, the rear seats are tighter and more suitable for children or for bags. The EcoBoost Fastback provides 13.3 cubic feet of trunk space for cargo storage, which is pretty decent for a sports car.
The Ford Sync 4 infotainment system of the Mustang is equipped with a 12.4” LCD digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and climate controls into the 13.2” LCD digital center stack touchscreen. The Mustang also comes with a 12-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless charging pad and navigation.
The 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost’s 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 315 horsepower at 350 pound-feet of torque. Various selectable drive modes are offered in the Mustang, Normal, Sport, Track, Drag, Slippery, and Custom. These modes adjust various vehicle parameters and the digital gauge display theme. Gas mileage in the Mustang clocks in at 21 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway and 24 mpg combined. The Mustang handled well in the city and on rural roads but I had the most fun on the corners and twisties with it. There was minimal body roll and it hugged the turns really nice.
Safety is a must with Ford. The 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost comes with the standard Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technologies, including features like Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Information System, and Lane-Keeping System. The Mustang also includes a rearview camera and rear parking sensors.
The Ford Mustang has a competitive warranty package. The Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which includes a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. There is also a 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan.
In its’ class, the Mustang goes up against the Toyota GR86, Subaru WRX, Mazda3 Turbo, Hyundai Elantra N, Volkswagen GTI, Jetta GLI and the Chevrolet Camaro. I really enjoyed the 2024 Mustang Ecoboost and feel as if it holds up well against the competition. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
