[ad_1]
There’s a brand new pony within the Mustang’s stable. Together with the brand new 2024 Mustang GT and EcoBoost, Ford dropped a shock on us final night time in Detroit. A newcomer: The Darkish Horse, with badass seems to be and efficiency to again up the title.
You possibly can consider this automobile as an amalgamation of the Mach 1 and Shelby GT350. Ford says that is the primary all-new Mustang efficiency mannequin up to now 21 years – for the reason that Bullitt was launched.
The road-legal Darkish Horse may also present the idea for 2 track-only Mustang variants: The Darkish Horse S and Darkish Horse R, that are cool sufficient to get their own article that you can read here.
Table of Contents
The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 is turned as much as 11, and so is nearly every little thing else. Ultimate energy numbers haven’t been launched simply but, however Ford tells us to anticipate 500 ponies beneath the hood. Handbook transmission lovers may rejoice: The Darkish Horse comes commonplace with a Tremec six-speed stick. If that’s probably not your model, you may all the time spring for the 10-speed computerized.
“We’ve taken the all-new Mustang, the perfect of our new 5.0-liter V8 efficiency, and added energy, improved the aero, tires, steering and supplied an interactive cockpit to create a Mustang that goes past any 5.0-liter Mustang earlier than it,” Ed Krenz, Ford Mustang chief nameplate engineer, mentioned concerning the new automobile in a press launch.
Whereas Darkish Horse consumers gained’t get the screaming 5.2-liter Voodoo engine, the 5.0 has a number of tips up its sleeve on this software. The engine will get connecting rods and different solid internals from the Shelby GT500, plus twin throttle our bodies to assist the machine breathe a bit higher. It additionally comes with an auxiliary engine cooler, a rear axle cooler and a light-weight radiator.
The Tremec gearbox connects to the motive force by a 3D-printed titanium shift ball, and it’s bought an oil cooler connected to it. Energy on the rear finish goes by a Torsen limited-slip differential.
The secret for the Darkish Horse is hitting the monitor. Ford takes that track-focused mission thus far, for the primary time ever Ford will provide carbon-fiber wheels from Carbon Revolution on a non-Shelby Mustang.
Stopping energy comes courtesy of massive ol’ six-piston Brembo brakes gripping 13.9-inch rotors up entrance, with devoted cooling ducts. The Darkish Horse comes commonplace with Pirelli P Zeros on staggered 19 x 9.5-inch entrance and 19 x 10-inch rear wheels.
As you could have guessed, the Darkish Horse will get distinctive chassis tuning, together with larger sway bars and heavy-duty entrance shocks, in line with Ford. There’s additionally a brand new light-weight strut tower brace and Ok-brace. The Darkish Horse rides on commonplace MagneRide adaptive dampers so you may actually dial in the kind of suspension stiffness you’re searching for, relying on drive mode.
If all that wasn’t fairly sufficient for you, there’s additionally an non-compulsory Dealing with Package deal that takes aero up one other notch. Ford says this package deal gives extra downforce than any earlier Mustang, courtesy of a singular rear wing with an built-in Gurney Flap. Should you go for the package deal, you’ll additionally get stiffer springer, bigger entrance and rear sway bars and beefier 19 x 10.5-inch entrance and 19 x 11-inch rear wheels.
The Darkish Horse’s inside will not be drastically completely different from the new Mustang’s already handsome design, however there are actually some modifications. It’s bought a thicker, flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in suede with Vibrant Indigo Blue accent stitching. If you choose the 10-speed computerized, you’ll get anodized silver shift paddles and a driver mode button inside thumb attain.
The Darkish Horse Look Pack additionally provides Deep Indigo Blue seats (blue seats are always good) with a singular perforation sample. There’s additionally going to be all kinds of blue distinction stitching across the inside, and the silver accents are changed by shiny black.
The Darkish Horse doesn’t strip away all the posh of the usual automobile both. You continue to get large ol’ touchscreens and a 13-speaker B&O stereo system.
I’ll simply say it proper off the bat — the Darkish Horse seems to be glorious. I like the general look of the brand new Mustang, and this, like every little thing else on the automobile, takes it up a notch.
“It’s greater than a brand new title. Darkish Horse brings a brand new design language to Mustang that’s refined but completely suited to its twin function of avenue and monitor efficiency,” Joel Piaskowski, world director of Ford Design, mentioned in Ford’s press launch. “The visible modifications, each inside and outside, message that Darkish Horse has a directed efficiency focus.”
A number of the modifications up entrance embody darkened headlights sitting in a matte black encompass. Darkish Horse additionally comes with a gloss black grille and a singular decrease entrance bumper with high-gloss “fangs” — a factor horses are recognized for having. Different aero options embody decrease aspect skirts, a hard and fast rear wing, a brand new diffuser and darker quad exhaust ideas.
To go together with all this, there’s a brand new emblem as effectively — a menacing-looking horse that’s staring proper at you. I prefer it. Is it just a little goofy? Hell yeah, however that’s okay!
In a phrase, the distinctive paint shade of the Darkish Horse is beautiful. Ford calls it Blue Ember metallic. It’s actually only a pretty look. It’s the best quantity of blue. You can too get utilized or painted graphics alongside the roof and hood if you’re a doofus who needs to cowl up the beautiful Blue Ember shade. Should you spring for the Look Package deal you’ll additionally get darkish Infamous Blue Brembo brake calipers with brighter Grabber Blue logos to make them stand out.
Proper now, there’s no phrase on how a lot this dangerous boy will price. It’s a brand new period for the Mustang, and Ford is actually beginning it with a splash.