When the 2024 Ford Mustang was revealed, the Blue Oval announced the addition of several gimmicky features. Now, as we celebrate Mustang Week, it's giving us more detail on one of the most controversial of those: remote rev.

The remote rev function is operated with the Mustang's key fob and is available on 5.0-liter V8 models with an automatic transmission and 2.3-liter EcoBoost models fitted with the Ford Active Exhaust. You can either manually start the engine or use the fob's remote start function, and once the engine has reached the optimal operating temperature, you can remotely rev to your heart's content - or until the neighbors call the cops.

To activate the feature, you'll need to press the lock and unlock buttons sequentially within three seconds to activate the feature. The car will respond by revving the engine to 2,000 rpm, indicating that the feature is engaged. Press those two buttons again, and let the fun begin.

Ford says the engine will now rev three times in a row, gradually increasing until it peaks at 5,000 rpm. However, this can be programmed to the owner's tastes, allowing you to tailor your remote rev system to your tastes. The system remains on standby should you want to remotely rev the engine again, simply requiring the driver to press the unlock and lock buttons once again to activate the feature.

We first caught wind of this feature last year when patent filings suggested Ford was working on a remote rev system.

At the time, it was suggested that the Mustang's lights would flash in accordance with the revving engine, and Ford even suggested the feature could pay a musical tune using nothing but the engine. Of course, those were variations included in the patent as a means of protecting the various functions that are theoretically possible, but not always implemented, in the final product. Ford may, however, add these at a later date, and the FordPass mobile app seems a logical way to let you choose which programs you activate.

Mustang Week

The manufacturer noted that the system could also work with hybrid or electric vehicles. EVs would rely on something called "virtual revving," which would use synthetic sounds played through the in-car speakers. The system would allow owners to choose from a revving engine, a turbine, or even a flux capacitor sound, meaning we may yet see something similar on the Mustang Mach-E.

Turning the conversation back to combustion for a moment, Ford is treating this week as Mustang Week in celebration of the iconic pony car's 59 years of existence - the Mustang was officially introduced on April 17, 1964. To celebrate this the manufacturer showed off all the exterior colors and body configurations for the 2024 Mustang and updated the configurator to reflect all the available options.

Even though it was unveiled last year, buyers will have to wait until this year's summer to get their hands on the next-gen Mustang. That's still some time away, so we expect Ford to release more exciting Mustang details between then and now.

The Mustang has made news for other reasons this week, too, as rumors suggest Ford is already working on the new Shelby high-performance variants, with the GT500 rumored to return for MY2026 as a coupe and convertible. But another rumor suggests Ford is looking to introduce an off-road Raptor version of the Mustang with up to 700 horsepower in Raptor R form, capitalizing on the Raptor name and its off-road expertise to expand the Mustang's popularity.

While it sounds bizarre, last year showed us that there's a market for off-roading sports cars, as evidenced by the 911 Dakar and Huracan Sterrato. Whether it arrives or not remains to be seen, but it's clear to see Ford is fully invested in its iconic Mustang and is intent on keeping it alive at all costs.