The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the new pony car king

Despite the ongoing EV revolution, Ford has managed to keep the traditional pony car alive with the debut of the all-new seventh-generation S650 Mustang. While a new version of the world’s best-selling sports car is already exciting in its own right, the all-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse model promises to be the most powerful, track-focused car to ever sport a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood a targeted power of 500 hp. There’s some serious kit you can get with this thing.

Goofy name aside, the Dark Horse comes as the first all-new special-edition Mustang since the Bullitt’s introduction in 2001. While nameplates like the Mach 1 or GT500 bring with them a certain historical expectation from customers, Global Design Director Joel Piaskowski explained R&T that the switch to the S650 generation opened up a new opportunity for the Mustang team. More specifically, the new platform allowed the automaker to push the boundaries of what a Mustang can and should be.

“We talked about all the different series within Mustang and felt like now is the right time to do something new,” Piaskowski said in an interview with R&T “ We have a great heritage, but that also leaves the door open to future possibilities. Here we see that we understand our customer base and know that we want to acquire a newer customer. We know the current customer very well, and we have the GT that’s really resonating with that customer, but we feel Dark Horse is this new entry that we think really brings a different customer into the mix. It’s a lot more track focused.”

That focus on raceability begins under the hood, where a familiar 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine sits, now in its fourth generation. For the Dark Horse, it’s packed with a ton of unique components aimed at improving performance, including a harder set of camshafts, as well as a forged crankshaft and connecting rod setup borrowed directly from the outgoing GT500. Combined with a unique engine calibration, the Dark Horse promises the highest performance ever offered by a 5.0 liter Coyote engine. Ford didn’t give us an exact number, but we have an idea. At the unveiling event, Ed Krenz said Ford is aiming for at least 500 hp.

This powerful V-8 can be mated to either a 10-speed automatic or Tremec’s six-speed manual transmission offered in the Mach 1. The latter gearbox is a welcome addition in this case, as the Mustang’s standard MT82 manual gearbox has often been bemoaned for its lack of on-track performance. The Dark Horse team also wanted to celebrate manual customers by offering a shift knob inspired by the titanium exhaust of the mid-engined GT supercar. The shifter itself is topped with a 3D printed piece of blue anodized titanium that has a unique texture underneath to help cool the surface.

While the S650 generation is indeed largely based on the outgoing S550 chassis, Krenz noted that around 85 percent of the car is new. Automakers tend to use a different definition of this word than the rest of us, but the Dark Horse includes some chassis tweaks specifically for track use. Every Mustang Dark Horse is fitted with MagneRide shocks recalibrated for the S650. An additional engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler and a lighter radiator work together to improve cooling performance. Opt for the Performance package and you’ll get more chassis tuning adjustments, larger rear anti-roll bars and a stronger set of front shocks. A strut tower brace and a unique Ford Performance K-strut help improve chassis handling and response. A Torsen rear differential ensures order out of corners, while 19-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P-Zero PZ4 tires work together with a set of massive Brembo stoppers.

If you need even more performance, Ford also offers the Track package, which also includes a unique rear wing with an integrated Gurney flap. This aero package offers more downforce than any other new Mustang on the market. Stiffer springs are also part of the package, as are upgraded front and rear anti-roll bars and Pirelli Trofeo tires. You can even spec a set of Carbon Revolution carbon wheels, which is the first time they’ve been offered on a non-Shelby model.

“There’s a bit of a theme on this product, what are the best things from our previous Shelbys that we can bring together,” Krenz said. “It has always been one of our corporate strategies to develop technology at the top of our vehicles and then scale it down and make it more accessible. That’s also why when you launch a new series like Dark Horse, you want it to be at the forefront.”

Some of these Shelby traits continue with the Dark Horse’s styling, which is reminiscent of the current GT500. The front end is much more horizontal than before, reflecting the angular look of this 760hp monster. The aero packages only express that family relationship further, as the front splitter and side skirts are almost wrestlers for the current offering. The rear diffuser and blacked-out exhaust tip combination looks menacing and aims to hint at the performance offered by the Dark Horse. As you’d expect, there’s a ton of unique Dark Horse badging surrounding the vehicle, featuring a lot of detail work that we’ve never seen on a Mustang. The same applies to the Blue Ember metallic paintwork, which changes from blue-grey to Ember-orange depending on the incidence of light. The effect is almost like that of the (infamous) Mystichrome tint found on the SN95 generation of Mustangs, albeit a little more mature in its execution.

Like every S650 Mustang, the Dark Horse has a much more technically charged interior than before. This starts with the 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.2-inch center console, which now runs Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment. That brings niceties like over-the-air updates and wireless CarPlay functionality. The system is also powered by the Unreal 3D engine, which offers a variety of new on-screen graphics that look right at home in 2022. Darker trim will replace the lighter-colored units found throughout the rest of the range, while a 12-speaker B&O stereo plays the tunes. Blue stitching is standard, while Deep Indigo Blue seats are part of the Dark Horse Appearance Pack.

Continuing with the track-oriented nature of the Dark Horse, Ford will release two track-only fairing variants known as the Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R. The S model gets a fully FIA-certified safety cage, safety nets, a racing seat with seat belts and a quick-release racing steering wheel. It also comes with a set of Multimatic DSSV dampers and Brembo Racing brakes. The Dark Horse R model is even tougher and includes all of the above content, but is being serialized by Ford for use in actual motorsport events around the world. These cars also get some seam welding for extra strength, as well as a racing fuel cell and Ford Performance wheels.

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse will hit the market as a pony car front-runner sometime next spring, as long as Ford is able to keep its supply chain woes in check. While pricing information is yet to be released, expect the Dark Horse to be priced above current Mach 1 offerings. We’ll know more about pricing and actual performance metrics as the sale date approaches.