New 2024 Ford Mustang goes on sale as UK's cheapest V8

The Mustang GT's V8 produces 439bhp and 398lb ft - 29bhp and 7lb ft more than before. A full suite of performance figures has not yet been released, but the engine was previously tipped to launch from 0-62mph in around 4.0sec and top out at more than 170mph.

Strong visual cues have been adopted to differentiate the V8 GT from the Dark Horse.

Of the two, it's the GT that gets less shouty styling, including a new grille inspired by the original 1964 Mustang flanked by a pair of slimmer headlights, featuring new tri-bar LED daytime running lights. 

The Dark Horse, meanwhile, gets more aggressive cues such as a gloss black grille surround plus a pair of nostrils within the grille that feed air to the new intakes.

Other changes are a new lower front bumper and a large bonnet extractor that not only vents hot air but also channels high-pressure air from the front air intakes to reduce lift over the front axle.

Inside, the base models get twin screens, but mid-grade and above trims gain a new 'continuous' screen combining a 12.3in digital instrument cluster and a larger, 13.2in infotainment screen running Ford's latest Sync 4 software.

Capable of being updated over the air, this new system enables a huge level of customisation that Ford hopes – along with the car's styling – will attract younger buyers. One party piece is the ability to swap the modern gauge graphics for a digital recreation of the clocks from the Fox-body Mustangs of 1979-1993.

Under the skin, the new Mustang carries over its MacPherson-style strut front suspension and the independent rear suspension introduced on the sixth-gen coupé in 2015. Both mounting points and linkages have been stiffened and new springs and dampers added.

A performance pack is also available, adding stickier rubber, 20mm-wider 275-section rear tyres, Magneride adaptive dampers, larger 19in rims (18s as standard) plus bigger Brembo six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

All models have a Torsen-style limited-slip differential and, for the first time, the Mustang gets a 'drift brake' that employs an electric handbrake to help coax the rear axle into huge slides, but only in Track mode. A line-locking burnout mode is also available.

One of a select few cars to have remained on continuous sale since its introduction in 1964, the Ford Mustang has racked up more than 10 million sales and remained the world's best-selling sports coupé for the past seven years, beating its key rival, the Chevrolet Camaro.

Commenting after the Mustang's unveiling, Ford CEO Jim Farley said: "Investing in another generation of Mustang is a big statement at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion vehicles."

Ford reveals track-focused Mustang Dark Horse with 500bhp and handling upgrades

Ford has also unwrapped a new 500bhp Dark Horse performance variant that's been created for those who will use their car on track.

Said to be the first new performance nameplate since the Bullitt was introduced 21 years ago, the new variant has been created to bridge the gap between the Mustang Mach 1 and the wild Shelby GT350 and GT500 twins.

Sharing the same 5.0-litre 'Coyote' V8 as the Mustang GT, the Dark Horse gains a software remap plus forged internals – that include the connecting rods from the 760bhp GT500 – to help it produce 20bhp more than the standard lump.

To improve durability and keep it cool during hot track sessions, the Dark Horse bags NACA brake cooling ducts, an auxiliary engine cooler, a rear differential cooler and a lighter radiator that, combined with more powerful fans, boosts thermal efficiency.