The next Ford Mustang won’t be easy to tune; blame cybersecurity
Enlarge / The 2024 Ford Mustang might prove more resistant to modding than any Mustang in the past. The culprit? Modern-day cybersecurity protections. (credit: Ford)
People have been tinkering with and modifying vehicles since not long after the invention of the automobile. As an activity, it exploded in the wake of World War II, as surplus machinery mixed with bored young people with a bit of mechanical knowhow looking for a bit of a thrill. From hot rods and desert speed racers to the import-tuning scene at the turn of the century, being able to soup up one's ride has been a core aspect of car enthusiasm. But that may be a thing of the past, if the next Ford Mustang is any indication.
Ford debuted its 2024 Mustang in September. The seventh-generation car doesn't deviate much from the recipe that made the people's pony car such a big hit all these years: a two-door body that's recognizable as a Mustang and a choice of gasoline engines up front that drive the wheels at the back. There's no hybrid or electrified version-other than the Mustang Mach-E, of course, but that'll just start a flame war in the comments.
But as you might expect of a car being unveiled in 2022, no previous Mustang has been quite as digital as the incoming model. Advanced driver assists abound, there's a full digital cockpit, and among its connected features is Amazon Alexa integration.