2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse provides power and luxury

By Jerry Robbin

The newly redesigned, seventh generation Mustang  is here! The 2024 Mustang Dark Horse has bold new styling with dramatic bodywork, more advanced technology and increased power.

The Dark Horse looks ominous, painted in darker hues with black elements on the hood and in the area surrounding the headlights and grille.

Driving Impression
The Mustang Dark Horse sound from its massive V-8 says power and prowess. It reaches 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and through the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 115 mph.

The standard active drive has four modes: Normal, Sport, Track or Drag. When you start this V-8, you hear a loud rumble.

The Dark Horse uses the Tremec TR-3160 from the Mach 1 transmission. The transmission features automatic rev-matching (that you can disable) and permits no-lift shifting, where you keep the gas pedal pinned during a quick upshift.

The Dark Horse is capable of both track and street driving. This vehicle will get your adrenaline flowing.

Safety Features
• Pre-Collision assist with auto-matic emergency braking.
• Rearview camera.
• Auto high-beam headlamps.
• AdvanceTrac with electronic stability control.
• SOS Post-crash alert system.
• Glove box door-integrated knee airbag.
• Driver’s knee airbag.
• Belt-Minder front safety belt reminder.

Under the Hood
Pop the hood and the “5.0” badge sits prominently atop the double overhead cam 32-valve V-8 with its new dual-throttle body intakes that snake down to enlarged openings in the bumper.

Along with improvements also seen on the GT, the Dark Horse engine gains forged connecting rods from the GT500. In conjunction with strengthened camshafts and unique engine tuning, the engine makes 500 hp, neatly matching that of the 2007 GT500, which used a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8.

The engine is a DOHC 32-valve V-8 with aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection. It has a displacement: of 307 cu. in. and 5,038 cu. cm. It produces 500 hp at 7,250 rpm with a torque of 418 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm.

Inside
The Mustang has an exciting new interior that will impress you with its wide screens and great list of tech.

Inside is a flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in suede with Bright Indigo Blue stitching and a drive-mode button. Optional Recaro seats and an appearance package adds Deep Indigo Blue seats.
The optional Recaro seats are a worthwhile upgrade, with all-day comfort and bolstering.

A big screen! A single housing encompasses a 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and 13.2-inch central multimedia display, both of which quickly respond to inputs thanks to strong processing power.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect wirelessly if you’d prefer to go that route, and I like all the different gauge designs – especially the throwback Fox Body layout.

I just wish the climate control functions at the bottom of the display weren’t so inane, with the need to tap multiple times just to adjust fan speed.

Comfort and Convenience
• Auto lights (automatic on/off headlamps) with wiper activation.
• Aluminum foot pedals.
• Auto-dimming frameless rear-view mirror.
• Center console with full armrest.
• Electronic-locking center console.
• Cupholders (2).
• Driver footrest.
• Premium carpeted floor mats with accent stitch.
• Intelligent access with push-button start.
• Interior trunk release.
• Electric parking brake.
• Electric hand-operated parking brake (drift brake).
• Leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel with performance suede insert.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Tilt/telescoping steering column.
• Windows, Power – front one-touch up/down with global open.
• Powerpoints (2).
• Premium door trim.
• Dual-illuminated visor vanity mirrors.
• Track Apps.
• Universal garage door opener.
• Glove box with lockable door.
• Titanium anodized blue gear shift knob.
• 12.4″ LCD digital cluster with Information on Demand message center.
• Ambient lighting with MyColor optional.
• Memory driver’s seat (three settings) and mirrors.
• Leather-wrapped gear shift knob.
• Remote start system.
• Cabin particulate air filter.
• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control.

Entertainment Systems
• Bang and Olufsen sound system with 12-speakers, AM/FM stereo, MP3 capable and HD radio.
• Connected built-in navigation.
• Smart-charging USB ports (2).
• Wireless charging pad.
• Voice-activated navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability.
• SYNC 4 with 13.2″ centerstack touchscreen.
• SiriusXM radio.
• FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

Seating
• Six-way power driver seat with power lumbar control.
• Four-way power passenger seat.
• Four-way adjustable front head restraints.
• 50/50 split-bench folding rear seat.
• Heated and cooled front seats.

Other features
• Lane-keeping system with lane-keeping alert, lane-keeping aid and driver alert, road edge detection and blind spot assist.
• Rear parking sensors.
• Rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers.

Outside
• Performance rear spoiler – painted tarnish dark.
• Active valve performance exhaust with black tips.
• Shark fin antenna.
• Configurable daytime running lamps.
• LED projector headlamps with LED signature lighting.
• LED projector headlamps with black bezels and LED signature lighting.
• Mirrors, sideview – tarnished dark anodized caps, heated, turn signal indicators, manual fold and pony puddle lamp.
• Unique lower and outboard grilles.
• Unique painted front upper grille with pony badge.
• Silver painted strut-tower brace with Dark Horse badge.
• Unique front and rear lower fascia.
• Wedge decklid spoiler with Dark Horse badge – painted body color.
• Easy Fuel capless fuel filler.
• Hood vent.
• LED sequential taillights.
• Pony projection lights.
• Dark Horse instrument panel badge with unique chassis number.
• Custom hood and accent vinyl stripe – tarnished dark low gloss/gloss black with pattern.
• Custom hood and accent- painted stripe – tarnished dark high- gloss/shadow black.

Overview
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is  a performance package that makes it a must have for every Mustang enthusiast. It has all the necessary hardware for lapping at track days and high-performance driving events.

Specifications
• Wheelbase: 107 inches.
• Length: 189.7 inches.
• Height: 55.2 inches.
• Width: 81.9 inches.
• Front head room: 37.6 inches.
• Rear head room: 34.8 inches.
• Front shoulder room: 56.3 inches.
• Rear shoulder room: 52.2 inches.
• Front hip room: 54.9 inches.
• Rear hip room: 47.4 inches.
• Front leg room: 44.5 inches.
• Rear leg room: 29 inches.