Ford’s new Mustang Dark Horse is finally priced for SA

Ford’s new Mustang Dark Horse is finally priced for SA

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The seventh generation of the Ford Mustang continues the legacy of the iconic pony car with its naturally aspirated V8 engine, a rear-wheel drive setup, and with the addition of a track-focused Dark Horse model, it’s an iconic car that still resonates well with clients across the globe. 

The Mustang Dark Horse variant slots just above the GT model, and as its name suggests, it features menacing looks and a specially modified, naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine. The big news here is that it’s been officially priced for the local market, and to get straight to the point, Ford asks R1,500,000 for it. 

If we do the math correctly, that is R200,000 more than the GT's price, and there are clear reasons for the price difference. 

For instance, the Mustang Dark Horse comes fitted with the same but heavily modified 5.0-litre V8 Coyote with 334kW and 540Nm—6kW more than the GT, thus making it the most potent variant in the history books of the production Mustang. Like the GT, it shuffles through a 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear axle. 

Then there’s the menacing look and improvements, courtesy of brake cooling NACA ducts, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler, plus a bespoke lighter radiator. powerful cooling fans for better cooling around the track, darkened LED headlights, a gloss black grille, a lower front bumper, a fixed rear wing, and a race-inspired diffuser that houses darkened exhaust tips. 

Another standout feature of the new Mustang Dark Horse is the Blue Ember metallic paint that, if you want, can be paired with a special Appearance Package that adds blue accents on the seats, a black-painted roof, and unique bonnet graphics. These are further complemented by dark Notorious Blue Brembo brake callipers with a Grabber Blue logo.

For better stability, the Dark Horse adds unique chassis tuning, thanks to larger rear sway bars and heavy-duty front shocks. 

Braking performance is ensured by 19-inch Brembo front brakes featuring 6-piston callipers and 13.9-inch rotors. Additionally, a Ford Performance-engineered strut tower brace and K-brace enhance the vehicle’s structural rigidity. As standard, it sits on a set of Pirelli P Zero tyres that measure 19x9.5-inch at the front and 19x10-inch at the rear. 

The interior has also been made special, courtesy of a steering wheel wrapped in suede and finished with bright indigo blue accent stitching plus anodised silver paddle shifters, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch SYNC4 infotainment system, and the latest B&0 sound system.

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It’s a good thing that the Mustang Dark Horse will be available in our market where the Mach 1 was officially sold in very limited quantities, allowing for direct comparison between the two. It is set to become one of the most capable Mustangs to date. While the similarly priced BMW M2, with its 338kW and 550Nm, may be deemed a better buy by some, nothing else can honestly match the Mustang’s naturally aspirated V8 howl.

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