As Ford Authority reported back in August 2022, the Ford F-150 Lightning dropped AM radio for the 2023 model year, which came as a surprise to many. The automaker’s reasoning for this – as well as others ditching AM from their vehicles – was a claim that AM radio frequencies interfere with all-electric vehicle powertrains. This seemed a bit strange at the time given the fact that AM radio is present in the 2022 F-150 Lightning and some other EVs currently on the market, but regardless, it won’t be the last Blue Oval vehicle to ditch AM, as sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority that the all-new 2024 Ford Mustang won’t come with that feature, either.
Since the 2024 Ford Mustang is an ICE-only vehicle, it isn’t immediately clear why AM radio won’t be available in the S650-gen model, but with the rise of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio, fewer and fewer people are listening to FM radio these days – let alone AM. However, there are plenty of folks out there that find AM to be rather useful for listening to news, sports, weather, and talk shows, so this news will likely come as a disappointment to some.
Aside from this change, the 2024 Ford Mustang represents the dawn of a new era for the legendary pony car as it enters a new generation – and perhaps the last sans electric power. Sporting new styling inside and out and bearing a host of new tech features along with a new engine lineup, the S650 is a true redesign, even though it retains its basic profile that has been around since the launch of the S197 model.
In terms of motivation, base models are powered by what is essentially a brand new version of the turbocharged Ford 2.3L I4 EcoBoost cranking out 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, though that engine can no longer be paired with a manual transmission – only the 10-speed automatic. As for the GT, it’s powered by a revised version of the naturally-aspirated, next-generation Ford 5.0L V8 Coyote, making 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, or 486 horsepower and 418 pound-feet with the optional active exhaust system. The Dark Horse features the same Coyote powerplant, but cranks out 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque.
Pricing for the 2024 Mustang was just released earlier this week, revealing that the new pony car will cost more than its predecessor across the board, ranging from $30,920 for the base EcoBoost Fastback to $57,970 for the range-topping Dark Horse. The brand new Mustang will continue to be produced at the Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan, and is currently scheduled to launch in the U.S. in the summer of 2023, followed by Europe later next year.
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
Well this sucks. I still listen to AM almost exclusively.
As do I. As a lifelong Lincoln/Ford family owner, and Electrical RF Engineer, I find Ford’s interference claim dubious at best and more likely nefarious. Im currently shopping for other makes.
Ciao Ford
“Nefarious”. Surprised you didn’t invoke woke. LoL.
You invoked it. No surprise. Is it Real Woker F-ing A—ole?
You sound angry.
LoL. I am and I relish crumpling your nonsense childlike ideological rubbish like a piece of tinfoil.
Some of these people sound ridiculous, and I sometimes don’t believe a thing they say.
Jack is a lifelong Ford/Lincoln guy and says goodbye to the company because of AM radio? He’s immediately shopping for other makes? LOL OK.
Hi Rich, it’s nonsensical bc Mike is one of a group of pro sockpuppets designed to try and make Ford die the death of a thousand bad faith FUD induced cuts.
But they are not only transparently bad at their job, they are laughably so.
They’re ditching it because very few / no one (Except Mortimer above) is using it. I’m sure they can easily track usage via Sync, most likely have tracked it for years.
It doesn’t matter to me as I don’t ever listen to AM anymore, my local AM news stations that are worth listening to all have a sister broadcast on FM. That’s with the same content / without the static every time you drive by a power line or under an over pass / bridge. LOL.
Just because you “don’t ever listen to AM anymore,” does NOT mean that “very few / no one is using it.” You are not everyone. Some AM radio stations are the highest rated stations in the USA. You forgot to mention the coverage area of the sister FM stations is much smaller than the AM counterpart.
Another bad move for Ford….Am is radio is really popular…not everyone goes on radio just to listen to music….there are tons of good am info channels….i bet there be push back on this mistake..they must have a young group of people do this…and sterotype…the wrong people..
“Info channels”, what does this mean?
You mean like the emergency broadcast system or the parking lot instructions at Disneyworld?
Yeah – People who have no problem with this are those where the AM broadcasts are simulcast onto an FM station… That is *NOT* available in Western NY where I am, and I suspect many places have the shows you want to listen to only on AM radio…Aamof (As a matter of fact), the only FM station I ever listen to is the non-profit (supposedly – the CEO gets paid $400,000/Year, and an Expense Account almost as large to go take permanent vacations visiting other radio stations) Classical Station.
No Fords in my Future if they cancel the AM Radios.
Also, the article got it WRONG… There is almost ZERO interference (and it could be made much closer to absolute zero) from the radio.. The Power Inverter HASH interferes with the AM reception and it probably violates FCC (Federal Communication Commission) rules due to the fact that, unless filtered out at the Inverter – it blankets the AM band and probably also causes interference with radios in nearby homes or cars.
The fact that FORD is too lazy or incompetent to filter out the real crap from the Inverter doesn’t mean it is not there – it just means there is nothing in the owner’s car for the human driver to sense it.
CJ, AM radio is NOT “really popular,” or even popular at all.
Please try again.
NO AM means NO PURCHASE OF VEHICLE
All emergency and road advisory systems use the AM broadcast band.
RichG, you are WRONG. Some of the highest rated radio stations in the USA are on the AM band.
I don’t need AM radio however sounds suspicious like putting away electronics on an airplane during take off and landing
No sale. I use AM to listen to traffic and weather during my 45-60m one-way commutes… and to listen to sports.
This is just another example of Ford punishing its owners for Ford’s own waste (Argo and Rivian lost investments; Hackett, Farley, et.al. over-compensation).
I am trying to envision a man grabbing gears in a Mustang with cutouts open listening to religious or sports AM radio, ya right ! I haven’t listened to AM since my last Mustang only AM radio period. Maybe Ford did screw up, maybe Ford should make that a optional order for you few.
Sounds like a decision made by someone who doesn’t drive a lot. Especially throughout the Midwest and Western United States, or listen to sports, talk, or religious programming, or enjoy DX’ing. And all because of electric cars? I have never “caught a buzz” off passing or being passed by a Tesla.
The people at Ford just NEVER learn.
Quality should be the ONLY thing on their minds these days, not further cost cutting.
I’m glad my father, a 35 year Ford engineer, isn’t alive to see what this company has turned into.
Conservative talk dominates AM radio. Sounds like woke censorship to me.
Great point. If they can’t ban free speech, then they will eliminate the technology that enables you to hear the speech.
You’re right DD, it’s clearly a tightly coordinated conspiracy of globalist cosmopolitan elites led by George Soros.
Good point!
Maybe US IQ will start to rise now.
If not generally, then at least for Ford drivers.
Ps I’m laughing at the dope crying woke. Hahahaha
There are many different formats and programming choices on AM radio beside Conservative Political Talk. FM and Sirius have Conservative Political Talk too, but they are allowed to stay in Mustangs(.
Lets not kid anybody, this is being done to reduce the cost of the radio they get from their supplier. Another Ford feature drop but this time explained away by another story instead supply chain issues. Yet another nail in the customer satisfaction coffin.
Although it plausibly could be, I missed the part where it was due to supply chain.
I’m only worried about whether they will drop the CD player next.
Ford already has dropped CD players several years ago, and that was a bonehead decision too.
I use an AM New Radio station for information when traveling in that area to determine the best route to take. The News Radio station gives pretty accurate traffic information every 10 minutes along with weather. I just did an internet search and found out that this particular station now broadcasts in FM as well as AM. It makes me happy to know so that I do not have to eliminate a vehicle based on this particular option availability.
Most people that will still be alive in the near future use Google and Apple mapping systems, these give the real time traffic guidance that the radio stations don’t have.
My 90 year old mom uses Apple Maps for this in her 2010 Chrysler (obviously no car play functionality) it’s not that hard to use.
Can’t keep your eye on the road if what you suggest are being used. Furthermore, AM radio provides MUCH more than just traffic reports. Using your logic, FM and satellite radio need to go away too because they also provide traffic reports.
There is a host of programming exclusive to AM. I suppose some might be available on apps such as TuneIn, which you theoretically could Bluetooth from your phone to your car infotainment. The real reason is that electric vehicles can obliterate AM reception, even in nearby vehicles. Hop aboard the EV railroad
Kinda like when steel bodied cars with heaters eliminated the lap blanket.
Times change.
Smarmy again. Clearly you don’t understand the. radio consumption habits of regular people or the interference problem from EVs that is the subject of a good deal concern these days.
It is possible to make AM radio work on EV’s. This article above is about at ICU vehicle that is dropping AM radio, so that’s not the real reason.
Who is making all these stupid moves? I have been a life long Ford loyalist my whole life in fact my whole family was Ford exclusive,
but with the pivot to EV’s, lack of a genuine affordable ICE car (the Maverick is the closest thing to it, you can hardly find those and when you do dealers mark them up insanely), now doing away with AM radio? I am seriously reconsidering my loyalties.
If Ford engineers ever drove long distances from home, they would become aware of the thousands of big and small AM stations that define the flavor and like of that listening audience within that part of our great country. And part of your long drive is tuning into those stations to get a taste of that region. And no, not every one of these stations simulcasts on the FM band. F Ford and millenial engineers who think they know what american drivers want.
Classic Mustangs and American Top 40 used to go together. Times change. I exclusively listen to FM in the car, but I’m suspicious of anything that reduces choice.
Ford is making a big mistake by eliminating AM radio. Give the customers an option.
Everyone has a cell phone. You can add an app to listen to AM/FM radio. Done.
The dudes that pretend that this isn’t possible are either Luddites, exceptionally dim, or as seen by the recurring themes and handles, most likely just part of the bad faith sockpuppet team vigorously trying to inculcate the idea that no AM means there is no other choice but for longtime Ford loyalists to bail to another brand.
It’s so obvious it’s laughable.
NO AM means NO PURCHASE OF VEHICLE
All emergency and road advisory systems use the AM broadcast band.
Cell phones use data (which cost money) and require a service provider (which cost money), while AM/FM is totally FREE. Furthermore, cell phone signals can drop out in weak signal areas, but the AM/FM keeps working. And, not everyone has a cell phone, or cares to use it while driving.
Everyone’s personal opinions aside, how complicated is it to build and install a AM radio? If Ford’s only rationale is to cut costs… that is pretty pathetic. As some have alluded to, there are many other interests in play that would be negatively impacted discontinuing AM reception. Don’t be supersized that FORD will charge you for it going forward. This is a fight not worth picking…. how stupid Ford will be about this will be a work in progress.
“Don’t be supersized” is perhaps the best and most needed advice the AM-talk radio Rascal tooling subset of Americans could get right now.
Uh, no. There are FM information stations also.
Almost any station worth listening to can be found streaming. And you get better reception.
AM has a utility that is important. Many DOT’s use the AM frequencies to broadcast vital information regarding hazards, road conditions, incident response, emergencies, etc. in areas WITHOUT cell reception. Quite necessary when you’re driving through areas prone to blizzards, avalanches, forest fires, etc.
MAF, actually you get WORSE reception when streaming. The stream goes silent when driving inside parking garages, but the radio still works. The stream also goes silent when driving in areas with no cell phone coverage, but the radio still works.
I have been primarily a Ford guy since the 60’s. I have watched them do many stupid things recently [emphasis on EV, auto shutoff, eliminate cars from lineup, emphasis on unreliable 3,4,6 cylinders often with high cost, low epa turbos , 10 speed autos that don’t work, highest recall rate in the industry, rotary dials – you get the idea] but now no AM radio? How does Farley keep his job? I was going to buy 2 new vehicles in the next 30-60 days. No longer have to look at Ford.
Hmm. I wouldn’t say I NEED AM radio often, but there are times when you do. In my region it is the sole method of broadcast for road conditions through mountain passes, general changes/impacts of traffic patterns due to construction/accidents/natural disasters, emergencies, and other essential advisories by the DOT; often in areas where cell reception is non existent.
Why not keep it as an option for those that know they’ll need it? I can’t imagine the capability costs much at all.
So I guess this means no more talk shows or baseball games in the Mustang anymore.
This is really a BONEHEAD decision by Ford. I challenge the person(s) at Ford who are responsible to a debate at this forum! I look forward to this discussion!
Here’s what Ford need to keep in mind:
1) Ford has always been the dominant auto manufacturer in rural America. The F-150 is the best selling vehicle in the USA because of sales made in rural America. Rural America LISTENS to AM radio alot for weather, news, and ag reports which are not available on FM. Furthermore, AM signals can travel much farther distances than FM signals reaching rural and sparsely populated areas where there are limited FM choices available.
2) Large metropolitan area still have powerful, iconic AM radio stations which are highly rated in the cities they serve. For example, Chicago has popular AM blowtorches at: AM 560, 670, 720, 780, 890, and 1000. New York City has: AM 570, 660, 710, 770, 880, 1010, 1050. None of these radio stations would available under Ford’s stupid, absurd proposal.
3) Immigrants are not buying Ford products. Ford should be marketing toward ethnic people who have immigrated to the USA. How often do you see immigrants from Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America driving Fords? Not much! They have an only-Japanese mentality. Ethnic radio programming targeting these groups is mostly on the AM band, along with other kinds of specialty programming, which is why Ford needs to keep AM radios available in all models to reach ethnic population groups in America.
4) AM radio has better fidelity than SiriusXM satellite radio, which has atrocious sound quality yet satellite radio stays but AM doesn’t? Satellite signals don’t reach indoor parking garages.
And, don’t forget that satellite radio is charged money to receive, but terrestrial radio is always FREE.
Dropping AM is just one of many mistakes Ford is making. Also gone or going away are: spare tires, CD players, automatic transmission floor shifters, and fog lights. What are they thinking?
I agree that dropping AM radio band is a huge mistake. I’m one of many Native Americans here in the southwest (four corners) that listen to and rely on AM radio stations for community, weather, and emergency information. There are radio stations here that are specifically Navajo speaking, all the time and we are a nation of 499,00 (Dineh strong). We do not not always have reliable cell phone use in some communities, not enough strong towers for signal so the AM apps are out. Our elderly who sometimes struggle with technology rely on these stations which are Kndn 960 AM , Ktnn AM 660 and Kgak 1330 am. The Majority of our Native people only listen to AM stations plus there are alot of Hispanic stations on AM as well. Please give the option to have it added. I sell Ford and am very disappointed to hear this.