All-New Mustang Dark Horse – Upshifts in Performance, Style and Technology
The seventh-generation Mustang has debuted, bringing turbocharged four-cylinder and V8 power back to the newest pony in the stable! Ford isn’t ready to release horsepower ratings for any new Mustang models yet, but the Dark Horse will pack a bit more punch from its 5.0-litre Coyote V8 versus the GT.
Ford says the Mustang Dark Horse is the “most exhilarating and fun-to-drive Mustang ever” with Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company also speaking out about it saying “a track-capable Mustang that puts a new level of performance, styling and American engineering in the hands of everyday customers who still want the thrill and excitement of a V8 sports car.”
You will find on close inspection that the new Mustang is powered by the same naturally-aspirated V8 that the old car has, but with some changes to help it achieve a bit more power. First of all, the engine features tuned piston connecting rods along with a lighter radiator, dual throttle-body intake designs and more powerful cooling fans.
Further enhancements come in the form of Brembo brakes from the Ford Performance package that comes as standard and are cooled by extra NACA ducts. The Dark Horse also receives MagneRide shocks and Pirelli P-Zero tyres. You can have your pick of either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
From the outside, it’s easy to spot the Dark Horse from the standard Mustang. The LED headlights are slightly tinted and the grille has a glossy black finish, there’s also a larger lip spoiler at the front, along with lower side skirts and optional carbon-fibre wheels. At the back, there is a more aggressive diffuser, a fixed rear wing and darkened quad-exhaust tips.
When we get in the new Dark Horse, we see that it also benefits from a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch central screen. Blue stitching on the doors, seats and gear shifter brightens the cabin up and a new, fatter steering wheel comes in covered in suede and with yet more blue stitching!
This isn’t it for the Dark Horse range, with Ford planning even more performance Mustangs in the shape of the Dark Horse S and the Dark Horse R. Ford says the S is designed for track day enthusiasts while the R is a specially-developed racing car.
