The reveal of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang, also known as the S650, took place just about a week ago (although it was leaked prior to the official event), and we're already excited. The Mustang will have three main trim levels namely the EcoBoost with a turbocharged four-pot under its hood, the Mustang GT, which engulfs a naturally-aspirated V8, and the star of today's show, the Dark Horse.
If that name doesn't ring any bells, it's because there has never been anything like it. Ford has built some slightly less tame Mustangs like the Mach One or Boss 302, but never before have they made use of the "Dark Horse" name. It's not quite as visceral as say a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake, but the Mustang Dark Horse is its own, seperate entity. Today we'll be talking about the name's origin, as well as what makes the Dark Horse stand out from the standard Mustang. Perhaps all 2022 muscle cars aren't doomed.
10 The Meaning Behind The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Badge
Sometimes it's the most minute details that catch your eye, and in regard to the Mustang Dark Horse, that's precisely the case. Just like Shelby has their iconic cobra badge, the Dark Horse has an exclusive emblem: A horse's head staring straight forward surrounded by an imposing horseshoe.
The Dark Horse badge is scattered throughout the entire body of the new Mustang. It's plastered on both fenders and on the rear of the trunk lid. Ed Krenz, the chief nameplate engineer, says the Dark Horse's logo's dark design was purposefully done to depict the understated nature of the Dark Horse.
9 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Will House A Naturally-Aspirated 5.0-liter V8
The new Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse will both engulf the same naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 Coyote engine found in the previous 'Stang, but this time around, it's slightly tweaked. The outgoing Mustang GT's V8 produces 450 hp, but apparently, Ford is aiming to squeeze 500 hp out of this one.
The power gain is a direct result of forging some internals, as well as implementing a dual air-intake box. The cherry on the cake however is the connecting rods used which Ford sampled from the 760-hp supercharged V8 engine found in the Shelby GT500.
8 The Sound Of The Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Most modern cars lack a crisp exhaust tone. Take for example the brand-new Mercedes-AMG C63, it ditched its glorious V8 for a hybrid-assisted four-cylinder engine. Automakers need to take these steps unfortunately to ensure they can produce cars in the future, and that's not even to mention the horrid rev-limiters...
In spite of all that, Ford managed to accomplish the impossible. Not only did they develop a naturally-aspirated V8 engine in the year 2022, but they also made it sound just as good as before. Just have a listen to its raw, aggressive symphony.
7 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Is The Most Track-Orientated Mustang That Comes Without A Shelby Badge
Mustangs were notorious for being ill-handling cars, but that was one of the core principles a muscle car had. As the technology evolved, however, Mustangs matured and Ford realized you can't just be fast in a straight line. Evidently, Ford started building some more track-focused Mustangs, but all of these were fine-tuned by Shelby.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse changes the game though. It will be the most track-orientated car Ford has ever built – excluding the Ford GT of course. The Dark Horse will have a Torsen limited-slip differential, stickier tires, and a stiffer suspension setup – more on that in a bit – a monstrous rear wing, as well as some aerodynamic components throughout. There will even be an optional Handling Package if all of this doesn't suffice your needs...
6 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Comes With A 6-Speed Manual Transmission
So we've already ticked two boxes on our checklist of things we never expected to see on a new car: a naturally-aspirated V8 engine and a tantalizing exhaust noise. There's one left to go, a manual transmission... We're in luck! All S650 Ford Mustangs accross the board will have the chance to come equipped with a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission, just like the Mach 1.
Sure, the sight of a stick shift in a modern car isn't completely impossible to find, the MK5 Supra just adopted a manual transmission after all. But to have a standard transmission in a car as important as the seventh-generation Mustang almost brings a tear to our eye.
5 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse's Wheels And Suspension
All Dark Horse models will have 10-inch-wide rear wheels as well as 9.5-inch-wide rear wheels, both wrapped in sticky Pirelli P ZERO tires. However, there are optional carbon fiber wheels available which are lighter, as well as wider Pirelli Trofeo tires that are part of the Handling Package.
The Dark Horse will also come fitted with Ford's impeccable adaptive MagneRide suspension system as standard that can make adjustments in just one-thousandth of a second. Oh, and don't forget the brakes. As standard, the Dark Horse will have 19-inch Brembo front 6-piston brakes with 13.9-inch rotors.
4 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse's Exclusive Features
We've already covered a boatload of features that differentiate the Dark Horse from the rest of the Mustang family, but there's even more to unfold. As you might have seen, the Dark Horse sports an abundance of dark blue features, and it's not just limited to the exterior paint.
That particular metallic paint job (Blue Ember) looks like any normal, sinister deep blue in the shadows, but when the sun touches it, you'll notice the warmth of its shimmer too. When the Dark Horse wears the optional Appearance Package, its brake calipers also have a blue appearance and don't even get us started with the interior...
3 The Interior Of The Ford Mustang Dark Horse
The Mustang Dark Horse and the normal Mustang share identical interiors on paper, but in the real world, these will differ quite a bit. The Dark Horse's interior will stay true to its sinister dark blue theme, as does the rest of the car.
All the metal accents found in the interior will be finished in a dark, metallic gloss, as opposed to the bright silver color, and if you were to option the Appearance Package, Ford will fit your Dark Horse with stunning perforated Deep Indigo Blue seats. Oh, and if for whatever reason you'd like to listen to some music instead of the exhaust's demonic song, all Dark Horse Mustangs have a crisp Bang & Olufsen sound system that features a subwoofer and 12 speakers.
2 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse's Handbrake
Now, hold your horses (pun intended), Ford has done something the world has never seen before. They constructed an electric parking brake that should operate just like a manual one. Things get even more confusing... it's called the Electronic Drift Brake.
Its purpose is to serve as an easy way for beginners to learn how to drift. How exactly this works, and if it even will accomplish the task at hand still remains somewhat of a mystery...
1 The Ford Mustang Dark Horse's Price
The outgoing Mustang GT has an MSRP of just under $40,000. This already isn't remarkably cheap, but in comparison to some of its rivals like the Dodge Challenger, its price is tempting.
Although Ford is yet to confirm what the next-generation Mustang will cost, we have some idea of what it might be. We reckon that the 2024 Ford Mustang GT will cost just north of $40,000. We predict that the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will cost approximately $60,000 – much higher than the GT, but also much more exclusive and feature-filled. If you fear dealerships will mark these prices up into oblivion, your soul can rest at ease since Ford has already taken the necessary steps to prevent that from happening.