The Ford Mustang, whose name is believed to be inspired in part by the World War II-era P-51 fighter plane, takes pilot-centered controls to the next level with the digital cockpit in the all-new, seventh-generation model.
The fighter jet-inspired interior pairs a standard 12.4-inch digital cluster and 13.2-inch center stack screen driven by the Unreal Engine 3D creation tool that's behind many popular video games. The immersive experience enables personalization and custom performance for a whole new generation of Mustang fans.
“That’s the command seat and everything is focused on the driver, and that’s a similar approach to what you get in a jet fighter cockpit,” said Craig Sandvig, Design Manager, Digital Product Design. “The way the interior team blended displays with the rest of the IP is just gorgeous.”
To make room for the screens, the all-new Mustang had to move away from its traditional “double brow” dashboard design, a decision that was not taken lightly. Sandvig’s team collaborated with the interior design team to bring the more modern appearance to life.
“(The double-brow) was one of the iconic traits of Mustang and it took a lot of convincing to get some people to support this change,” he said. “It was worth it.”
Taking customization to a different level
The new MyMustang App allows customization of the cluster display and special race gauges on the center screen. There are six drive modes including a custom setup that incorporates personalized settings for steering, suspension, exhaust and more.
It also includes the Track App to display acceleration timing and speeds, brake performance and lap timing, and allows access to the drift brake.
“This is something that is transforming Mustang into something much more futuristic,” Sandvig said, noting that many of the team members involved in the planning share the same passion for gaming as their target audience. “We know customers are connected and everyone is used to interacting with their phones. We’re all used to a digital lifestyle where you can have this type of customization and we’re bringing that into the Mustang.”
The placement of the Track App makes it easy to use Mustang’s capability. The app has been relocated to the center screen from the steering wheel, meaning fewer clicks for users to get there. There are also physical buttons beneath the center stack air vents for heating and cooling, as well as a button to recall drivers’ favorite settings with one click.
“We’re modernizing the entire experience and we’ve simplified it,” Sandvig said. “We know people like hard buttons, but they don’t want to see them all, so that’s where customization comes in.”
Bringing the digital experience to life
The new HMI was a collaborative effort. Sandvig’s team was responsible for the overall look, feel and interaction experience of the new digital interface and worked with the HMI and software teams to make it come to life.
“It’s a huge change for Mustang. We listened to our customers, especially the younger ones. … One of the best things about this project was how closely we worked together with the software team. It was a symbiotic relationship,” he said.
‘A game changer’
Two employees who belong to the Ford Insiders program were among those who received exclusive access to experience Mustang’s new digital interface. Zachary Schallenberger, a software engineer in Product Development IT safety innovation labs, appreciated the array of colors that can be used to customize the car’s driver-centric gauge clusters and center stack.
“As an automotive enthusiast who looks for cars that give you the most customizable experience, this Mustang delivers on that perfectly,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything like (the renderings) before and it reminds me of video games that my generation is very drawn to, and it gives you a really cool feeling being in the car that you don’t normally get.”
The similarity to video games will help Mustang connect with a new demographic, Schallenberger added. “Some people might not consider Mustang to be intended for a younger generation, but when you see these screens that look like the games they’re playing, it’s a really cool way to get a new market of people interested in Mustang.”
Garett Johnson, a project manager for Ford Pro Fin Simple, called the technology behind the digital display a “game-changer,” and said its finer details will be appreciated by a wide variety of consumers. Being from a family of Ford enthusiasts, Johnson has driven Mustangs. The all-new Mustang’s classic Fox Body Mustang retro theme on the instrument cluster, which includes a nighttime green display when the headlights are turned on, inspired memories of riding in his uncle’s 1991 Mustang as a child.
“It’s a classic,” he said. “It makes you feel like a kid again.”
