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2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse Premium: Review, Specs & Price – Ford could have delved into the innumerable names, put a historical badge on the back of the seventh-generation Mustang, and then called the day. However, this is the very first Mustang since generation 4 that has a Performance trim, The Dark Horse.
Contrary to the sixth-gen throwbacks, such as those from the Mach 1 and GT350, the Mustang Dark Horse doesn’t have ancestry to boost its standing. And, on the flip the other hand, does it have any past nostalgic inclination to impede its progress? Ford would have wanted his performance to be a statement on its own – and it certainly does.
Review
The available Recaro buckets actually are quite cozy. They are a nice design, with lumbar support that is excellent as well as a lovely leather-like finish. The bolstering is a bit aggressive and padded – another drawback of owning a car with track capability but there’s no motorized adjustment. Manual adjustments are intended to reduce the weight, however, I’d prefer to give up a couple of pounds to gain greater versatility (which is what you get with the basic chairs).
The brand-new suite of tech features a 12.4-inch Digital Instrument Cluster that has a 13.2-inch touchscreen, which implies that some old-fashioned interior components are removed. However, Ford’s latest infotainment suite is simple to operate and extremely customizable, and obviously, there are the Fox Body gauges from the GT and base Mustangs are available on the Dark Horse and the Dark Horse and a handful of Dark Horse-specific graphic elements.
The MagneRide adaptive suspension comes as standard and can be adjusted in softness, from Normal to Track. In Normal mode, however, it’s not necessarily soft, but it’s to be expected of a racehorse. There’s a noticeable brutality on rough roads however, nothing that I could find to be offensive.
For an authentic performance test on the track, we took to the track. It’s a great track. Charlotte Motor Speedway banks up to 24 degrees – higher than the majority of ovals at the Nascar circuit. It also has an inside road track, which is referred to as”the “Roval.” The track is only just a small portion of it however there are enough turns to give you a sense of how the Dark Horse can really do.
The NA V8 once again is a great example of how loved it is when you first see it on the bank. The car’s incessant top-end power propels the Mustang through the initial two corners at a high speed, and with a loud sound coming from its quad exhaust tips moving around the stands as if it were a real original car.
The first chicane is the most difficult to navigate and The Dark Horse exhibits better agility than perhaps any pony car north of the Shelby. The Handling Pack that is installed in this vehicle (which I tested exclusively on the track) the car has incredibly sticky and uneven Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires (305 front and 315 rear) with stiffer springs, bigger anti-roll bars, and integrated Gurney flap that is located on the back wings. This is all in the name of providing the Mustang greater confidence in cornering.
The suspension is perfectly stable; the body is smooth and flat while I, an amateur try to wrestle it around the tense inside-field course. The car has a tiny bit of body roll during certain of the more tense turns. There’s no tail-happy at the rear and thankfully.
The steering response is faster than ever before and lets me point the big Mustang’s nose as close to each edge as I can. But the problem is that the tiller has lost some of the charming chatter of the model before it. Even with the most aggressive Track setting The steering has been boosted until it is a bit sluggish on the center and isn’t able to load at a high rate in corners. This makes it difficult to determine which tires the front ones are actually doing. It’s not enough feedback to make you push further.
However, switching the mode to Sport+ or Track mode will result in improvement in other areas, including damping and tuning of the throttle. The increased stiffness of Track mode makes it easier to spot the Dark Horse on the corners and the speedier response to throttle means that you are able to take the power of the corners more efficiently.
Engine
It’s the most powerful naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 ever built in Mustang history. The Coyote engine remains beautiful as it has ever been. Connector rods for the piston are made of forged steel from the turbocharged GT500 as well as a specific software tune boosts the engine up to 500 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque. This is which is an increase of 20 horsepower and 3 pounds-ft over the present GT.
It’s true that the Dark Horse isn’t quite as high-powered at low RPMs, but it’s not as torque-laden as other turbocharged or supercharged rivals. It has enough power to propel out of the way in a hurry, but not too it’s so much that Mustang can’t make automobiles as well as coffee drinkers everywhere breathe an exhale of relief. The torque builds beautifully way from a 4,900-rpm maximum and then continues to increase until the redline.
Increase the speed to 5,000 RPM in order to make the most from the Dark Horse. It is absolutely able to haul in higher speeds and the V8 does the best job when it is working with a lot of force. It’s even loved when it is paired with the Tremec six-speed manual. It features perfectly precise, swift throws, rev-matching technology that is automatic as well as no-lift-shift (which is used on GM performance cars for quite several years). This is a match made in the heaven of muscle cars. There’s a 10-speed auto available which is pretty decent however the 6-speed is the best option.
Price
The minimum price is $60,000 with the charge for the destination to access a basic Mustang Dark Horse, which is not much more than the BMW M2 ($63,195). It’s also $64,860 if you’d like Dark Horse Premium. The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse Premium with color-matching stitches, more cushioned materials as well as a couple of visual changes.
The 10-speed auto adds an extra $1,595 (not necessarily that you’ll need it) as the Handling package (which you must purchase) adds an additional $4995. In all, a premium model that includes all the features will cost less than $73,000, which is an enviable amount of cash.
Even though it doesn’t possess the history to back up its claims it’s a great 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse doesn’t have to look back in time to make a great. Its Dark Horse builds upon the GT featuring a strong V8, outstanding dynamic, and sleek styling. It is a stunning car. Dark Horse deserves to be one of the most popular models in the Mustang lineup for many years to become.