LA Auto Show Gives Us Our Best Look Yet at the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse
2023 is not quite here but we are already looking forward to the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse. We get up close and personal at the LA Auto Show.
When Ford revealed the S650 generation Mustang a couple of months ago they shocked us all with the news of the Dark Horse. It is a new line of Mustang that promises to be the most track focused 5.0L V8 powered Mustang in history. That is a bold claim. But the Dark Horse looks to be a bold car. That V8 will produce about 500 horsepower and can be mated to a Tremec six-speed manual or Ford’s excellent 10-speed automatic. We are excited for all the S650 Mustangs. But the Dark Horse is the big one. And at the recent LA Auto Show we got our best look yet at this exciting new model.
We got some great detailed shots of the new Dark Horse that really show what will make this stand apart from a regular S650 Mustang GT. The special badging is of course one of the more obvious items. For the ultimate Dark Horse experience, you can opt for the optional Handling Package. The package includes a unique rear wing with a Gurney Flap. The car was locked, and the hood was closed so we could not see the engine or interior. But we do know that inside you get a thicker flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in suede. It is finished with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching. If you opt for the 10-speed auto you will get anodized silver paddle shifters.
Handling Package
Let’s talk a bit more about that optional Handling Package. The package also includes stiffer springs, larger front and rear sway bars and wider Pirelli Trofeo tires and 19-inch-by-10.5-inch front and 19-inch-by-11-inch rear wheels. Also, you can equip your Dark Horse with lightweight carbon fiber wheels. It is the first time these wheels are offered on a Mustang outside of the GT350 and GT500. And while we can’t see in these photos the larger rear sway bars and heavy-duty front shocks of the Dark Horse. We can get a good look at the Brembo front 6 piston brakes with 13.9-inch rotors.
Design
What we can see is some of the special exterior design touches on this car. “At the front, a bold, shadow graphic surrounds the darkened LED headlamps, which compliments a unique, gloss black grille with trapezoidal nostrils and Mustang Dark Horse-unique lower front bumper with high gloss ‘fangs.’ Lower side skirts and, to the rear, a fixed rear wing, new race-inspired diffuser and darkened quad exhaust tips demonstrate the car’s track-focused design cues.” There are also the special Dark Horse badges on the fenders, trunk, and door sills. “This is the first time for Mustang that we’ve ever had a forward-facing horse,” said Joel Piaskowski, global director, Ford Design. “It’s aggressive, a bit sinister and it’s coming from the shadows head-on to win.” In other words, it looks awesome.
Can’t Wait
Seeing the Mustang Dark Horse at the LA Auto Show has just made us even more excited for the release. Have a show car like this making the rounds on the auto show circuit is an exciting time. We know that additional specs and eventually test drives will be just around the corner. We will keep you updated right here with all the latest news.
Images: Derin Richardson
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