2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign, Pictures, Engine

2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign, Pictures, Engine  –  A lot’s been made in recent years of the Ford Mustang’s move from the tradition in which it’s rooted toward something a lot more like a sports car. The switch away from a solid rear axle was the real impetus for the perception shift, allowing the sixth-gen car to corner unlike any of its predecessors. That alone has led to a sense that perhaps this pony car is more of a Nissan Z competitor than one built to take on the likes of the Dodge Challenger.

That’s the idea, at least. In reality, with a snarling V8 stuffed between its fenders, the redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang GT remains a properly performing – and proportioned – muscle car, albeit one that’s been thoroughly modernized.

2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

That suspension tune – it’s conventional; no fancy adaptive dampers here – provides outstanding ride quality in most circumstances. Yes, slowly rolling over broken pavement or potholes is a little unpleasant, something to keep in mind before the next boulevard cruise or Sunday evening ice cream run. But anything faster than about 50 km/h is right in this car’s comfort zone, both literally and figuratively.

The front seats are more comfortable and supportive than they might appear at first glance, with hours behind the wheel passing by with barely a hint of trouble. The ones in this tester were heated and power adjustable (the seatbacks are managed manually), although that’s only after a $2,900 upgrade package was applied. In truth, that’s among the few disappointments in this entire car, which those with their glasses half full will surely appreciate. Those with less optimistic outlooks might well see it as nickel-and-diming in a car that costs nearly $50,000 before freight and tax.

2026 Ford Mustang GT Specs

There’s no denying that the cheapest V8-powered Mustang has been stripped of some of the features that might be expected for the money. The seats are manually adjustable (and they aren’t heated) and the climate system is of the single-zone variety, to name a couple surprises inside a car that’s priced at nearly $50,000 before freight and tax. But then there are those big, bright displays inside, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. Plus those skimpy features can be upgraded for a relatively reasonable price, as they were in this tester.

The GT High pack ($2,900) upgrades the stereo from six speakers to nine, adds satellite radio (which requires a subscription), heated front seats, power adjustability for the driver’s side, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Meanwhile, all that and more is included with the Mustang GT Premium trim that starts at $54,400.  2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign

Engine and Performance

Opting for the entry-level engine, a 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder, removes all kinds of weight from the front of the car, making the Mustang feel a little more light and lively as a result. No, it’s never going to be confused for a car like the tiny (and tidy) Toyota GR86, but cutting something like 109 kg (240 lb) compared to the V8 version has a way of altering the way this Ford operates.

Sticking with the Mustang GT is to get it the way the car gods intended. That means a 5.0L V8 under the hood that generates 486 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque when fitted with the optional performance exhaust ($1,495). Those numbers drop slightly without the upgrade, with 480 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque to work with. Either way, that’s on an expensive diet of 93-octane gas, but it’s well worth the money for all the angry noises it makes, not to mention the way it performs. 2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign

2026 Ford Mustang GT Fuel Economy

Less practical is this car’s appetite for expensive fuel, with the 2024 Ford Mustang GT rated to consume a combined 13.8 L/100 km. (That number improves to 13.1 with the automatic transmission in place of this tester’s manual.) Even so, overachieving is easy enough, even without a light foot on the throttle, with this test resulting in an indicated average of 12.9 L/100 km combined across a little more than 500 km.  2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign

2026 Ford Mustang GT Safety Features

The majority (though not all) of the surprisingly large number of standard enhanced safety equipment is part of the pricing of the base Mustang GT. Included are lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with automated emergency braking, and the backup camera that is required for all new cars. So is blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and automatic high-beam control, leaving adaptive cruise control as the only outlier. (That can be added to the GT Premium trim for $1,700.)

2026 Ford Mustang GT Price and Release Date

There’s no question its starting price – $48,500, to be exact – puts the 2024 Mustang GT in rare company these days for delivering big bang for a reasonable buck. Beyond simply offering so much muscle for the money, it’s competitively priced, too. The cheapest V8-powered version of the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro starts at $50,199 (it makes less power but more torque), while even the Nissan Z is a pricier proposition at $50,998 before freight and tax.

Meanwhile, this tester was fitted with a few desirable features – the GT High package and its heated seats, as well as a fantastic adaptive exhaust system, among others – while barely breaking $57,000 before tax. In short, there’s a lot of car here for the money. 2026 Ford Mustang GT Redesign