2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Testing the horse that’s bolted

What is it:

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the current flagship of the new-generation Ford Mustang range – until more power gets unlocked with other special editions in the years ahead – but it has already sold out locally.

The new Ford Mustang is finally in Australia about six months later than planned after right-hand-drive production was delayed because the Baltimore Bridge collapse blocked the Ford Mustang’s export shipping lane.

US production of Australia-bound Ford Mustangs did not start until July (rather than January as originally planned).

Unlike the US, the 5.0-litre V8 in the Australian version of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse does not get any extra grunt compared to the standard Ford Mustang GT model.

That’s because there would have been extra engineering and homologation costs involved in launching the right-hand-drive Mustang with two versions of the V8 – and this was deemed prohibitively expensive for now.

So Ford decided to start with the standard V8 engine (which has had a power bump since the previous model Mustang), but the company says it is always looking at opportunities for more power throughout the Mustang’s lifecycle – including for right-hand-drive models.

In the meantime there are three versions of the new Ford Mustang to get across, and each one is special in their own way.

This review primarily relates to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

EFTM will publish a review on the regular Ford Mustang GT V8 tomorrow, and the four-cylinder variant of the new Ford Mustang next Monday (don’t laugh, you will never guess how fast that car really is).

In the meantime, what makes the Ford Mustang Dark Horse so special?

Although it does not get a power bump, it does get a bunch of other go-fast parts including:

• Unique front bumper and grille treatment
• Unique badging and wheel designs
• Extra cooling for the engine, transmission and differential
• Shorter differential ratio (3.73:1 versus 3.55:1)
• A torsen versus a clutch-pack limited slip differential
• Unique suspension tune for the magnetically controlled shock absorbers
• Unique sway bars and toe links
• New brake booster
• Unique power steering tuning
• Wider wheels front and rear (9.5-inch wide up front and 10-inch wide at the rear, versus 9.0 and 9.5 on the regular model)

If the above descriptions are a bit technical, here’s the easier version.

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse six-speed manual runs out of legs in first gear at 78kmh and second gear at 115kmh.

The regular Ford Mustang GT six-speed manual runs out of legs in first gear at 83kmh and second gear at 127kmh.

This means the Dark Horse is ready to bolt from lower speeds because the engine is more likely to be in its optimum rev range.

In comparison the GT is still quick, but not as lively as the Dark Horse when accelerating through the gears. On the plus side, the regular Ford Mustang GT gets slightly better fuel economy than the Dark Horse due to the taller gearing.

Price:

There are three models in the new Ford Mustang range in Australia available from launch.

• Ford Mustang Ecoboost four-cylinder (coupe bodystyle only)
• Ford Mustang GT V8 (coupe and convertible bodystyles)
• Ford Mustang Dark Horse V8 (coupe bodystyle only)

The four-cylinder Ecoboost is an automatic-only proposition but both V8 models are available with automatic or manual transmissions.

Here’s the new Ford Mustang line-up as it stands today.

• Mustang EcoBoost Coupe (232kW/475Nm 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, 10-speed auto) – $66,990
• Mustang GT Coupe V8 manual (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, six-speed manual) – $78,990
• Mustang GT Coupe V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $81,990
• Mustang GT Convertible V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $87,667
• Mustang Dark Horse Coupe V8 manual (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, six-speed manual) – $99,102
• Mustang Dark Horse Coupe V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $103,002
• Bronze appearance package – $1500 (4-cyl), $1950 (V8)
• Magnetically controlled suspension, red brake calipers – $2950 (4-cyl), $3835 (V8)
• Recaro seats – $2950 (4-cyl), $3835 (V8)
• Premium paint – $700 (4-cyl), $910 (V8)

Above prices exclude on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and any arbitrary dealer charges.

ANCAP safety rating:

There is no ANCAP safety rating for the new Ford Mustang and it is unclear if it will be assessed.

However, given it is Australia’s top-selling sports car it may fall under the spotlight.

The previous generation Ford Mustang initially scored a poor two-star crash safety rating and then was re-tested following some technical changes and was awarded a below average three-star crash safety rating.

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, seven airbags (including one for the front passenger’s knee), radar cruise control, speed sign recognition, tyre pressure monitors, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic 000 emergency assistance call capability.

Engine:

In Australia, under the bonnet is a perky 5.0-litre V8 (347kW/550Nm) paired to either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission, the same engine fitted to the regular Ford Mustang GT.

0 to 100km/h (as tested):

We tested all three variants – Ecoboost four-cylinder, GT V8 and Dark Horse V8 – on a race track during the launch and below are the best of three 0 to 100kmh times we recorded for the V8 variants using our precision VBox timing equipment.

Ford Mustang GT automatic:  4.98 (5.0 seconds)

Ford Mustang GT manual: 5.48 (5.5 seconds)

Ford Mustang Dark Horse manual 5.21 (5.2 seconds).

One other media outlet recorded a 4.99 (5.0-second) time for the Dark Horse after several more attempts.

Ford says you can flat-shift the V8 from first to second but we wanted to demonstrate some mechanical sympathy.

Emergency braking from 100km/h (as tested):

To come in a follow-up road test. We did not test this on the day.

Good points:

The Ford Mustang has gone to finishing school.

It blends muscle car sound to a chassis that now has European flair.

It hangs onto corners like a BMW. Well, a slightly scary BMW with a big V8 under the bonnet.

The widescreen digital instrument cluster and super-wide infotainment screen bring the interior of the Mustang bang up to date.

There is also a mode that changes the instrument cluster to match previous generation Mustangs. A nice touch.

Although the V8 in the Dark Horse has no extra power than the regular GT model, the Dark Horse is definitely different to drive.

The shorter gear ratios in the Dark Horse mean the engine spends more time in the middle of its optimum power band, so it feels even more lively than the GT.

The suspension tune is also a big change, though this is more noticeable on a race track rather than the road.

It’s awesome that Ford has fitted six-piston front brakes and four-piston rear brakes as standard on V8 Mustangs sold in Australia. They are a highlight of the car.

It looks the business. It sounds the business. And it now handles corners with a capability that reflects its $100,000 price tag.

On the one hand, that’s a power of money for a Mustang.

On the other hand, what else is there for the money with this much grin factor?

Bad points:

It would be nice to have some physical shortcut buttons to accompany the touch controls on the infotainment screen.

The V8 requires 98-octane premium unleaded petrol.

The Dark Horse is sold out in Australia (all cars have been allocated to dealers and reportedly have names on them).

So if you want one of these, your best chance is picking up someone else’s cancelled order.

Just don’t pay over the odds.

As night follows day, there will be another special edition Mustang with the same or more go-fast parts somewhere through this generation model cycle over the next eight years or so.

What the haters say:

V8s are dead mate, electric cars are way quicker.

What the haters don’t understand:

What electric-car fan boys don’t understand is that performance is not always about acceleration.

The Ford Mustang delights the senses in other ways. The V8 sound. The way the V8 gently rocks the car at idle. The way that so much power in a rear-drive car gets the heart rate up because it’s not glued to the road like an all-wheel-drive electric car.

There is more to the enjoyment of a performance car (or in this case a muscle car) than just the one element of speed.

Should you buy one?

Absolutely. If you were lucky enough to get your name down early and put in a deposit for a Dark Horse, then you’re going to have a blast.

This thing is a keeper. Although the true benefits of the Dark Horse are primarily felt on a race track, it will still delight the senses on the road.

Ford says it will keep building V8s as long as regulations allow. But we know governments can outlaw V8s with the stroke of a pen.

So get in quick and enjoy it while you can.

Also consider:

There’s nothing else like this for the money.

But if you want a fast car in this price range – and you don’t mind going electric – take a Tesla Model 3 Performance for a test drive.

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is quick – and sounds like nothing else in this price range – but the Tesla Model 3 Performance will melt your face (0 to 100kmh in a real-world 3.5 seconds).