Ford has finally officially unleashed the Mustang Dark Horse on South African shores, with the most focused Mustang in the Blue Oval brand’s local Mustang portfolio featuring a raft of upgrades to set it apart from its recently released Mustang GT sibling.
So, how exactly is the Dark Horse set apart from the GT? Well, for starters, it produces more power, with the bellowing ‘Coyote’ 5.0-litre, naturally aspirated V8 sited below its bonnet uprated to produce 334 kW (6 kW more than the GT). Available from 6 500 r/mim, power is exclusively sent to the rear axle via a Ford’s familiar 10-speed automatic transmission. As a reminder, the GT’s 328 kW is available as soon as its rev needle edges the 7 000 r/min marker. The torque output has remained untouched, however, with the Dark Horse matching the GT’s 540 N.m. The full complement of torque is available from 5 100 r/min.
According to Ford, the South African-spec Dark Horse completes the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds, before topping out at 267 km/h. For comparison, the GT sprints to the three-figure marker from a standstill in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 250 km/h.
This model further features several upgrades to enhance its handling and steering response, chassis, and aerodynamics. It also gains a Brembo braking system, which comprises 390 mm front and 355 mm aft ventilated discs. Six-piston fore and four-piston rear callipers are also present. The latter items are housed behind model-specific alloy wheels, which are wrapped in mixed-size Pirelli P Zero rubber. Of course, in addition to its model-specific exterior and interior trim elements, the Dark Horse also features unique badging.
How much does the Ford Mustang Dark Horse cost in South Africa?
Compared to its Mustang GT sibling, the apex Mustang in Ford’s local Mustang portfolio will set you back R200 000 more. Included in both Mustangs’ sticker prices is a warranty spanning four years or 120 000 km.
- Mustang 5.0 GT Fastback AT — R1 300 000
- Mustang Dark Horse AT — R1 500 000
