Despite the ongoing electric vehicle revolution, Ford has managed to keep the traditional pony alive with the debut of the new seventh-generation Mustang S650. While a new version of the world’s best-selling sports car is already exciting on its own, the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse model promises to be the most powerful, track-oriented car ever to bring a 5.0-liter V-8 to under. the hood with a target power of 500 hp. There’s some serious gear you can get with this thing.
Silly name aside, the Dark Horse arrives as the first all-new special edition Mustang since the Bullitt was first introduced in 2001. While nameplates like the Mach 1 or GT500 carry a certain historical expectation from customers, the global design director Joel Piaskowsk explained to R&T that the move to the S650 generation opened a new opportunity for the Mustang team. More specifically, the new platform allowed the automaker to push the boundaries of what a Mustang can and should be.
“We talked about all the different Mustang series and we felt now was the right time to do something new,” Piaskowski said in an interview with R&T. “We have a great heritage, but that also leaves the door open to future opportunities. This is where we see that we understand our customer base and know that we want to attract a newer customer. We know the current customer very well and we have the GT that really resonates with that customer, but we think Dark Horse is this new entry that we really think brings a different customer to the mix. It’s much more focused on the track.”
That track-ready focus starts under the hood, home to a familiar 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine, now in its fourth generation. For the Dark Horse, it features a slew of unique components aimed at improving performance, including a stronger set of camshafts as well as a forged crankshaft and connecting rod setup borrowed directly from the outgoing GT500. Combined with a unique engine calibration, the Dark Horse promises to deliver the most power a 5.0-liter Coyote engine has ever offered. Ford hasn’t given us an exact number, but we have an idea. At the reveal event, Ed Krenz said that Ford is aiming for at least 500 hp.
This powerful V-8 can be mated to a 10-speed automatic or the Tremec-sourced six-speed manual offered in the Mach 1. The latter gearbox is a welcome addition in this case, as the The Mustang’s standard MT82 manual transmission has often been lamented for its lack of prowess on the track. The Dark Horse team also wanted to celebrate manual customers by offering a shift knob inspired by the titanium exhaust found on the mid-engined GT supercar. The shifter itself is topped with a 3D-printed piece of blue anodized titanium, which features a unique texture underneath to help cool the surface.
While the next-generation S650 is based heavily on the outgoing S550 chassis, Krenz noted that about 85 percent of the car is new. Automakers tend to use a different definition of that word than the rest of us, but the Dark Horse specifically includes some chassis tweaks for track use. Every Dark Horse Mustang is equipped with MagneRide shocks, which have been recalibrated for the S650. An auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler and a lighter radiator work together to improve cooling capabilities. Opt for the Performance Package and you get more chassis tuning tweaks, larger sway bars at the rear and a stiffer set of shocks up front. A strut tower brace and a unique Ford Performance K-bracket help improve handling and chassis feedback. A Torsen rear differential keeps things tidy on corner exit, while 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero PZ4 tires work in tandem with a set of massive Brembo plugs.
If you need even more capability, Ford will also offer the Track Package, which also includes a unique rear spoiler with an integrated Gurney flap. This aerodynamic package provides more downforce than any other new Mustang offered. Stiffer springs are also part of the package, as are upgraded front and rear anti-roll bars and Pirelli Trofeo tyres. You can even spec a set of Carbon Revolution carbon wheels, which is the first time they’ve been offered on a non-Shelby model.
“There’s a bit of a theme in this product of what’s the best stuff from our previous Shelby’s that we can put together,” Krenz said. “It has always been one of our corporate strategies to develop technology at the top of our vehicles and then scale it down and make it more accessible. It’s also why when you introduce a new series like Dark Horse, you want it to be at the forefront.”
Some of these Shelby traits continue with the Dark Horse styling, reminiscent of the current GT500. The front end is much more horizontal than before, reflecting the boxy look of this 760bhp monster. The aero packages only push that familiar relationship further, with the front splitter and side skirts almost a touch to the current offering. The combination of rear diffuser and blacked-out exhaust tip looks menacing and aims to introduce the performance that the Dark Horse has to offer. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of unique Dark Horse badging around the vehicle, including plenty of detail work we’ve never seen on a Mustang before. The same can be said for the Blue Ember metallic paint, which changes from a bluish gray to a burnt orange depending on the light. The effect is almost like that of the (in?)famous Mysichrome tone found on the SN95 generation of Mustangs, albeit a bit more mature in its execution.
Like every S650 Mustang, the Dark Horse features a much more tech-laden interior than before. This starts with the 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.2-inch center combo, which now use Ford Sync 4 infotainment. This offers features such as over-the-air updates and the functionality of Wireless CarPlay. The system is also supported by the Unreal 3D engine, which provides a host of new on-screen graphics that look right at home in 2022. Dark tuning parts will replace the brighter units found in the rest of the line , while some 12 stereo B&O speakers play the tunes. Blue stitching comes standard, while Deep Indigo Blue seats are part of the Dark Horse Appearance Package.
Leaning into the track-focused nature of the Dark Horse, Ford will release two track-only variants of the trim known as Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R. The S model has an FIA-certified roll cage, nets safety harnesses, a racing seat with seat belts and a quick-disconnect racing steering wheel. It also features a set of Multimatic DSSV shocks and Brembo Racing brakes. The Dark Horse R model is even more hardcore and includes all of the above, but will be serialized by Ford for use in proper motorsports events around the world. These cars also get some welding for added strength, as well as a racing fuel cell and Ford Performance wheels.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse will arrive as the biggest pony car offering to be offered next spring, as long as Ford can get its supply chain woes under control. While pricing information hasn’t been released yet, expect the Dark Horse to be priced higher than current Mach 1 offerings. We’ll know more about actual pricing and performance metrics as the date approaches for sale
Lucas Bell Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Associate Editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry.