Despite the dwindling size of the American muscle car market, the next generation of Ford Mustangs is on the way. However, it’s not just an EcoBoost and GT in the S650’s lineup; Ford unveiled a special edition, track-ready pony car with a sinister name. The new Ford Mustang Dark Horse keeps 5.0L of V8 power, but it’s 500 rampaging horsepower from its Coyote V8 this time.  

What is a Mustang Dark Horse?

The new Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the first special edition car in the upcoming S650 generation. Complete with a new front-oriented horse head badge, the new Dark Horse isn’t just another Bullitt or Mach 1; it’s a brand new chapter for the model. It might not pack the high-revving 5.2L Voodoo motor from the S550-generation GT350, but the new Dark Horse promises power and track-ready credentials. 

Moreover, the new Dark Horse produces its power courtesy of a fourth-generation 5.0L Coyote V8. While the GT trim gets a 5.0L V8 as well, the Dark Horse will be more powerful and sharper for track work. For instance, the Dark Horse gets improved aero and a Tremec-sourced manual transmission in lieu of the flawed Getrag MT82 unit.  

How much HP does the Dark Horse Mustang have?

The new Ford Mustang Dark Horse produces 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque from its Coyote V8. That makes the upcoming special edition pony car the most powerful naturally aspirated Mustang in Ford’s lineup. Before the Dark Horse, fans would have had to reach for a Shelby GT350’s keys. The now-discontinued GT350 produced 526 horsepower from its flat plane 5.2L Voodoo engine. 

Moreover, the Dark Horse is only the car in the lineup with 100 horsepower per liter of displacement. It replaces the 480-horsepower Mach 1 as the non-Shelby option in Ford’s pony car lineup. Furthermore, the new V8-powered GT also gets a power bump, pushing the horsepower figure up from 450 to 480 (486 with an exhaust upgrade). 

Is the Mustang Dark Horse supercharged?

While the new 500-horsepower 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse promises muscle, it does so without a supercharger. Instead, Ford says it gave the new Mustang Dark Horse forged piston connecting rods, an upgraded crankshaft, and improved camshafts. The marque says the new setup will handle the added stresses up to its 7,500-rpm redline. Moreover, 500 horsepower makes the new track-ready S650 the most powerful non-Shelby Mustang ever. 

How much will a 2024 Mustang Dark Horse cost?

Ford hasn’t released any specific pricing information for the upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. However, Car and Driver thinks the new track-ready Mustang will start at around $60,000. That makes sense, given the Mach 1’s starting market average of about $59,000. Moreover, Shelby and Ford will almost certainly produce an S650 Mustang together. However, that car will likely fill the role that the supercharged GT500 held in the lineup. 

Are you excited about the new Dark Horse? Tell us in the comments below!