When a car manufacturer releases a new generation of one of its most famous and popular sports cars, it’s reasonable to expect the new model will be faster than the one it replaces. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case when comparing the new 2024 Ford Mustang GT to the previous-generation Mustang GT on a track.
The guys over at Throttle House recently picked up the keys to a 2024 Mustang GT with the available Performance Package and first pitted it against a Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE in a straight line. It performs very well, easily out-sprinting the Camaro but it was over the course of a lap where the Mustang performed less admirably.
On the tight and technical course used by the YouTubers in all of their reviews, the Mustang GT set a time of 1:14.17. That puts it slightly behind a Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye with a time of 1:14.14 and just ahead of the FK8-generation Honda Civic Type R. More importantly, it was significantly slower than the 1:11.83 of the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE and also off the pace of the sixth-gen Mustang GT with a time of 1:12.77. There is a little more to the story, however.
Read: Brand New 2024 Mustang Dark Horse Arrives At Ford Dealership Pre-Crashed
The sixth-gen Mustang GT tested by Throttle House was equipped with the Performance Package 2. This version was introduced back in 2018 and adds MagneRide adaptive dampers, stiffer front and rear roll bars, revised springs, and most importantly, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires measuring 305/30 ZR19 at all four corners.
By comparison, the 2024 Mustang GT tested is not so extreme, even when optioned with the Performance Package as this model was. The key difference is that it is equipped with standard Pirelli P Zero tires that are far less focused than the Cup 2s. This means that new Mustang owners who want the best performance should look at the Dark Horse models. As Road & Track notes, they include Pirelli Trofeo RS tires alongside a host of suspension, brake, and aerodynamic changes.