As you're well aware, Ford Motor Company redesigned the Mustang for the 2024 model year. The seventh generation is currently available in three flavors, the Mustang Dark Horse being the most performance-oriented specification of the bunch.
According to Dearborn's favorite son, its top speed is 168 miles per hour (270 kilometers per hour), well above the 85 miles per hour (137 kilometers per hour) on State Highway 130 in Texas. Be that as it may, the quoted maximum speed refers to Dark Horse ponies equipped with the Tremec-supplied manual box.
Specify the optional 10-speed automatic transmission designed by FoMoCo, and you'll barely crack 160 miles per hour (257 kilometers per hour). The auto-equipped pony in the video below topped 161 miles per hour, which converts to just under 260 clicks.
Not bad for a naturally-aspirated V8, let alone a Mustang rather than exotic machinery. There is, however, a bit of room for improvement. For example, the free-breathing V8 in the 10-speed Lexus LC 500 is much obliged to keep on spinning until the speedometer indicates 168 mph (270 kph).
On the other hand, the Lexus Coupe (or Convertible) is a comfortable grand tourer as opposed to a track-focused thriller. That's why its Torsen rear limited-slip differential's final drive ratio is 2.937:1 as opposed to 3.55:1 or 3.73:1 for the Dark Horse, which also rocks a torque-sensing rear differential.
We also have to remember that 160-ish miles per hour is more than enough speed for quarter-mile shenanigans, and plenty enough for the standing mile as well. Developed to corner like it's on rails, the Mach 1-replacing Dark Horse is willing to rev to 7,500 rpm with the 10-speed automatic. For some reason or another, the manual offers 7,250 rpm.
That's exactly where the dual-throttle-bodied Coyote produces maximum power, whereas torque maxes out at 4,900 revolutions per minute. Ford says the Dark Horse makes 418 pound-feet (567 Nm), mirroring the rating of the GT with the optional active-valve exhaust system. Without it, the GT kicks out 480 ponies and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm).
For 2024, the GT and GT-based Dark Horse retail at $42,495 and $59,270 (sans destination freight charge). By comparison, the 2015 model year GT used to sticker at $32,100 back in 2014. That's $41,630 adjusted for inflation. As for the Mach 1, this nameplate returned for model year 2021 back in 2020 with a suggested retail price of $52,720 (or $62,540 adjusted). While the S650 may seem a bit expensive, don't forget that inflation affects everything.
While on the subject of money, did you know that Ford charges a simply ludicrous $300,000 for the 2025 model year Mustang GTD? That's no regular 'Stang, though, but a Multimatic-assembled racecar for the road with GT3 influences and something like 800 horsepower from a supercharged V8 lump.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News