Ford has wasted no time in launching a new track-focused variant of the seventh-generation Mustang, dubbed the Dark Horse. It doesn’t just look sinister but it promises to push performance to new levels. Show The new Ford Mustang Dark Horse sits atop the new Mustang range and wears the first new performance name for the brand since the Mustang Bullitt was introduced in 2001. It is the most track-capable road-going Mustang ever fitted with a 5.0-liter V8 and essentially fills the void left behind by the sixth-generation Mustang Mach 1. Ford started work on the Mustang Dark Horse some three years ago and has fitted the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 with the connecting rods from the Shelby GT500’s 760 hp engine. The automaker has also installed dual throttle bodies and is ‘projecting’ it to produce 500 hp, although final figures have yet to be confirmed. Read More: 2024 Ford Mustang Lands With BMW-Style Digital Dash, Manual Box And A 5.0 V8 You Can Rev From The Keyfob  It is not just the engine that makes the Mustang Dark Horse a track-focused beast. A unique six-speed Tremec manual transmission is fitted as standard and includes a distinctive transmission oil cooler. Customers can opt for a 10-speed automatic should they choose. The car also rocks brake cooling ducts, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler, and a unique radiator that is lighter and features more powerful cooling fans for improved cooling capabilities. The alterations don’t stop there. MagneRide shocks will come fitted as standard to each and every Mustang Dark Horse to roll off the production line. These shocks can monitor wheel and tire movement 1,000 times per second to optimize performance. Complementing these shocks is a larger rear sway bar and 19-inch wheels that are 9.5-inches wide at the front and 10-inches at the rear, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires. Ford has also equipped the car with a strut tower brace and K-brace to improve handling. A set of 13.9-inch six-piston Brembo front brake calipers have also been included in the Dark Horse. Those seeking even more performance will be able to opt for the Handling Package. It adds a unique rear wing with an integrated gurney flap, stiffer springs, larger front and rear sway bars, and unique 19-inch wheels with wider Pirelli Trofeo tires. Lightweight carbon fiber wheels will also be made available. A number of visual alterations further differentiate the Dark Horse from lesser Mustang models. Up front, the headlights have been darkened while a new black grille has been installed. Additionally, the side skirts extend lower and there is also a new rear wing, diffuser, and darkened quad exhaust tips. New badges have also been designed, as has a new color dubbed Blue Ember metallic. The interior also benefits from a number of upgrades. For example, the flat-bottomed steering wheel is now trimmed in suede and finished with bright Indigo Blue accent stitching while models equipped with the 10-speed auto receive anodized silver paddle shifters. Customers who order the Appearance Pack will also receive Deep Indigo Blue seats. A 12-speaker B&O audio system comes as standard. “For decades, Mustang has competed against the most premium brands on the greatest world stages and won,” Ford chief executive Jim Farley described in a statement. “We surprised everyone, and we’re going to surprise them again with 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.” Ford has yet to announce pricing and availability details for the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse but it will likely start at around $60,000. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... Ford made plenty of noise in Detroit Wednesday night, taking over most of the city’s downtown for a celebration of all things Mustang and the people who love them. Kickstarted on Sep. 6 at the LeMay auto museum in Tacoma, Washington with a cross-country drive—er, stampede—its destination at the city’s riverfront Hart Plaza served as the stage for the debut of the new 2024 Mustang. We knew the launch would include a coupe, convertible and GT variant; we didn’t expect the surprise introduction of the Mustang Dark Horse, the first all-new Mustang performance series in the 21 years since the Mustang Bullitt debuted in 2001. Developed behind closed doors for over three years, the Dark Horse takes all the crucial Mustang elements, namely a V8-powered rear-wheel drive coupe with a manual transmission, and hones the formula for street and track performance. 5.0-Liter Coyote V8 ReshodBuilt on the familiar 5.0-liter Coyote architecture, the Dark Horse V8 is projecting more the 500 horsepower. It utilizes several tricks to achieve that output, including piston connecting borrowed from the 760-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500 and the new dual-throttle intake that breathes through openings in the front grille. To keep things running smoothly, Dark Horse gets an auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler and a unique and lighter-weight radiator with improved cooling capability and more robust cooling fans to improve endurance and recovery. The manual transmission also gets a dedicated cooling unit. A 10-speed automatic transmission with sport paddle shifters is available for buyers who—and it pains us to say this—rather not shift for themselves. A Torsen limited-slip rear differential is standard. Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) tires with staggered fitting wheels (19-inch-by-9.5-inch front and 19-inch-by-10-inch rear wheels) fill out the wheel wells, while standard active dampers capable of monitoring 1,000 tire and wheel movements a second keep the rubber on the road. Larger rear sway bars, heavy-duty front shocks and a new lightweight Ford Performance-designed strut tower brace them for heightened steering response. The 19-inch Brembo six-piston brakes with 13.9-inch rotors reside in front. An available handling package adds stiffer springs, larger front and rear sway bars, wider Pirelli Trofeo tires and 19-inch-by-10.5-inch front and 19-inch-by-11-inch rear wheels. Lightweight carbon fiber wheels from Carbon Revolution are also on the menu but are subject to late availability. Aerodynamics get a boost with a rear wing that includes an integrated Gurney flap, giving it the most downforce of any all-new Mustang. Exclusive Dark Horse styling tweaks include a bold, shadow graphic surrounding the darkened LED headlamps, a gloss black grille with trapezoidal nostrils and prominently, a unique lower front bumper with high gloss “fangs.” A fixed rear wing, lower side skirts, a race-inspired diffuser and darkened quad exhaust tips complete the look. A Forward-Facing HorseNotably, the Mustang Dark Horse is the first time a Mustang has ever featured a forward-facing horse logo. Placed on the fenders, trunk and door sills, a dark, anodized version rides on the front. Inside, unique Mustang Dark Horse badging is featured on the instrument panel and digital display screens, and each car features an individual chassis number. Inside, a thicker, flat-bottomed suede-wrapped steering wheel with bright blue accent stitching is matched by a similar style on the seats, door panels, shift gaiter, console and seat belts. Interior bits like the vents and bezels are dark metallic gloss replacing bright silver shades of other Mustang trim levels. A 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system provides the tunes. Road and Track Specials: Dark Horse S and RTwo additional Dark Horse variants are in the pipeline. The Mustang Dark Horse S is designed for the weekend track day enthusiast, while Mustang Dark Horse R has been developed for racing. Mustang Dark Horse S is a stripped-down version of the production vehicle. A full FIA-certified safety cage, safety nets, a race seat with safety belts, a race steering wheel with quick disconnect, electrical disconnects and a fire suppression system make it perfect for the weekend warrior looking to step directly into an approved track car. Dark Horse S features the above with additional strategic seam welding, a fuel cell for increased range, Ford Performance Parts wheels and the particular serialization that approves it for racing. Both have been further enhanced for performance and stripped of almost every unneeded comfort, keeping only what is needed to provide better performance. Back To Le Mans, Daytona and MoreSpeaking from the stage at the Stampede, Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford, said, “Mustang will go back to Le Mans. Once again, we will ‘Go Like Hell.’” “Mustang is raced at all the great tracks around the world, but there is no race or track that means more to our history than Le Mans,” Ford continued at the debut of the all-new seventh-generation Mustang. “It’s where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s and where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world again.” Additionally, Ford announced GT3 and GT4 variants of the new seventh-generation Mustang. The factory-backed GT3 will enter competition starting with 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida in 2024. A Mustang GT4 available for customers will also debut in the 2023 season and will be available for global GT4 classes in IMSA, SRO and FIA GT. Finally, another new version of the competition Mustang will debut next season in the Australian Supercars Championship series. In the coming years, newly designed models will debut in the NASCAR Cup series and NHRA Factory X racing. Future of the Pony?The pony car segment has always been a three-horse race: Ford Mustang vs. Dodge Challenger vs. Chevrolet Camaro. Others have tried to get in the running, but few have made a lasting impact. So, while some critics are already accusing the Mustang of being just a minor re-hash of the current car, Ford’s commitment to the V8 speaks volumes. Dodge, of all players, long the home of the truly dedicated horsepower fanatics of cartoonish proportions, is going all in on an EV future with the upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV, while Chevrolet, who is on the record with its 13-year plan to convert the entire lineup to EVs, is still a little cagey regarding the future of the Camaro. If nothing else, Ford’s commitment to keep the Mustang running on gasoline V8 power for the next generational cycle—at least the next 5 to 7 years—speaks volumes about the heart of the company and its deep relationship with its customer base. How much is the dark horse?
How much is the s650 dark horse?Estimates for the performance series Mustang Black Horse are closer to $60,000. That's pretty much in line with prices for Ford's more recent performance Mustangs like the 2020 Shelby GT350 and 2022 Mach 1. See how these price estimates compare to other Mustang prices throughout the years.
How much will the 2023 Ford Mustang cost?We expect the base price of the 2023 Ford Mustang in fastback/coupe format will start at around $28,000. This nets you the turbo 4-cylinder and a choice of 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. If you want open-air Mustang thrills, the entry-level 2023 Mustang convertible may run about $33,000.
What color is the 2024 Mustang dark horse?Blue Ember (Dark Horse Exclusive)
While Ford does say there's only 11 paint choices for the 2024 Mustang, it does seem to be leaving out the neat "Blue Ember" metallic paint found on the special Dark Horse model, which is a cool-toned shade on the surface, but glows with warm metallic fleck accents in strong light.
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