Is the New 2024 Mustang Dark Horse Worth Nearly $60K?
The new seventh-generation Ford Mustang includes more V8-powered pony car action, but it’s not getting the Shelby treatment quite yet. However, the upcoming lineup does boast a new performance-oriented trim that channels the S550-generation Mach 1. It’s the new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, and it promises to be a handful. Still, with a starting price of just under $60,000, is the new Dark Horse worth it?
What is the Dark Horse Mustang?
The upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the Blue Oval’s latest range-topping performance variant of the tenured Mustang model. It packs a robust derivation of the Coyote V8 engine and track-ready components like MagneRide adaptive dampers for sharp cornering.
Moreover, the new Dark Horse will feature a Tremec six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford fans with driver’s car aspirations will have to choose the Tremec unit. Still, the merits of the manual are a must not just for the sensation of rowing through the gears but also to take advantage of its reliability compared to the Getrag MT82 transmission.
It’s not just the Dark Horse, either; Ford is using the special edition ‘Stang to pave the way for two track-only variants: the Dark Horse S and R. Of course, fans who want to take their noir pony car on the open road will have to stick with the street-legal model.
How much horsepower does a 2024 Mustang Dark Horse have?
The new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse produces 500 horsepower from its naturally aspirated 5.0L Coyote V8 engine. The abundance of power comes from the massaged powerplant’s upgrades, namely features like the dual throttle body design and Shelby hand-me-down connecting rods.
Moreover, the upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the second naturally-aspirated pony car to produce 100 horsepower per liter of displacement. The first, of course, is the venerable Shelby GT350 and its operatic 5.2L Voodoo V8. That also establishes the Dark Horse as the only naturally-aspirated Coyote-powered car in Ford’s library to produce 500 horsepower. The closest competitor is the new GT with the Active Valve Exhaust System producing 486 horsepower, per Car and Driver.
How much will the 2024 Dark Horse Mustang cost?
The new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse’s price tag is higher than the previous performance-oriented Mach 1 model. Specifically, the Dark Horse starts at around $57,970, whereas its predecessor started at about $56,570.
| Model | Starting price |
| Dark Horse | $59,270 |
| Dark Horse Premium | $63,265 |
How does it stack up against the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1?
While the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1 packs a historic pony car name, track-ready characteristics, and handsome S550 styling, the new Dark Horse is an all-new nameplate. In fact, the last time Ford introduced a brand new edition was the 2001 Bullitt, a Dark Highland Green homage to Steve McQueen’s GT 390 from the film Bullitt.
Moreover, the new special edition Mustang out-muscles the outgoing Mach 1 while maintaining many of the characteristics that set it apart from a GT. For instance, both cars incorporate MagneRide adaptive dampers and the Tremec transmission with rev-matching.
Is it worth it?
The all-new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is a one-of-a-kind pony car. It’s the closest thing fans will get to a Shelby or Mach 1 Mustang for the 2024 model year. Moreover, with eye-popping colors like the new chameleon-esque Blue Ember, the upcoming performance car could be a unique get, akin to a Bullitt or Mach 1.
What do you think of the new range-topping Mustang? Tell us in the comments below!
