A V8-powered Ford Mustang is the version that most people want but the EcoBoost four-cylinder has always been a good option for those wanting better fuel efficiency and still solid performance. But just how quick is the new one? Well, Car and Driver recently launched a Performance Pack-equipped model to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.5 seconds.
The latest-generation Ford Mustang features many improvements over its predecessor but interestingly, the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is capped at 315 hp and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque with or without the optional High Performance package. This is less than the previous Performance Pack-equipped Mustang EcoBoost with 332 hp.
Watch: Dyno Runs Prove The 2024 Ford Mustang GT Makes Good Power And Has A Unique Sound
While testing out an automatic 2024 model at the drag strip, Car and Driver found that the available Drag Strip mode proved helpful in launching it off the line, consistently cutting a tenth or two on the way to 60 mph. A time of 4.5 seconds comfortably beats the 5.0 second time recorded by a six-speed 2020 Mustang EcoBoost Performance Pack but the publication never tested an old Mustang EcoBoost with the Performance Pack and the automatic ‘box, so it’s not sure how the new model would compare.
Quarter-mile testing saw the new model complete a run in 13.2 seconds at 103 mph (166 km/h), slightly quicker than the 13.6 seconds at 102 mph (164 km/h) recorded by the outgoing six-speed variant and quicker than the 13.4-second time of the old automatic model. Braking performance has also been improved with the new car coming to a stop from 70 mph (113 km/h) at 149 feet and 100 mph (160 km/h) at 293 feet, compared to the 153 feet and 308 feet needed by a 2020 Mustang EcoBoost Performance Pack.
Interestingly, the new model did not perform particularly well on the skid pan, pulling a maximum of 0.95 g compared to the 1.02 g of the 2020 model. This is primarily because the older model had sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa PCZ4 tires while the 2024 model has slightly less extreme P Zero PZ4s. Additionally, the old model had 265-width tires while the new model has 255-section tires.
