Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Nostalgia meets modern performance

In times when the only news you can count on concerns battery capacity and charging time, the Mustang marks a return to a glorious past. The engine turns fuel into a limitless pool of torque while producing a tremendous rumble. Moreover, this horse can turn. And most importantly, it's comfortable enough for everyday driving.

Ford understood that, like Porsche, it had become the owner of a golden goose. The Mustang has become a brand unto itself, the first and last muscle car, outpacing the likes of the Camaro, which had to cope with poor sales and was withdrawn from the market. Let the strength of this legend be evidenced by the fact that Ford launched an electric SUV named Mustang, and somehow, the world didn’t collapse (though it shares nothing more than a badge with the "real" Mustang).

The previous Mustang already had me smitten. It was brilliant: comfortable enough to use daily, willing enough in turns to dispel stereotypes about American cars, and loud enough to make you grin from ear to ear with every sprint. The Mustang is one of those cars on my "someday gotta buy it" list.

And you see, it’s not better. The key argument in discussions about the Mustang became one fact: yes, it’s fantastic, comfortable, and fast, but you could get the same from the predecessor. Where's the progress?

However, there is another version in the Mustang's lineup: Dark Horse. You know, the enhanced, better, faster one. The "standard" Mustang has 446 horsepower and 540 Nm. I drove it, I was delighted, I didn't want anything more. The Dark Horse has 453 horsepower and 540 Nm. However, the most important aspects are not visible.

The Dark Horse has sharper camshafts (of course, variable phases are here), an additional cooler for the 10-speed automatic transmission and differential, a lighter engine cooler, a thicker rear stabilizer, different front shock absorbers, six-piston Brembo callipers on 38 cm discs, a strut tower and subframe brace, Magneride adaptive suspension paired with Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires. Later on, carbon wheels will be available, and scratching them against a curb will cost a fortune.

The question arises: is it worth it? If you don’t plan on registering for regular track days, no, because the basic Mustang is already a mature design that requires an excellent driver to squeeze all the juice out of it. But there’s more: living with the Dark Horse is surprisingly comfortable.

Yes, the steering might be slightly more demanding, and the Mustang doesn’t particularly like manoeuvring in tight parking lots. But it has many other advantages: the driver's seat position is outstanding. Visibility from the driver's seat far surpasses that of the BMW M4. The trunk can hold a lot of "carry-ons" for your partner. And those seats! The firm side bolsters and soft middle made it possible to drive 650 km at once and get out rested.

Although I wasn't initially a fan of installing two screens inside (which also forced the abandonment of the characteristic double cockpit of the Mustang), I have to admit that it's a convenient solution, and the amount of data on things like intake air pressure or component temperatures is overwhelming. However, the electronics are not perfect: on the highway, the car frequently reminds you to keep your hands on the steering wheel and to show that you’re in control of the vehicle, you have to yank hard and "dance" on the lane. A Mustang's material quality is consistent: switch the suspension to sport mode, and the plastics will creak like crazy. I didn’t expect anything different.

And honestly, even with the 2.3L engine from the predecessor, the Mustang would make sense. But here, under the hood, we have the five-litre beast called Coyote. The Coyote is the king, the reason why you buy this car. It can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission (yes, but probably not for everyday use) or a ten-speed automatic. The latter handles finding the right gear better than the previous one, but it wasn’t bad before either.

In addition to its large capacity, the Coyote has other positives: it uses fuel reasonably, as shown in the table below. Moreover, it produces a phenomenal soundtrack. With every start, it's slightly more aggressive than it should be. Rolling through the city, it's slightly louder than it should be. And then there's the track mode, opening all the exhaust valves. The neighbours won’t be thrilled. But you will be, right?