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The 2024 Ford Mustang doesn’t get a new platform, but a lot of changes inside. Mustang graduated from the Sync 3 to Sync 4 infotainment system, and each model is equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.4-inch touchscreen that can be combined under a single glass.
On Monday, Motor Authority visited Farmington Hills, Michigan, to inspect the new system and how it works. In essence, it moves the Mustang up a notch for connectivity, control over old and new performance functions, and its video game graphics will please technology buffs.
The Sync 4 is already used in several other Ford products, but this is the first time it’s been used in the Mustang, where it will get its own skin and some of the aforementioned performance features. It has twice the processing power of Sync 3, can be updated over the air automatically or on a schedule, and uses the Unreal Engine computer graphics popularized by first-person shooter video games. The software allows for several graphic animations accompanying other modes and functions, at least one of which can be manipulated on the touch screen.
The Sync 4 system affects graphics on instrument clusters and touchscreens. Here’s how.
2024 Ford Mustang Sport theme and MyColor screen
2024 Ford Mustang Track theme
2024 ’87-’93 Ford Mustang Fox Body theme
The 2024 Ford Mustang digital instrument cluster
Five chart themes are available for the instrument cluster (IP):
-Normal
-Sport
-Track
-Fox Body ’87-’93
-Calm
The theme fits mostly car driving mode, although there is no Quiet driving mode; Slippery drive mode uses the Normal theme; Drag Strip drive mode uses the Track theme; and drivers can choose any theme for the six available Custom drive modes.
The IP also has a digital tach and speedometer, as well as a central display with 10 information screens, nine of which can be selected for display via on-screen settings. The Driver Assistance screen is always there, but drivers can also choose to see basics like trip meter, fuel economy, and gauge readings.
2024 Ford Mustang Track theme and Custom mode screen
2024 Ford Mustang touchscreen performance functions
The Sync 4 system gets rid of most of the hard buttons, and only a row of six buttons sits under a pair of air vents located below the center screen. One such button is a programmable star to activate launch control. Other buttons include an auto hold function for stop lights, exhaust settings, a rev match feature for cars with 6-speed manual transmissions, or the Calm IP display. The only climate control button is the windshield defroster. More climate control settings sit along the bottom edge of the touchscreen at all times, even when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are in use.
Another hard button is the Mustang pony icon which automatically activates the MyMustang screen, which is home to the following control adjustments:
-Digital gauge cluster layout for touch screen that allows the driver to select a display of three or five gauges from nine possible gauges. These gauges are: engine oil pressure, intake air temperature, vacuum, battery voltage, engine oil temperature, accelerometer, air/fuel ratio, axle oil temperature and cylinder head temperature.
-MyColor: primary and secondary color settings for digital displays, plus a choice of 28 ambient lighting colors.
-IP cluster theme
-Exhaust mode
-Custom drive mode with up to six possible profiles
Driving mode is selected on the left side of the steering wheel. Setting the Custom drive mode via the center screen first prompts the driver to select the mode on which the settings will be based. From there, the driver can make the following adjustments:
-Dampers: normal, sport, track, or drag
– Steering: comfort, normal, sport, sport+, or track
– Exhaust sound: quiet, normal, sport or track
-Stability control: On or off
-Auto start/stop: On or off
-IP Theme: See above
Some individual settings will not be available based on the driving mode used as the basis for the custom settings.
2024 Ford Mustang Track app
Interiors of the 2024 Ford Mustang
2024 Ford Mustang Acceleration Timer
MyMustang is also home to nine car Track Apps. They:
-Acceleration timer: Measures 0-30 mph, 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, ¼-mile, and 1/8-mile times. Also has three types of start which consists of automatic, drag race lights, track race lights.
-Brake performance: 60-0 mph and 100-0 mph performance.
-Lap timer: Can save three tracks, and driver can edit the name of each one.
– Shift indicator: May present as a light, tone, or both and is adjustable from 4000-7000 rpm. Sets a blue line in the tach at the shift point. Drivers can also select a tow light that illuminates at the shift point above and below the tach or a track light that starts to widen, changes color and narrows as it approaches the shift point, and ends as a blue light when it’s time to change gears. The light turns red at the 7,500-rpm redline.
-Drift brake: Turns on the drift brake, which allows the driver to channel the inside of the Vaughn Gittin Jr. The driver can then use the handheld drift brake lever on the center console to lock the rear wheels for a handbrake drift or turn.
-Line lock: Step on the brakes, activate on the screen, then place and the front brake will hold for you to burnout.
-Launch setting: Work together with launch control. Go here to set the rpm when the car is about to be launched, between 2500-7000 rpm. Drivers can also enable launch control here.
-Launch control: Activate launch control with the brake pedal depressed, wait for the light to indicate launch control is active, lower the throttle, then release the gas to coast forward.
-Rev match: On or off in cars with manual transmission.
Apple CarPlay integration for the 2024 Ford Mustang
Other screen functions
The screens are connected under a sheet of glass in the highline model and separate in the underline version, but they remain the same size. They also offer the same processors and functionality, although lower-end cars lack controls for features like magnetic dampers that are present in higher-end cars.
Every Mustang also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A third of the center screen can still be devoted to native controls when CarPlay or Android Auto is active, though that area will only show the current radio station and won’t provide a way for the driver to change stations.
The 2024 Ford Mustang will offer a state-of-the-art digital experience, especially among the many aging pony cars. It will come with the performance stuff owners know and love—like launch control and line lock—and add cool new features, including drift brakes and more digital gauges.
Mustang’s new digital environment appears to work well while it’s still in development, and we’re looking forward to testing it while driving the Mustang, most likely in June.
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