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The new 2024 Ford Mustang arrives with a more powerful Dark Horse edition with around 500 hp, but we expect even more performance models to arrive in the future.A Shelby GT500 has topped the range for the past two generations, so it seems like a good bet that the seventh generation will also receive a Shelby-branded flagship.The Bullitt will likely make a return, while the Boss 302 nameplate could be brought back for the first time since 2012.All about the 7th-Gen MustangsThe seventh generation of the Ford Mustang has finally arrived packing the familiar Coyote 5.0-liter V-8, and while Ford hasn’t revealed horsepower figures just yet, we expect the 2024 Mustang to improve on the outgoing GT model’s 450 ponies. Ford has also unveiled a special performance edition right off the bat, with the Dark Horse taking the 5.0-liter up to a projected 500 horsepower and linking the motor to a standard six-speed Tremec manual gearbox. But the Dark Horse won’t be the only high-performance Mustang for this seventh generation, and Ford has a rich history of special Stangs to draw upon for its latest iteration.The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500Michael Simari|Car and DriverOdes to Internal CombustionFord has confirmed that 2022 will be the final model year for the Shelby GT500, powered by the Predator supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 with a monstrous 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. But since the previous two generations have offered a Shelby-badged model from the factory, we believe the GT500 will make a return, likely pumping out even more power and even wilder looks than the current chiseled and bewinged GT500. The next Shelby-branded model could arrive closer to the end of the seventh generation’s production run, possibly as an ode to the internal-combustion engine before emissions regulations put it out to pasture.Along with a GT500, we predict a lesser performance model will slot in between the GT and the Shelby. The Mach 1, which eked an extra 20 hp out of the GT’s V-8 for a 470-hp sum, will continue for 2023 as a final vestige of the sixth generation. We don’t expect the Mach 1 trim to return anytime soon on the new version, since it had been on a 17-year hiatus before being relaunched in 2021. The new 2024 Mustang Dark HorseFordInstead, the Dark Horse seems to be taking over the midrange performance Mustang’s spot. We would also bet on a return for the Bullitt, which has appeared on the last three generations of Mustangs, dating back to 2001. The sixth-generation Bullitt turned the Coyote engine up to 480 hp and matched that with understated looks, and a seventh-generation Bullitt would probably ring in around 500 hp.The 2012 Mustang Boss 302THE MANUFACTURERIs the Boss Coming Back?We also think the Boss 302 nameplate could be revived. It reappeared in 2012 on the fifth-generation model, producing 32 more horsepower than the GT of the time and featuring a six-speed manual and a revised suspension, but also a stripped-back interior. It’s due for a comeback and could act as a more basic, track-focused model underneath the Dark Horse. The Dark Horse nameplate might also spread to the electric Mustang Mach-E crossover, as a step between the 346-hp models and the 480-hp GT. Time will tell which of our predictions will come true, but at the moment we are simply happy that the V-8 American icon is living on for another generation. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Camaro versus Mustang is a rivalry for the ages. We’ve been comparing the two ever since we can remember. So now that the new 2024 Mustang is here, we’re obligated to stack it up against its crosstown rival, the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro. It’s not exactly a fair fight, as the Mustang is entering a new generation just as the current Camaro is winding down after a long, seven-year run of the current car; there are even rumors that the next Camaro could transform into an electric sedan. So the time is ripe to see how these two V-8–powered muscle cars compare on paper—while we still can. And of course, when we’re able to get our hands on the new Mustang, we’ll inevitably take this fight to the streets.Engines and TransmissionsOnce again, the Mustang’s turbo 2.3-liter inline-four will be closer in performance to the Camaro’s 3.6-liter V-6, as the Camaro’s base 2.0-liter turbo-four is less powerful, with only 275 horsepower. Ford hasn’t yet revealed specs for the 2024 Mustang, but we expect the 2.3-liter engine to produce slightly more than the current Performance Pack model’s 330 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque; the Camaro’s V-6 makes 335 hp and 284 pound-feet.FordChevroletComparing V-8 to V-8, the Mustang features an upgraded version of the 5.0-liter Coyote engine found in GT and Mach 1 versions of the current car. In the new model, we know that it will make 500 horsepower in the top Dark Horse performance trim, but we don’t have figures for the standard GT models. Even still, we’d bet that all 2024 Mustang V-8 models will outgun the Camaro’s 6.2-liter V-8, which makes 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque.The Camaro’s only real advantage is its wider variety of powertrain combinations. The Chevy offers the turbo-four, the V-6, and the V-8 each with either a manual or an automatic transmission, while the Mustang’s four-cylinder is automatic only. Ford also won’t offer any rivals to the Camaro’s 650-hp supercharged ZL1 model, as performance variants of the new Mustang won’t arrive for some time after the standard EcoBoost and GT models go on sale.Interior and FeaturesThe 2024 Mustang’s interior benefits from some of the biggest changes for this new generation, incorporating all sorts of new displays and a fresh dashboard design that’s far more modern than before. It makes the Camaro’s cabin look just about as outdated as it is, as Chevy hasn’t implemented many changes since this generation of Camaro arrived for the 2016 model year.FordChevroletFor one thing, the Mustang’s screens are bigger: its digital gauge cluster measures 12.4 inches, and its central infotainment screen is a huge 13.2 inches. The Camaro, meanwhile, offers either a 7.0-inch or 8.0-inch infotainment screen and makes do with a small display screen nestled within an analog gauge cluster. Now, we won’t go so far to say that screens are necessarily better than old-school gauges, but tech-savvy buyers will appreciate the Mustang’s new features.Pricing and AvailabilityThe biggest downside of the Mustang thus far is that we still have to wait a while before it goes on sale in the U.S. As such, pricing is not yet available, and we likely won’t hear how much it costs until closer to its on-sale date, which is scheduled for summer 2023.The 2023 Camaro, meanwhile, is available now. Prices range from $27,495 for a base 1LS coupe with the turbo-four to $47,995 for a 1SS coupe with the 1LE package and the V-8, and $78,090 for a loaded ZL1 convertible with the supercharged V-8.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the first of its kind. It’s track focused and based on the redesigned V-8–powered GT.The Dark Horse has an enhanced Coyote 5.0-liter V-8 targeting 500 horsepower and pairing with a Tremec six-speed manual or Ford’s 10-speed automatic.Along with distinct styling and myriad standard performance features, the Dark Horse is the only Mustang that has optional carbon-fiber wheels and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires.The Dark Horse is an entirely new breed of Mustang, one that shares no bloodlines with historic models. While it’s based on the new seventh-generation V-8–powered Ford Mustang GT, the Dark Horse is more badass out of the box, and it’s bred for racing, with numerous standard performance features and exclusive track-focused options.All about the 7th-Gen MustangsThink of the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse as the love child of the outgoing Mach 1 and Shelby variants, neither of which is offered for the redesigned Stang’s inaugural model year. Like the Mach 1 before it, the Dark Horse is the most track-capable Mustang that doesn’t have Shelby badging. It also inherits parts from the Shelby GT350 and GT500, most notably their lightweight carbon-fiber wheels. It’s the first time Ford will offer the exotic rims on a non-Shelby Mustang, and they’ll likely still cost a pretty penny when they become available later in the model year.Like the regular Mustang GT, the Dark Horse variant is only offered with Ford’s Coyote 5.0-liter V-8. Not only is this the latest generation of the engine, now featuring dual throttle bodies fed by dual air intakes, but the version in the Dark Horse is enhanced even further. It features forged internal components along with connecting rods from the GT500’s 760-hp supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V-8. It produces a projected 500 horsepower, and Ford says the Dark Horse engine is the most powerful naturally aspirated V-8 it has ever built. It pairs with a standard Tremec six-speed manual (GT models use a different Getrag gearbox), and the shifter has a special 3D-printed titanium knob. Ford’s 10-speed automatic is the other option, and both transmissions power the rear wheels through a Torsen limited-slip diff.Ed Krenz, Mustang chief nameplate engineer, told Car and Driver that Dark Horse as a brand name had been rattling around at Ford for quite some time before it was picked to christen the seventh-generation Mustang. “With the S650, we knew we were going to come out of the gate with a feature car,” said Krenz. While heritage model names such as Bosses, Bullitts, and Mach 1s were considered, one of the reasons Dark Horse was selected is because it describes the unexpected, which Krenz said played into the company’s assertion that some competitors are leaving the segment while Ford—perhaps surprisingly—has introduced a brand-new Mustang.Looks Menacing, Is Menacing The Dark Horse name was also inspired by the model’s understated, dark design that is supposed to give off a sleeper-type vibe, according to Krenz. However, we’d argue that the Mustang Dark Horse looks too menacing to qualify as a sleeper. Even compared with the regular GT model, which already has an aggressive mug, the Dark Horse goes a step further with a unique front end featuring bigger grille apertures and open nostrils for better cooling. Its smoked headlights and taillights also promote a racy attitude. Plus, the coupe’s body is adorned with unique aero bits such as a fixed rear wing and distinctive Dark Horse badges on the front fenders and decklid. The rear bumper also boasts a prominent diffuser and quad-tipped tailpipes. The other way to identify a Dark Horse is with its exclusive Blue Ember metallic paint (pictured here), and Ford also offers applied or painted graphics in different colors and designs.FordFordEvery Dark Horse rides on MagneRide adaptive dampers that buoy 19-inch wheels mounted on Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires. The standard rims measure 9.5 inches wide up front and 10.0 inches wide out back, but those widths increase to 10.5 and 11.0 inches, respectively, with the optional Handling package that brings super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS rubber. The package also includes stiffer springs, thicker front and rear sway bars, and a rear wing with a Gurney flap for more downforce. Even without the Handling package, all Dark Horses have Brembo six-piston fixed front calipers that clamp 13.9-inch rotors. Deep Indigo BlueInside, the Dark Horse benefits from the same redesigned, tech-centric cabin that debuted on other 2024 Mustangs. That means a digitized dashboard that combines a 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen. The latter features the latest Sync 4 interface that has been reskinned specifically for the Mustang, and it also accepts over-the-air updates. While the interior layout and features—like the new electronic drift brake that lets novices cosplay as Vaughn Gittin Jr.—aren’t unique to the Dark Horse, its blue interior accents and glossy dark metallic trim pieces are. Ford also offers an appearance package that adds Deep Indigo Blue seats with special perforations.Ford hasn’t yet said how much the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse will cost, but we think it’ll start around $60,000, which is a few thousand more than the current 2022 Mustang Mach 1. We expect the Dark Horse to go on sale sometime next summer. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2024 Mustang will be familiar. It’ll be powered by gasoline and hew to the template of Mustangs past. We’ll argue over the details, but the format is an evolution of the car that debuted in 1964. You ever hear the ragged bark of a V-8 revving out from a stop and just think “Mustang” without even needing to look? It’ll be one of those. But, as the Mach-E indicates, Ford plans for a lot more cars called Mustang that aren’t the 5.0 coupe of your nostalgia. To which I say: Get over it. This is actually a good thing, because Mustang is synonymous with fun, so if Ford builds more Mustangs, all that really means is that they’re trying to build fun cars. Or crossovers. Or whatever. If, in 50 years, we’re floating around in flying electric mobility pods, the Mustang will be the one that sounds like an F/A-18 and has a button to spray a contrail of skid marks across the sky.Mustangs We Have KnownA cranky faction of enthusiasts will always have a meltdown when their favorite car changes in any way. Certain Jeep people freaked when the Wrangler got coil-spring suspension. Some of the Porsche die-hards swore that if a 911 got a water-cooled engine, you might as well drive it in reverse and call it a Volkswagen Golf. I guarantee that there are salty Corvette fans out there who are sworn enemies of the C8, in all its mid-engine blasphemy. And the Mustang Mach-E immediately engendered a backlash from the 5.0 crowd. A four-door Mustang? That’s electric? And can carry shrimp where the V-8 should be? We shall refuse to ever call such an abomination Mustang! Why, it probably won’t even crash on the way out of Cars and Coffee.Car and DriverMarc UrbanoBut guess what? The Mustang Mach-E is fun. It’s fast, and interesting, and they built an insane drift car out of one just to show what’s possible. Because they called it a Mustang, you know what to expect, or at least where they wanted to go with the experience. There are four-cylinder automatic Fox bodies rolling around out there that have a hard time holding 65 mph uphill. They wear Mustang badges. So come on—it’s not exactly like a 480-hp four-door is desecrating a name that’s known nothing but greatness.When people rebel against their favorite car changing, that’s essentially an expression of narcissism: “How dare you corrupt the idea that’s in my head about what this particular thing should be?” It’s an affront to their identity. As in, if I think a Mustang is V-8 powered and rear-wheel drive and seats four, how dare Ford build something wildly different and call that a Mustang too? Why, it’s almost as if I shouldn’t care so much about the moneymaking strategies of a gigantic faceless corporation! The name “Mustang” is an attitude, not a format. We can argue about whether a given car lives up to the idea of a Mustang, but how it gets there is going to change. Maybe the 2024 Mustang will be the last one that shares its basic setup with the 1964 original. Maybe it won’t. But eventually, the Mustang as we know it will die. The idea, though, will live on—fast, fun, and a little bit juvenile. In whatever form it takes.Tempus FugitThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More