When it comes to Ford muscle cars, the Mustang rules the roost. From the Mustang GT to the Boss, several special editions cranked up the horsepower and performance over the years. So, the 500-HP Dark Horse Mustang is the next in line, as Mustang enters its all-new 2024 seventh generation, and Ford claims it debuted to spread cheer and joy to its fans last Christmas.
Over the years, the Ford Mustang kept on redefining itself over and over, and most of its special iterations were often Shelby-tuned. While its competitors like the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger and Charger took breaks in between, challenged by the malaise era, the Ford Mustang remained a stalwart. From being one of the most revered muscle cars back in the ‘60s when it debuted, the Mustang continued to deliver, turning into the top muscle car of the modern automotive era as well.
Today, some would say that the 2024 Mustang is both a muscle car and a sports car, although it's Ford's flagship two-door muscle car. With Ford upping the ante with the 500-HP Dark Horse Mustang, fans are sure to make a beeline for the newest kid on the block. Especially since it’s more powerful than the 486-HP Ford Mustang GT and comes non-Shelby tuned. So here’s all that makes the Dark Horse Mustang the cynosure of every muscle car fan’s eye.
Ford Dark Horse Mustang Bears A Specially Engineered Coyote V8
Much like Vanessa Williams crooned how her dream guy saved the best for last, it seems Ford has gone ahead and done the same for its fans as well. Of course, this is not the last generation of the Mustang, just that the Dark Horse Mustang is the best the fans have seen yet.
At the heart of the Dark Horse Mustang and the reason behind its astonishing 500 horsepower is a uniquely engineered 5.0-liter V8 that also boosts up the torque to 418 lb-ft. The Coyote V8, as Ford dubs it, is in its fourth iteration and its most naturally aspirated powerful form.
According to Ford, the upgrades that let the Coyote V8 reach half a grand horsepower are a uniquely balanced crankshaft and forged piston connecting rods. The rods are not new as a concept, given that they first debuted in the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 to better handle higher cylinder pressures and piston speeds. To add more to the insides, the Dark Horse Mustang has track-strengthened camshafts as well to make it more track durable, given that this lets it rev closer to its 7,400-RPM redline.
The Dark Horse Mustang Is A Track-Focused Muscle Car
Ford’s Dark Horse Mustang doesn’t just depend on a tuned engine for better performance, given that it boasts plenty more updates for better track and road performance. The Tremec TR 3160 six-speed manual transmission is shorter than the Getrag MT82 in the Mustang GT, enabling a faster shift.
In case you opt for the 10-speed automatic transmission, it includes sport paddle shifters and an auxiliary transmission oil cooler for better shifting. Plus, the Dark Horse Mustang boasts a lightweight radiator for improved cooling minus additional weight.
This muscle car’s suspension comes specially tuned with Brembo six-piston front brakes and MagneRide adaptive dampers. Plus, it wears a unique, lighter strut tower brace that's lighter but stronger than the other Mustang iteration’s components. A fixed rear wing adds more panache and aerodynamics, given that this is Ford’s most powerful non-Shelby tuned Mustang yet.
Meanwhile, the Mustang GT and EcoBoost are no weaklings either. Ford Mustang GT now offers up to 486 horsepower and 415 lb-ft torque on a new dual-throttle body design with an active-valve performance exhaust system. Mustang EcoBoost also delivers an impressive 315 horsepower ad 350 lb-ft torque bearing an all-new turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine.
Clearly, the seventh-generation 2024 Mustang arrives with a bang, aiming to please in all its iterations, with the Dark Horse as the cherry on top.
Coolest Ford Muscle Car Comes With Looks To Match
While the pricing of Ford’s most powerful non-Shelby tuned muscle car is still under wraps, we know more details about its insides and appearance. Dark Horse Mustang models come aggressive with a wide body with wider fenders, front splitter, and side skirts, with a carbon fiber bumper.
They will feature seven body colors and come riding on super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires. Each Dark Horse model boasts a unique chassis number with new pony badges on the outside, on the fenders and trunk, featuring a stallion coming towards the viewer. A Dark Horse logo on the tailpipes is yet another distinctive feature.
The insides will also remind you that you are at the helm of a muscle car, given a redesigned cabin with a more modern, driver-focused layout. There’s a redesigned dashboard with a dark Black Alley-finished trim and a new style of perforation pattern to make the insides stand out, along with indigo blue accent stitching in the interior. A Sync 4 interface makes infotainment easier, with all models featuring an exclusive welcome animation on the digital display screen.
Basically, the Dark Horse Mustang is one cool muscle car, and it never lets you forget that, which is a great thing indeed.