The dashboard in Ford’s new seventh-generation 2024 Mustang propels the muscle car squarely into the 21st century. One giant rectangular piece of glass covers half of the dashboard that encompasses two displays: one serves as the instrument cluster and the other as the infotainment screen, and continually upgraded software runs both.

Craig Sandvig, the Mustang's interaction design manager, explains, "We're taking advantage of every pixel. We can be creative in showing necessary driving information and give the driver control of selecting colors, classic Mustang gauges or even 'calm' screen where only minimal details are displayed." Powering it all is the Unreal engine, used by professional game designers.

Ford listened to performance car fans and smartphone users when designing the new dashboard layout, which also borrows from the already tech-friendly Mustang Mach-E, the new Mustang's all-electric crossover cousin. Ford says its digital layout was also inspired by fighter jets, as it emulates physical gauges, which are now created in graphics.

Ford hopes the newly designed layout will help drivers quickly and safely select drive modes, read navigation directions, or just change the radio station. Some physical knobs have been retired in the name of a cleaner dashboard, and the Mustang's new screen layout might seem like a shocking change for a muscle car, but it's part of Ford's efforts to modernize its lineup.