THE 2024 Ford Mustang it doesn’t get a new platform, but it changes a lot inside. The Mustang has moved from Sync 3 to the Sync 4 infotainment system, and all models come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.4-inch touchscreen, combined under a single glass.
On Monday, the Motor Authority visited Farmington Hills, Michigan to see the new system and see how it works. Bottom line, the Mustang puts the connectivity at the top of the class, controls old and new performance features, and has video game graphics to please tech fans.
Sync 4 is already in use in a few other Ford products, but this is the first time it’s been used in the Mustang, where it gets its own skin and many of the aforementioned performance features. It has twice the processing power of Sync 3, can be updated automatically or on a schedule over the air, and uses the Unreal Engine computer graphics popularized by first-person shooter video games. This software allows for several graphical animations to accompany modes and other functions, at least one of which can be controlled on the touch screen.
The Sync 4 system affects both the graphics of the instrument cluster and the touchscreen. Here’s how.
2024 FORD MUSTANG DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Five graphic themes are available for the instrument cluster (IP):
- Normal
- Sports
- Track
- Fox Body ’87-’93
- Calm down
The themes are largely the same as the car’s driving modes, although there is no calm driving mode; the Sliding driving 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 has a digital tachometer and speedometer, as well as a central display with 10 information views, nine of which can be displayed via the touchscreen settings. The Driver Assistance screen is always there, but drivers can also select basic data such as odometers, fuel consumption and gauges.
2024 FORD MUSTANG TOUCH SCREEN PERFORMANCE FEATURES
The Sync 4 system does away with most of the hard buttons, and there’s just a row of six buttons below the pair of vents below the center screen. One such button is a star that can be programmed to activate launch control. Other buttons include the automatic hold function for the brake lights, the exhaust adjustment, the rev matching function for cars with a 6-speed manual transmission or the Calm IP screen. The only climate control button is the windshield defogger. The rest of the climate control settings are always on the bottom edge of the touchscreen, even when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is in use.
Another hard button is a Mustang pony icon that automatically activates the MyMustang screen, which is home to the following control options:
- A digital gauge cluster layout for the touchscreen, which allows drivers to choose three or five display sizes from nine possible gauges. These gauges include: 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 screens and 28 colors for ambient lighting.
- IP cluster topic
- Exhaust mode
- Individual driving modes with up to six possible profiles
Driving modes can be selected on the left side of the steering wheel. The Custom Driving Mode setting on the center screen first prompts the driver to select a mode on which the settings are based. From there, drivers can make the following settings:
- Shock absorbers: 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 topic: See above
Some of the custom settings will not be available depending on the driving mode used as the basis for the custom setting.
MyMustang is also home to the car’s nine Track apps. OK:
- Acceleration Timer: Measures 0-30 mph, 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, ¼ mile and 1/8 mile times. There are also three start types consisting of automatic, acceleration lights and track race lights.
- Braking performance: 60-0 mph and 100-0 mph performance.
- Lap Timer: Three tracks can be saved and drivers can edit the names of each.
- Shift Indicator: Can be displayed as light, sound or both and can be adjusted between 4000-7000rpm. It sets a blue line in the tach at the shift point. Drivers can also choose a pull light that illuminates at the shift point above and below the tach, or a marker light that starts wide, changes color and narrows as you approach the shift point, and finishes as a blue light when it’s time to shift. The light turns red at 7500 rpm.
- Drift Brake: Turns on the drift brake, which allows drivers to steer the inner Vaughn Gittin Jr. channel. Drivers can then use the manual drift brake lever on the center console to lock the rear wheels for drifting or handbrake turns.
- Line Lock: Step on the brake, activate it on the screen, then floor it and the front brakes will hold it to allow you to burn out.
- Launch settings: Works in parallel with launch control. Here you can set the RPM at which the car starts, between 2500 and 7000. Drivers can also activate launch control here.
- Launch Control: Activate launch control with the brake pedal depressed, wait for the light to indicate launch control is active, let off the throttle, then release the throttle to rocket forward.
- RPM match: can be turned on or off in cars with manual transmission.
OTHER SCREEN FUNCTIONS
The screens are connected under a single sheet of glass higher line models and they are separate downline versions, but regardless, they are the same size. They also offer the same processor and functionality, although lower-end cars will lack features such as magnetic shock absorbers found in higher-end cars.
All Mustangs also come with it wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A third of the center screen can still be dedicated to native controls while CarPlay or Android Auto is active, although this area only shows the current radio station and doesn’t give drivers the option to change stations.
The 2024 Ford Mustang will offer a state-of-the-art digital experience, especially among the many aging pony cars. It comes with the performance goodies owners have come to know and love, like launch control and line lock, and adds great new features, including a drift brake and more digital gauges.
The Mustang’s new digital environment seems to be working well while it’s still in development, and we can’t wait to test drive the Mustang, probably in June.
HIGH RESOLUTION GALLERY: 2024 Ford Mustang interior
This article was originally published by Motor Authorityeditorial partner ClassicCars.com.
