All this strength and nowhere to gallop!” In Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey shouts at traffic in his Saleen S7. We felt that way as we sat shotgun in the new 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse cruising through New York City’s West Side Highway. The Stang’s naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 screamed for freedom. Although Carrey’s character utilizes his God-given talents to separate the traffic like Moses with the Red Sea and drive off in a cacophony of engine noise, we had to patiently wait for a break in the gridlock.
We saw the Dark Horse’s spirited performance as traffic reduced. The Dark Horse’s 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 took off as the light turned green, screaming onto the elevated roadway at illegal speeds. The Dark Horse performed well beyond our environment without any effort.
The 5.0-liter engine’s Tremec six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission sends 418 lb-ft to the rear wheels.
Sitting shotgun was wonderful, but we’re excited to drive. This performance-focused model sits between the Mach 1 and Shelby, thus the ride felt stiff. The cabin feels every bump, but the MagneRide adjustable dampers did a good job of smoothing off the impacts. The damper settings are coupled to the drive modes and cannot be independently modified, so leave the Mustang in “normal” for daily driving—most Dark Horse models will be weekend drives or track toys anyhow.
We explored the 2024 Mustang’s 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and 13.2-inch touchscreen as we joined back into traffic. One gauge cluster configuration emulates the 1987–1993 Fox-body Mustang. Our driver nicknamed the Mustang logo button the “fun” screen, which adjusts driving modes and other performance options. Epic Games’ newest Unreal Engine powers the infotainment system’s graphics, which highlight different automobile parts based on what’s being adjusted
Quiet mode allows you to depart the neighborhood silently in the morning. In Sport mode, the Coyote V-8 roars.
Due to extensive suede use, the pre-production Dark Horse we rode in seemed upmarket, except for some badly fitting door plastics. Recaro’s reinforced seats were comfy too. The 3D-printed titanium shift knob with a lattice core will recover to cabin temperature faster than metal shifters because of its low bulk.
A good cabin will help sell the $59,565 Dark Horse. We’re convinced the Mustang’s performance will be the major appeal, and this little taste suggests the Dark Horse may deliver. We hope to find out soon.
APN Settings Team