The 2024 Ford Mustang doesn’t get a brand new platform, nevertheless it modifications loads on the inside. The Mustang graduates from the Sync 3 to the Sync 4 infotainment system, and each mannequin comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen that may be mixed beneath a single piece of glass.
On Monday, Motor Authority visited Farmington Hills, Michigan, to take a look at the new system and the way it works. Bottom line, it strikes the Mustang to the prime of the class for connectivity, it controls outdated and new efficiency capabilities, and its online game graphics ought to delight tech followers.
Sync 4 is already in use in another Ford merchandise, however that is the first time it will likely be used in the Mustang, the place it can get its personal pores and skin and several other of these aforementioned efficiency options. It has twice the processing energy as Sync 3, might be up to date over the air robotically or on a schedule, and makes use of the Unreal Engine laptop graphics popularized by first-person shooter video video games. This software program permits for a number of graphics animations that accompany modes and different capabilities, not less than one in every of which might be manipulated on the touchscreen.
The Sync 4 system impacts the graphics on each the instrument cluster and touchscreen. Here’s how.
2024 FORD MUSTANG DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Five graphics themes can be found for the instrument cluster (IP):
- Normal
- Sport
- Track
- Fox Body ’87-’93
- Calm
The themes match the automotive’s drive modes for the most half, although there is no such thing as a Calm drive mode; the Slippery drive mode makes use of the Normal theme; Drag Strip drive mode makes use of the Track theme; and drivers can select any theme for the six out there Custom drive modes.
The IP additionally has a digital tach and speedometer, in addition to a central show with 10 info views, 9 of which might be chosen to show through settings in the touchscreen. The Driver Assistance display is at all times there, however drivers can even select to see fundamentals similar to journey meters, gasoline economic system, and gauge readouts.
2024 FORD MUSTANG TOUCHSCREEN PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONS
The Sync 4 system does away with most of the onerous buttons, and solely a row of six buttons sits under a pair of air vents positioned under the middle display. One of these buttons is a star that may be programmed to activate launch management. Other buttons embody an auto maintain operate for cease lights, the exhaust setting, a rev match characteristic for automobiles with the 6-speed handbook transmission, or the Calm IP display. The solely local weather management button is a windshield defroster. The remainder of the local weather management settings sit alongside the backside fringe of the touchscreen always, even when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are in use.
Another onerous button is a Mustang pony icon that robotically prompts the MyMustang display, which itself is residence to the following management changes:
- Digital gauge cluster structure for the touchscreen that lets drivers select three- or five-gauge shows from 9 potential gauges. Those gauges are: engine oil strain, inlet air temperature, vacuum, battery voltage, engine oil temperature, accelerometer, air/gasoline ratio, axle oil temperature, and cylinder head temperature.
- MyColor: major and secondary shade settings for the digital screens, plus a alternative of 28 colours of ambient lighting.
- IP cluster theme
- Exhaust mode
- Custom drive modes with as much as six potential profiles
The drive modes are chosen on the left aspect of the steering wheel. Setting a Custom drive mode by way of the middle display first asks the driver to choose a mode upon which the settings shall be based mostly. From there, drivers could make the following changes:
- Dampers: regular, sport, observe, or drag
- Steering: consolation, regular, sport, sport+, or observe
- Exhaust sound: quiet, regular, sport, or observe
- Stability management: On or off
- Auto begin/cease: On or off
- IP theme: See above
Some of the particular person settings gained’t be out there based mostly on what drive mode is used as the foundation for that customized setting.
MyMustang can be residence to the automotive’s 9 Track Apps. They are:
- Acceleration timer: Measures 0-30 mph, 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, ¼-mile, and 1/8-mile instances. Also has three begin sorts that encompass computerized, drag race lights, observe race lights.
- Brake efficiency: 60-0 mph and 100-0 mph efficiency.
- Lap timer: Can save three tracks, and drivers can edit the title of every.
- Shift indicator: Can current as a light-weight, a tone, or each and be set from 4,000-7,000 rpm. Sets a blue line in the tach at the shift level. Drivers can even select a drag mild that glows at the shift level above and under the tach or a observe mild that begins huge, modifications colours and narrows because it approaches the shift level, and ends as a blue mild when it’s time to shift. The mild turns into crimson at the 7,500-rpm redline.
- Drift brake: Turns on the drift brake, which permits drivers to channel their inside Vaughn Gittin Jr. Drivers can then use the hand-held drift brake lever on the middle console to lock the rear wheels for drifts or handbrake turns.
- Line lock: Foot on the brake, activate on the display, then flooring it and the entrance brakes will maintain to allow you to do a burnout.
- Launch settings: Works in tandem with launch management. Go right here to set the rpm at which the automotive will launch, between 2,500-7,000 rpm. Drivers can even activate launch management right here.
- Launch management: Activate launch management with the brake pedal pressed, look forward to the mild to point launch management is energetic, flooring the throttle, then let off the gasoline to rocket ahead.
- Rev match: On or off in automobiles with the handbook transmission.
OTHER SCREEN FUNCTIONS
The screens are linked beneath a single piece of glass in higher-line models and are separate in lower-line versions, however they’re the identical dimension regardless. They additionally supply the identical processor and performance, although lower-line automobiles will lack controls for options similar to magnetic dampers which can be in higher-line automobiles.
Every Mustang additionally comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 3rd of the middle display can nonetheless be dedicated to the native controls whereas CarPlay or Android Auto are energetic, although that space will solely present the present radio station and gained’t present a manner for drivers to alter the station.
The 2024 Ford Mustang will supply a state-of-the-art digital expertise, particularly amongst an growing older lot of pony automobiles. It will come with efficiency goodies house owners have come to know and love—similar to launch management and the line lock—and add cool new options, together with the drift brake and extra digital gauges.
The Mustang’s new digital surroundings seems to work nicely whereas nonetheless in growth, and we sit up for placing it to the take a look at once we drive the Mustang, possible in June.
HIGH-RES GALLERY: 2024 Ford Mustang interior
This article was initially printed by Motor Authority, an editorial accomplice of ClassicCars.com.
