The 2024 Ford Mustang spearheads the start of the pony car’s S650 generation, ushering a host of new updates to the lineup, including an overhauled exterior and interior design, along with a more diverse variety of customization options right from the factory. Not long after its introduction, Ford Authority photographers spied what appears to be a Mustang EcoBoost base model that is seemingly not outfitted with any optional extras, the first time an example has been seen in public.
It’s worth noting that the seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, which harnesses the Ford 2.3L I4 EcoBoost will exclusively be offered with The Blue Oval’s 10-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual transmission will be dropped from the lineup. Previously, the six-speed manual was available on the sixth-generation Mustang EcoBoost, but it seems it was not popular enough for Ford to justify offering it as an option for the new EcoBoost pony car. Judging by the wheels and the black portion of the front bumper, this particular Mustang seems to be a base EcoBoost model without any optional cosmetic or appearance package.
The forthcoming 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost and GT models will get a unique front end treatment to set them apart from the rest of the lineup. The Mustang GT will have more aggressive grille openings than the EcoBoost to facilitate improved airflow. Additionally, the EcoBoost and GT models will be able to be outfitted with the new Bronze Design Series Appearance Package, which adds a handful of bronze-colored accents to the vehicle’s exterior such as unique wheels.
Along with the aforementioned changes, third-party tuners will have a tough time taming the seventh-generation Mustang. Tuning will be “much more difficult,” said Ford Mustang Chief Engineer Ed Krenz in an interview with Ford Authority Executive Editor, Alex Luft. The forthcoming Mustang will be built using The Blue Oval’s Fully Networked Vehicle (FNV) electrical architecture, meaning that over-the-air (OTA) updates and cybersecurity measures are much easier to achieve. However, the downside of FNV is that it is so secure, it’s difficult to hack – and in turn, difficult to tune.
We’ll have more on the S650 Mustang soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
The lack of a manual transmission in the new eco boost is why I will not be buying one
That’s the problem with the EB car, nobody was buying the manual trans, so Ford trimmed production. Fortunately, the take rate for the V8 car is still high enough that Ford includes it. If the ICE car were to persist, I imagine it would lose the manual trans to as boomers and gen-x die off and to a lesser extent millennials.
Unless there is a stay of execution for the ICE powertrains then 2028 or 2030 will be the end of the manual trans mustang for good. I’m certainly going to make sure I get an MT Dark Horse before they go out as a stablemate to the GT350 though. I gave up on autotragics in 2001 and haven’t missed them one bit as every new car purchase since then has been a manual trans equipped car. I really do miss the engagement on occasion when I get a rental and find it funny when my left foot goes looking for the clutch pedal while driving and I abhor the shift schedule on most every AT equipped I drive and when I put it in sport mode to hopefully better emulate the responsiveness I get with my manual cars I’m always left unsatisfied.
If, emphasis on if. Ford is making it more difficult for tuners for no reason other than that, it’s a shame. Cars like Mustangs are still owned by people who want to tweak, change and customize their cars.
If Ford has a compelling reason to engineer firewalls to defer tuning, put it out there.
It’s been out there. The new software is airtight so that they can securely push over-the-air updates and data communication to vehicles with less worry of security threats/hackers. It’s not just Ford, all manufacturers are rolling this out as tech becomes more advanced and connected.
I read that it’s due to the adoption of the “Fully Networked Vehicle” architecture. The system allows for over the air updates, but brings with it built-in anti-hacking security measures to protect owner data.
No manual in the 24 EcoBoost? No surprise. The rental fleets don’t want manual trans and the folks who buy a 24 EB will be fine with the auto. Me? I am keeping my 2019 EB manual and 2011 V6 manual. Both are convertibles. Will convertible Mustangs be eliminated when they go electric? Would not surprise me. Best part of my manual transmissions? I get 34 mpg with 87 octane.
Wow, the top photo takes ‘base’ to a new low!!
SLUSHBOXES ARE CRAP.