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2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse: What is the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse? – The Dark Horse is a wholly new breed of Mustang, meaning that it does not have any genetic ties to previous versions of the breed. Although it is based on the brand new seventh-generation V-8–powered Ford Mustang GT, the Dark Horse is more badass right out of the box, and it was bred for racing, with various standard performance enhancements and special track-focused choices.
Consider the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to be the offspring of the now-retired Mach 1 and Shelby trim levels; however, none of these options will be available for the first model year of the new Stang. The Dark Horse is the most track-capable Mustang that does not have Shelby badging, much in the same way that Mach 1 was before it. A number of components from the Shelby GT350 and GT500 have been transferred over to this model, the most notable of which is the GT models’ lightweight carbon-fiber wheels. That is the first time that Ford will sell the exotic rims on a Mustang that is not a Shelby model, and even when they become available later in the model year, it is probable that they will still cost quite a bit of money.
Exterior
Dark Horse required a trademark paint color to emphasize its moniker from the beginning, and the team who designed the Mustang understood that it had to be something dark and scary, but also complicated enough to make people look twice when they saw it on the street. The end product was a metallic paint called Blue Ember, which is a shade that incorporates unique effect particles of deep blues blended with a warm amber hue. These pigments give the outside paint an extremely dramatic color change depending on the lighting and the angle from which it is seen.
In order to create the hue Blue Ember, the Ford Color Mastering team used colors that are complimentary to one another, also known as harmonious colors since they are on opposing sides of the color wheel. To achieve the desired effect of enhancing the color by reflecting light and producing a dramatic amber highlight that appears differently at various times of the day, a greater amount of special effect pigments than is typically used in ordinary paints is used.
Vinyl decals and hand-painted graphics, both of which are available for purchase, provide a consistent visual language across the whole vehicle and artistically complement its performance. This helps to highlight the dark and strong body of the Mustang Dark Horse.
The low gloss Tarnished Dark and gloss black finish complement the Dark Horse-specific components that are found on the vehicle, and the vinyl graphics draw attention to the elevated center of the hood. The Appearance Package adds a unique vinyl image to the hood of the vehicle. This graphic expands upon the standard Dark Horse logo, but it also visually connects to the roof’s black paint. The Dark Horse’s appearance is made to seem even more menacing by the inclusion of a third vinyl accent color, which is a low-gloss black.
The Mustang team’s interpretation of the ideal Dark Horse is communicated via premium-painted stripe designs. The painted stripes continue the gloss black finish all the way from the center of the grille to the hood extractor, over the roof, and down to the rear spoiler. This design was inspired by the airflow that passes over the vehicle. The dark parts that have been tarnished form a framing around the central black stripe, contributing to the aggressive appearance of the Dark Horse. The graphics are hand-painted using a specific technique that is distinct from the procedures used for any other Mustang trim level.
Interior
The all-new anodized blue and lightweight titanium manual shift knob is at the center of the interior design of the Mustang Dark Horse. The hollow construction of the lightweight six-speed knob contributes to its improved ability to maintain its cool temperature in warmer conditions. Anodized silver paddle shifters allow virtually quick gear changes for customers who opted for the 10-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox. These shifters have the tactile sense of metal and are finished in silver.
The Mustang Dark Horse comes with a flat-bottomed steering wheel that is distinctively covered in performance suede for additional grip. Moreover, the instrument and side panels, seats, gear shift boot, and center console trim and lid all have contrasting Brilliant Indigo Blue stitching that adds intricacy. The sport-contoured steering wheel enhances the digital experience by including buttons that control various functions of the vehicle, such as the selection of the drive mode, the instrument cluster, and the 13.2-inch SYNC 4 center stack, which is elegantly angled toward the driver behind a single piece of integrated glass.
The available electronic drift brake is the first of its kind, and it is the first in its class to be wrapped in leather. It also has an anodized lever that has precise action, which allows the driver to easily modulate the rear wheels to a full lock while they are in track mode for sideways movement.
Customers who desire an even sportier appearance can purchase the Mustang Dark Horse Appearance Package, which comes with especially bolstered RECARO performance seats. These seats feature exclusive Deep Indigo Blue bolsters that are trimmed with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching. In addition, black Dinamica suede is placed in the seat’s center for improved lateral grip. The color blue is carried throughout the vehicle, from the seatbelts, which are a deep indigo blue, to the characteristic seat perforations, which have blue highlights under the sitting surface.
Bezels and vents are finished in Black Alley, which is a dark metallic shine. This replaces the traditional brilliant silver colors that can be seen in other Mustang trim levels.
The inside textures of the Mustang Dark Horse have changed from violent animal skin designs to “white noise” inspired by technology and grains inspired by carbon fiber. This change contributes to the vehicle’s current look. Lasers are utilized to generate the grain that is seen on top of the instrument panel. This helps to give the panel a more professional appearance while also reducing the amount of shine. The appearance of the three-spoke steering wheel is linked with the carbon fiber grain that surrounds the front of the instrument panel and door panel trims of the vehicle. A luxurious grain texture is applied to all leather and vinyl-wrapped surfaces, which draws attention to the shapes of those sections and accentuates the sensation of the vehicle’s performance.
The finishing touch on each Mustang Dark Horse is an instrument panel emblem that bears the vehicle’s chassis number. This insignia is located in the center of the dashboard.
Specifications as well as Execution
Last week, Ford made the announcement that the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse would have a horsepower output of 500 and a torque output of 418 pound-feet. Because of this, the normally aspirated V8 engine found in the Dark Horse is now the automaker’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine. You will need to go for anything that has a Shelby emblem on it if you want something with a little more kick.
Ford zhuzh up its 5.0-liter V8 in a number of different ways so that it might assist in the facilitation of this power creation. The Dark Horse has a unique crankshaft, connecting rods made of forged steel, and camshafts made of a stronger material. With these enhancements, the V8 should be able to sing sweetly even if the owner is continuously pushing the needle of the tachometer up to the redline. This is significant since track driving can be a real beast on an engine.
In addition, Ford provided the horsepower ratings for its other 2024 Mustang models. The GT’s standard 5.0-liter V8 engine generates 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque; however, the active performance exhaust that can be purchased from the manufacturer brings the total output to 486 horsepower. The output is the same regardless of whether you choose a manual gearbox that has six speeds or an automatic transmission that has ten speeds.
The Mustang EcoBoost in its most basic form sits at the other end of the range. Its gas-powered inline four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger produces 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. It also comes with a performance exhaust that can be upgraded, although it does not seem to alter the output in any way.
Release Date
Flat Rock Assembly Facility in Flat Rock, Michigan is where the all-new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be manufactured before going on sale in the United States beginning in the summer of 2023. Sales of the vehicle will begin in the United States in the summer of 2023.