Ford Mustang S650: All information and prices of the 7th generation

Mustang is very important to Ford – the manufacturer has now sold more than ten million models of the sports car in all generations. At the time, Chevrolet created a counterpart to its direct competitor, the Camaro, but the Mustang has outlasted it over the years. When the Camaro soon disappeared from the market, Ford launched the new Mustang. Seventh-generation developers have now made a clear balancing act: They want to keep their traditional fans – and win over their children. So they combine values ​​from the old and new worlds of technology in their athlete.

Body: every new body panel

The seventh generation Mustang is based on the sixth. To make the car stand out from its predecessor, the designers changed every part of the body including the front and rear lights. The front lights have three attractive LED daytime running lights on top, which echo the powerful rear three lights on each side. From the side, the Mustang’s shark nose now looks more like a shark. The dimensions remain the same compared to its predecessor except for a few millimeters. Only the shoulder line goes down, which allows for large side windows and therefore better all-round visibility and a bright interior. The rear of the coupe looks strong and smooth, the taillights are closed inwards. The B-pillar, which was prominent in the previous coupe, is still there, but now it is less visible. Now the powerful rear wheel arch legs are visible – and the converter has an old-school removable antenna on the right leg. A fixed rear spoiler is available as part of an optional performance package.

Interior: Interiors like in an old school Mustang

Designers have also improved the interior. The new steering wheel is placed lower, the impact pan is trapezoidal instead of round and the upper grip area is more ergonomic thanks to the finger rest. Two screens serve as displays: the driver’s instrument screen has a diagonal of 12.4 inches (31.5 cm) and the central infotainment screen is 13.2 inches (33.5 cm is directed at the driver). Both screens sit behind a standard glass cover – except in the basic version: there is a gap between the individual displays. This layout is reminiscent of an electronics discount display. Are younger audiences getting this trend?

Your parents’ generation, on the other hand, will probably appreciate the latest “over-the-air update” that Ford is offering to mark the 60th anniversary of its classic sports car, which was first introduced in 1964. This gives the Mustang a a digital speedometer display that can be used to display round analog-like instruments with a virtual chrome border, like the predecessor of the 1967 and 1968 model years presented behind the steering wheel. Anyone who updates the car’s software now will receive the feature for free.

This is an example of what a car program can do. In the new Mustang, performance comes not only from the “engine” under its front hood, but also from the software machine: the programmers created the display graphics using the Unreal Engine. Its rights belong to the American computer game developers Epic Games, but it can be used for free. Its first version appeared in 1998 – since then it has become one of the best software engines available to game developers in all its generations. The pictures of the Mustang look right: they are always strong and, if desired, beautiful and different, but also clear and calm – for example in Calm mode. The driver can also freely choose what he wants to see and where the display appears and in what color. In any case, the programmers are happy: every pixel is new.

Operation: There are many buttons

When it comes to the operation of the car, Ford takes a different approach than Tesla, for example: Although Tesla has removed everything mechanical control and even wanted to replace the gear selector lever with software control, there are still many buttons inside. Mustang. The steering wheel is mainly equipped with buttons and there is a strip of buttons below the infotainment screen. Commendable: At the right end of this bar is a large volume knob – Ford has realized that there is no better control element for this control. The interior designers have also worked hard when it comes to high quality: all surfaces are coated or covered so that no hard plastic is visible. And there are stylish fabric covers for the seats – but in the top versions there is also leather. For the seventh generation Mustang, Ford is also offering multi-colored seat belts for the first time to match the interior.

Chassis: with electric parking brake for sliding

Ford has made minor changes to the chassis. Above all, there are new brakes. While the designers are proud that the Brembo brake calipers now also bear the Mustang logo, the engineers are happy about the larger discs: they grow to a diameter of 390 millimeters at the front and 355 millimeters at the rear. In addition, six pistons in the front ensure low speed and there are four in the back. Engineers have also modified the steering, which should provide better feedback.

Its sliding nature and handling ensure an increase in the fun factor. For this purpose, Ford made a standard brake lever in the center console – even if it has an electronic brake. If you want to drift, you have to press the corresponding drive mode button on the center console – then the system changes to track mode. If the Mustang is now in the right position for drifting, all it takes is a quick pull on the handbrake lever and the descent begins. Outside of skid mode, the selector lever functions as an electronic parking brake. Ford is also updating the Mustang when it comes to assistance systems.

The GT’s naturally aspirated V8 engine is more powerful than ever

Ford continues to offer the Mustang with a 2.3-liter Ecoboost engine or a 5.0-liter V8. The V8 variants have a very visible air vent on their front hood. These models also have two tailpipes on the right and left, while the four cylinder has two tailpipes. Both engines are now in their fourth generation – engineers have further developed them for the new Mustang. Performance has increased slightly.

V8 in Europe with loss of performance

According to American specifications, the four-cylinder jumps from 290 to 319 hp, the V8 previously produced 450 hp – now it is 487 hp. Due to strict production regulations, the V8 Mustang comes to Europe in a slightly reduced form: in the GT, the Coyote engine delivers 446 hp and a maximum of 540 Newton meters, while the Mustang Dark Horse in this country has 453 hp and the same torque. . It’s also possible that the four-cylinder Ecoboost won’t come to Europe – if customers in this country want a Mustang, most of them want the normally aspirated V8. In any case, the Ecoboost Mustang is not available at market launch in Europe.

But it doesn’t matter which engine: Ford has created an amazing gimmick in the car key that matches both units. With this, the driver can not only open the car and start the engine, he can also accelerate from a distance while working and let the engine whine. If this feature makes any sense at all, it’s that of entertainment: Ford actually equips the Mustang S650 with a remote-controlled engine rev feature. To do this, the engine should be as hot as possible – and of course it must be running to revive it. To start the so-called remote rev function, the user must press the lock and unlock buttons on the key at the same time for at least three seconds. By revving up to 2,000 rpm, the engine signals that it is now in a remotely controlled rev mode. The user then has to press the key buttons again to open and close at the same time and the motor rotates three times up to 5,000 rpm, according to the stored speed profile. The function then remains in standby mode – for another speed break, the user has to press the two relevant buttons again.

Transmission: You can change gears

Both engines can be mated to a ten-speed automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox. Keeping the manual transmission was important to Ford: “Save the manual” is the motto of the Mustang creators. This is a special feature for the US market, where manual transmissions are sometimes used as a sound deadener: Mustang drivers there also like the driving experience created by manual gearing.

Market launch and pricing

The seventh-generation Mustang has been on the market in the US market since the summer of 2023. Prices start at $30,920 (currently equivalent to around 28,600 euros) for the coupe with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The convertible, which initially can only be connected to charging equipment, costs at least 41,945 dollars (a good 38,700 euros) with this engine. If you want a Mustang GT with a V8 engine and a convertible body, you will pay at least 41,495 dollars (about 38,300 euros). Here, too, the corresponding conversion is available only with premium equipment and from 51,515 dollars (around 47,600 euros).

German equipment and prices are now also known; Not surprisingly, they are higher than those in the United States. The model GT version with the five-liter V8 starts at 59,900 euros for the coupé in this country. The Convertible is 5,100 euros more expensive. For comparison: the original model cost 55,500 euros and 60,000 euros as a convertible. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is offered in Germany as a coupé only with a price starting at 72,500 euros.