The Ford Mustang is an American icon, recognized globally, largely on the back of sticking to a winning and recognizable formula. Since its arrival on the market in the 1960s, the Mustang has always had two doors, always offered a V8 (sometimes a supercharged V8, too), and has always went racing. Unfortunately, despite its clout, sales have been declining as of late. In fact, the Mustang just had its worst US market sales year ever in 2022. And it’s likely stemming from multiple reasons. Firstly, the Mustang isn’t getting any cheaper over the years, making it harder to attain for more people. Second, the golden age of fun off-road trucks and SUVs seems to be pulling customers away from the pony car market. And finally, the Mustang currently sees the oldest buyer in the segment, meaning that youthful vigor have turned to brands like Dodge for their high horsepower kicks.
As such, Ford has put a lot of work into ensuring that the new S650 2024 Ford Mustang is targeted toward a younger audience while still paying homage to some members of the older fan base.
S650 Ford Mustang: The Gen-Z Muscle Car?
Leading up to the unveiling of the S650 Ford Mustang, MC&T has kept a watchful eye on Ford’s plans for the newest iteration of the pony car, and we’ve known for quite some time that Ford had big plans to attract younger buyers. Jim Owens, Ford’s Mustang marketing manager, recently told Newsweek that this was one of the key reasons why the seventh-generation Mustang is loaded with technology, performance, and appearance.
The completely new interior design for the S650 Ford Mustang infuses more technology, with customization options available along with gaming tech provided by high-end graphics through the Unity Engine. The cockpit-like interior design positions the car’s screens towards the driver, with the 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster able to blend almost seamlessly into the 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. The result is a dashboard that should get a large chunk of the younger generations’ attention. However, despite all this tech, some features should also appeal to older Mustang fans.
The company hopes to attract buyers who fondly remember the Fox Body design from their childhoods, not specifically those who were adults when those vehicles reached the market. They’ve accomplished this by adding a Fox Body-styled instrument cluster option to customize the S650 Mustang.
The interior experience is the central talking point for the newest Ford Mustang, but the exterior experience isn’t without its appeal as animated welcome lighting greets owners. Ford has even added Remote Rev technology, allowing owners to rev their car’s engine from outside the vehicle using the key fob. A handy way to show off that beautiful V8 roar, something that will be unique to the Mustang for the remainder of this decade.
Indeed, the S650 Mustang leapfrogs the competition with a disruptive, tech-focused cockpit, class-leading horsepower, and the promise of even more athletic driving dynamics. But with the MSRP reaching new heights, finding a buyer that will put their hard earned dollars toward one may still prove to be challenging.
