A stallion rises — Ford’s new Dark Horse Mustang

From its game-changing debut at the 1964 World’s Fair to its legendary Hollywood roles in Bullitt and Goldfinger, the Mustang has cemented its place as a global icon. Now, in its seventh generation, this much-revered nameplate celebrates 60 years of pony car dominance that pays homage to its legendary roots.

A few weeks back, I was one of 12 lucky motoring journos to be invited to the launch of the Mustang Dark Horse in beautiful Lesotho. From the moment I parked my derrière on its sporty seats it was clear that Ford hadn’t simply slapped a gimmicky badge on its recently launched GT Fastback.

Driving on the most twisty mountainous roads that I’ve ever encountered, without a straight in sight, the Dark Horse felt like an occasion, like the return of something rare: a Mustang purpose-built for performance. On acceleration it was clear that this untamed horse has been honed to go wild on both track and road. In fact, it is the first purely performance model that Ford has released in more than two decades.

The Blue Ember paint with its copper-infused metallic undertones. (Photo: Ford SA)

Outside and inside

The Blue Ember paint, (exclusive to the Dark Horse), with its copper-infused metallic undertones that shimmer in sunlight, set the tone for two days of pure automotive seduction. Its Pirelli P Zero tyres, front splitter and cooling ducts add to its aggressive stance. Wherever we went, the Dark Horse commanded almost rockstar-inspired attention in the scenic Mountain Kingdom.

Inside, it’s all about a tactile and engaging environment.  Being picky when it comes to a steering wheel, I found the suede-infused flat-bottom wheel a thing to (be)hold adding a touch of softness in an otherwise aggressive cockpit. The blue-accented seats and stitching helped add to the Dark Horse’s race-inspired feel. Tech-wise, there’s a customisable dual-screen setup, powered by Unreal Engine graphics, which makes the cabin feel simultaneously futuristic while incorporating the Mustang’s rich legacy.

Under the hood

The beating heart of the Dark Horse is Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote V8, now with 334kW and 540Nm. Yes, it’s “only” a 6kW bump over the newly launched GT in South Africa, due to our inferior fuel quality, but after spending some proper time behind the wheel, numbers don’t tell the full story. This engine has been refined with lightweight connecting rods from the GT500 and dual throttle bodies to improve response. The result is a cleaner, freer-revving V8 that felt alive and champing at the bit under my right foot.

The Dark Horse lapped up the twisty mountain passes in Lesotho. (Photo: Ford SA)

The drive

The Dark Horse isn’t just about straight-line speed. Cooling enhancements — dedicated ducts for the brakes, a larger radiator and oil and axle coolers — make it ready to take a pounding on the track (although in Lesotho we were explicitly told not to switch to track mode lest we ribbon the Pirellis on those potholed and rock-strewn Lesotho passes).

As we swooped our Dark Horses sometimes 3,000m above sea level, up into the mountains, it felt like the adaptive suspension, heavy-duty front shocks and larger sway bars kept our wild stallions beautifully planted, even when pushing them hard through tight switchbacks.

On the hairpin twisties of Semonkong, the Dark Horse felt properly dialled in like no Mustang I’ve ever experienced — and I’ve been in a few. The combination of a strong front-end grip and a noteworthy stable rear gave it a precision that belies its muscle car roots. It’s a proper driver’s car — eager, communicative and gracefully capable of handling spirited driving.

The final verdict

The Dark Horse Mustang is a celebration of everything I’ve come to love about muscle cars — big engines, bold design and pure driving pleasure. In a world populated with more and more electric cars and downsized engines, the Dark Horse is probably one of the last hurrahs for the true US muscle car. For those with a penchant for drifting, they’ll be thrilled by Ford’s innovative “hand-grippable” electronic parking brake.

Taking a break in the Dark Horse in Semonkong, Lesotho. (Photo: Ford SA)

South African Mustang fans, however, will probably be disappointed to discover that while the global Dark Horse delivers 373kW, local models are limited to 334kW due to our inferior fuel quality. The Dark Horse may guzzle petrol in urban settings (around 16L/100 km), but on longer journeys it was at times, surprisingly more well-mannered, gulping around 12L/100 km.

For aural pleasure, the Dark Horse has the ability to be ferocious with its snarling exhaust pipes. As we roared through small towns and villages to the sounds of cheers from locals waving at us, on horseback, with very few other cars in sight, the Dark Horse felt right at home, a gorgeously temperamental stallion in a stable full of ponies.

For a moment I was reminded of Jim Carrie in the movie Bruce Almighty, who, when driving his Salem S7 in San Diego’s gridlocked traffic, exclaimed: “All this horsepower and no room to gallop!"

We had none of those problems in Lesotho. DM

Pricing  

• Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0L V8 10AT:  R1.5-million


• Ford Mustang GT Fastback 5.0L V8 10AT: R1.3-million