Posted on 03/09/2023 9:52:37 PM PST by algore
Over the years, Ford's pony car has gained performance and sophistication, sometimes at the expense of old-school character. Now, the new 2024 Ford Mustang is getting further from its roots by losing its AM radio receiver as controversy over the technology's future in new cars escalates.
The AM radio's discontinuation was discovered in an order guide for the new Mustang that circulated on the Mustang7G forum. A Ford spokesperson confirmed the feature's deletion to The Drive, citing that "countries and automakers globally are modernizing radio by offering internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, or digital."
This makes the Mustang the second Ford product after the 2023 F-150 Lightning to drop the function.
The availability of AM radio in new cars has declined over the last decade with shifts in media consumption habits, with AM radio's audience evaporating in Europe and accounting for only a small minority of the U.S. population. Naturally, automakers seeking to cut costs are removing what's now a niche piece of equipment. AM has already disappeared from many European cars, and is beginning to fall out of favor with American makes too—as shown by the aforementioned Fords.
It's a trend of concern to current and former U.S. emergency officials, who recently wrote the Secretary of Transportation a letter advising action on AM radio's disappearance. AM radio is a crucial component of the U.S.'s national alert network, with just 75 stations reaching more than 90 percent of the country's population. Officials are concerned that AM receivers' decreasing availability in new cars could compromise their ability to reach citizens during emergencies.
However, standalone AM radios remain an affordable way to negate the absence of a receiver in one's vehicle
(Excerpt) Read more at thedrive.com ...
Here in the New York metro area I still like 1010 WINS for traffic. “traffic on the ones”, You give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world! I noticed they also transmit on FM now. I used to listen to Rush when I could. I guess it’s not so bad AM going the way of 8 tracks, cassettes, vent windows,floor mounted brights, and cigarette lighters.
RUSH would NOT like this...
If Rush was still around I wouldn’t be able to hear him.
“Who needs to listen to conservative AM radio anyway? “
My area has an FM station that’s all conservative talk.
And a cassette and a CD player..........................
How am I gonna listen to Burns & Allen or Jack Benny?........................
I do you dufess.
Need redundancy in communication in case of unforeseen events.. Also, with censorship, am radio can be a lifeline if it is considered an obsolete tech. Ford needs to have AM as an option.
Seems like a lot of unnecessary effort, esp when I’m paying over $45k for a new car.
And the AM needs a better antenna.
My 2015 Lincoln has the antenna buried in the rear window. It is very directional and only good for very close stations.
In older Toyota with external antenna, I once heard Rush on 4, maybe 5 stations during a 200-mile trip one morning.
I would listen through the hash if necessary.
My inner bio-clock would alert me at 9:06 AM every weekday.
No more.
With all the CPU’s and electronics in newer cars bet you couldn’t even receive AM radio they play heel with AM radio.
Place a Am radio next to your computer bzzzzzzzzzzz
I have always loved radio, and most of my listening is on AM, except occasionally FM for music. I am old school and just never moved to the new technology. When I am on the road, I always enjoy seeing what I can find on the dial. It kind of connects me to where I am. For better or worse, my cars have the old technology, and I like it, anachronism that I am.
No reason to buy a Mustang if you can’t listen to Wolfman Jack. I mean, what’s the point?
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You Are Correct Sir. Wolfman Jack, AFRTS,1973.
It’s long been said, that Rush Limbaugh SAVED AM radio...
Some years back, in the Philadelphia area, Rush moved to FM. I don’t know what they did using some digital processing “magic” but they screwed up the sound so it didn’t even sound like him. It was awful to listen to. I wonder if some liberal engineer did that deliberately.
That move flopped, and it wasn’t long before he returned to AM, Rush sounded like Rush again, and all was well. Amongst other assets, Rush had a great voice for radio, and that certainly contributed to his success.
I get all the radio I need (WOR in NYC...WRKO in Boston) from iHeart Radio or from HD radio.
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