Here’s Why Ford Mustang Dark Horse Is A Worthy Successor To The 2023 Mach 1
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Mustangs have been out there for almost 60 years now. This makes the series the longest-produced Ford car nameplate ever. Through the years, the Mustang has been the symbol of the ideal American muscle car. It inspired many car designs worldwide and its success led to the emergence of some of the most famous names, like the Camaro or the Challenger.
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Last summer, Ford introduced the all-new seventh generation Ford Mustang. The roaring V8 can live on under the hood of a redesigned pony. But this is not the only news we are excited about. Along with the new generation, Ford also announced the production of a completely new trim, the highly-anticipated Dark Horse.
Last year, when the absence of a faster and more powerful Shelby GT350 Mustang was felt, Ford revived the Mach 1 model after 15 years.
The Mach 1, with its outstanding performance, came out to be the fastest production Mustang on the market. But considering the absolute pinnacle of the 5.0-liter V-8 engine in the Dark Horse, that is soon to change.
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Ford Dark Horse Has The Most Powerful Ford V8 Ever
Along with the 2024 Mustangs, Ford has revealed its new generation of V8 Coyote engines. This upgrade makes the beating heart of the Mustangs more ferocious and wild than ever. We've seen before how far Ford could go with the Mach 1 model reaching 470hp. The Dark Horse, however, shows that they can push the limits even further by hitting the 500-horsepower mark.
The legacy of the 2023 Mach 1 continues with the Dark Horse carrying the most powerful naturally aspirated 5.0- liter V8 engine ever put on a non-Shelby Mustang. In addition to the horsepower, this beast of an engine produces 415 ft.- lb. of torque.
The Dark Horse comes with two transmission options, the same as the Mach 1. You can either get the six-speed manual TREMEC transmission option or the 10-speed automatic gearbox. However, both of these options have been improved in the 2024 model. For instance, an auxiliary transmission cooler has been added to the automatic model to make sure it doesn't overheat when revving the car up on the track.
The combination of this more enhanced gearbox and the mighty V8 can only mean an astonishing track-focused performance. On paper, the Dark Horse can reach 60 miles in only 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 178 mph. Considering these numbers, it's safe to say we can raise our expectations of the Dark Horse as the true successor of the Mach 1.
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The Dark Horse Is Wrapped In A New Color-Shifting Signature Paint
Given the fact that the Dark Horse belongs to a whole new generation, we already know we must expect one of the most refined designs for this car. But this car goes even further and still surprises us from the first look. To give the Dark Horse the mesmerizing look it deserves, they covered it with the Blue Ember metallic paint which has special effects pigments. This means you can notice the shift in colors if you look at the car from different angles or lights.
From the original model, Mach 1s always offered a head-turning design language. And the Dark Horse has a lot of nice touches to claim the throne as one of the prettiest Mustangs on the road.
What’s more, you can order your Mustang with carbon fiber wheels with exotic rims. It's needless to say how well this new option can capture the mysterious nature of the car. But keep in mind that having this feature on your car costs you some extra grands.
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The Dark Horse Has The Most Advanced Interior Of Any Muscle Car
The Dark Horse follows a similar formula for the interior to other 2024 Mustang trims. A 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen are the most distinctive changes inside the car. These technology upgrades elevate the driving experience to a whole new level.
Specially designed for the Dark Horse, you will get a signature titanium blue shift knob for the manual transmission. For the automatic model, Ford has added anodized silver paddle shifters. These little adjustments are what make the car look even more gorgeous.
We can find other traces of the Dark Horse evolution from previous models. Doors and the instrument panel covered with carbon fiber grain, seats and other interior parts wrapped in high-quality leather, and the deep indigo color lines that are used across the interior to complete the distinctive design, are just some of these traces.
The steering wheel is covered in suede for better grip. This might come in handy for better taming this wild car. The new Dark Horse badge also appears on the inside. There’s an instrument panel badge as well, which includes each individual car's unique chassis number.
The tech-inspired style combined with the dark atmosphere inside the car gives you the exact right feeling of driving a modern and vicious Mustang.
