It’s model year changeover time for America’s pony car, which is often at least mildly exciting given the sheer fanbase of the Ford Mustang. Alright, so it’s not like winning the lottery, but it is a bit like getting socks for Christmas as an adult. Normally, this is a good time, but depending on your preferred trim level, one alteration of standard equipment might make you feel shortchanged.
First up, you can get some fantastic new colors for 2026. Orange Fury—which is really more of a yellow—is back on the menu, and Adriatic Blue absolutely rules. At the same time, the ’80s-inspired FX package is fun, and it’s nice to know that Ford’s holding the line on pricing for the performance package. However, if you select the Ecoboost Premium or GT Premium trims and scroll down, you’ll notice something’s missing.
Yep, you’re looking at a Mustang GT Premium without the single-frame infotainment screen. For 2026, the big showpiece of the S650 Mustang’s interior is no longer standard equipment on those trims. Instead, the cheapest way to get it is as a $1,000 standalone option, or you can get it bundled in with the High Series package that costs $2,900 on a Mustang GT Premium and $3,000 on a Mustang Ecoboost Premium. Already, this doesn’t sound like a great deal, and that’s before you realize this option doesn’t really give you a bigger or better screen.
See, all new Mustang models feature a 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, regardless of whether you pop for the conjoined screens or not. Both setups feature fantastic black levels and both setups are responsive, meaning the $1,000 premium for the “Magnesium Framed Panoramic Curved Display” doesn’t actually buy you additional screen. It just buys you bezel, and while a bit of magnesium and a bit of extra glass sounds nice, there’s no benefit over separate screens.
Having tried both screen setups, the premium option serves no functional purpose, is purely aesthetic, and could actually make component replacement more expensive in the rare event of the screen acquiring damage. Instead of replacing either the digital cluster or the infotainment screen, you’d be replacing a giant screen array.
Regardless, there are two ways of looking at this upcharge. The first is that the curved display costs $1,000 and the active valved exhaust costs $1,595, so the valved mufflers really only run you $595. Car person math. The second is that a 2026 Mustang GT Premium costs the same as the 2025 model, so Ford’s really just yoinked the big bezel out to give you less for your money. While cost management is something every automaker does, it would be much appreciated if skipping the fancy display saved you more than just the difference of inflation.
Of course, the Mustang Dark Horse gets the single-frame display as standard, and the non-Premium Ecoboost and GT trims never got it in the first place, so maybe those trims are where the real value’s at. Still, if you want a Mustang Ecoboost or GT with leather, be prepared to pay a little bit more if you also want the single-frame screen setup.
Top graphic image: Ford
Hmmm dual iPads with the Pedestrian Targeting Sight™ or The Monolith?
Bigger screen costing more? How much of a discount can I get by shrinking the screen down to 0.00″?
So $1000 for 2 tablets to be glued to your dashboard? Not a fan.
Don’t be silly. They use staples and duct tape.
The double screen looks a lot more clunky than the single screen. Ford Pimpworks knows this so they’re charging more for Sally. It’s not a rip-off. It’s a poke-you-in-the-eye-call-your-wife-a-dirty-name insult. I agree that repairs would be easier for the double screen. For manufacturing though, surely it cost more to make and install two frames than one.
“Instead, the cheapest way to get it is as a $1,000 standalone option, or you can get it bundled in with the High Series package that costs $2,900 on a Mustang GT Premium and $3,000 on a Mustang Ecoboost Premium.”
“The first is that the curved display costs $1,000 and the active valved exhaust costs $1,595, so the valved mufflers really only run you $595. Car person math.”
If by “Car person math” you mean Math which isn’t Mathing….
…because on the GT you can get the conjoined screens for $1000, and/or the active exhaust for $1495, and/or CoPilot 360 for $1095 – or you get those three plus all the other stuff within the GT Premium High Group which includes all of the above plus Premium Leather interior trim, power memory seats, memory heated power mirrors w fancy lights, aluminum pedals, Alarm, etc for $2900 – So you’re basically getting the conjoined screen and a bunch of other stuff for free.
One less part to be recalled.
That looks awful, either iteration. Not really fitting of a sports car. Looks more like a racing simulator.
Great analogy! I’d been searching for awhile for a way to encapsulate this sort of thing, and now I have it. I feel it’s apt, as for more and more drivers, driving is less a viseral activitiy and more a largely non-driving-focused entertainment activity/distraction.
I guess considering the reliability of new Ford releases having a decent entertainment screen to view entertainment while waiting for the tow truck might be worth it
Are these removable? With how tacked on they look, they should be. Bring your tablet with you! Make the settings fron your couch! They attempted to give it some foxbody callbacks, why not bring back the 80s removable media players?
Looks as stupid as it is expensive.
Does anyone actually care about this shit or is this stupid manufacturer groupthink that’s been focus grouped to hell and back? Like I don’t think a single person I’ve helped choose a car has ever even mentioned the infotainment system other than my old man, who’s an architect and appreciated the aesthetics of the single curved screen in BMWs. But that’s a very specific case.
I genuinely do not care other than wanting it to be simple and work without issue. I know these companies are still chasing the sugar high that is the Tesla dragon but I just don’t believe there are throngs of real, car buying human beings that walk into a dealership and go “oh I’ll pay (X) more of the UBER SCREEN” or “yeah I’m willing to be upsold to the model that has a single huge screen instead of two medium sized ones”.
Am I wrong and too car blog pilled on this topic? Do normies actually choose their cars based on who has the biggest or best looking screen? It just feels like shit that’s being shoved down our throats for no good reason.
Yes, actual real car buyers will pay extra for a bigger screen that costs the manufacturer almost no extra money. It is a huge profit center.
Can’t say whether or not people will pay extra for what looks like one big screen instead of 2 but buyers want big screens in their cars today.
Big screens the nerd equivalent of Porsche Penis envy.
Automakers care about the Benjamins not your fetishes.
Well new cars sales are the shit but I just figured that was because they want a million dollars for an entry level mustang that is going to break down before the 1960s 12 months or 12,000 mile warranty
With Ford Quality #1, this thing will surely work as planned.
They both seem fairly tacked-on.
I miss when displays and their respective controls were integrated into the car’s dash.
Integrating the screen into the dash costs significantly more money because you have to make different dash tooling to accommodate each size of screen. Either that or just make the dash for the big screen and put in in filler trim pieces but that makes the standard version look really cheap.
Remember the days when the base model’s radio didn’t have the CD player, so you got a little cubby-hole that you used to wedge in a pair of sunglasses instead?
But, seriously, cost of screens and cost of incremental sizes of screens being what they are, it’s pretty sad
We have to make money on something. Base vehicles are cheaper today adjusted for inflation. The only margin is on higher trims and options.
I want to see the math on this. I would have no problem buying a new 2007 Toyota Camry today at the real cost I think manufacturers lie about the actual cost comparisons.
I refuse to believe if you built a 2007 today with no upgrades and for paid off R&D it would cost more than a 2025 Camry. It makes no sense.
Yes you could buy a better stereo and speakers for 25% of the price and easily install it yourself.
I wonder how much it would cost to make the main screen bigger and just integrate the backup camera into that display. From what I’ve seen, many instrument clusters already duplicate what’s on the screen, so why not just get rid of one of them entirely?
The center screen is primarily used for navigation, entertainment, and HVAC. Passengers like to have access to those features so putting all of that into the screen in front of the driver doesn’t work.
Using physical controls for HVAC and radio costs more than having a screen and the passenger still wouldn’t be able to see the navigation.
People also really like a big screen for navigation and will willingly pay for to have one. There is no reason to get rid of it.
I guess so when you shift into reverse the Rugrats won’t complain you cut off their enjoyment of watching Rugrats
I may be in the minority, but I don’t like the way the joined screens look. All I think it does is make two meh after-thought design choices look like one homely after-thought design choice.
I agree. If I had to have one or the other I prefer the separate screens.
I’d much prefer a real gauge cluster, though. And the center screen would look better dropped lower into the stack.
Wait, they change MORE for the bigger screen? That seems backwards