Not exactly a ground-up redesign, the seventh-generation Mustang differs in many respects from its predecessor. First and foremost, we’re dealing with dual throttle bodies for the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, irrespective of trim level.
The GT and higher-performing Dark Horse both flaunt 80-millimeter units compared to 80 for the 2023 model year GT and 87 for the Mach 1. The Shelby GT500 boasts 92 millimeters, and chances are the next one is also getting a dual-throttle-body setup to squeeze out more than 800 horsepower on full song from the 5.2-liter Predator V8.
Pictured at New Jersey’s Island Dragway, the pony cars in the video below are both powered by the naturally-aspirated Coyote in different states of tune. For the 2024 model year Ford Mustang GT, the Ford Motor Company advertises it with 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm) of tire-shredding torque as opposed to 450 horsepower and 410 pound-feet (556 Nm) of the S550.
Opting for the fancy exhaust unlocks 6 more ponies and 3 more pound-feet. Based on the GT, the Mach 1 was replaced by the Dark Horse for the 2024 model year. A very different animal from the Mach 1, the Dark Horse makes 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet (567 Nm). On paper, the Mach 1 makes do with 480 and 420 (569) for the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2022, the Ford Motor Company revised the maximum output figures to 470 and 410 (556) due to changes made to meet more stringent emissions requirements.
Equipped with the Ford 10R automatic, the white-painted cars in the featured clip need 12 seconds to cover the standing quarter-mile. The Mach 1 clocked 12.77 seconds at 106.90 miles per hour, meaning 172 kilometers per hour in the metric system. The 2024 model year GT ran 12.73 at 108.54 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour).
Photo: ImportRace on YouTube
The guy in the Mustang GT can do better, though, and he did exactly that in the following race. Lined up against a rowdy Corvette from the seventh generation, the pony car from Flat Rock, Michigan recorded 12.34 seconds at 116.94 miles per hour (188 kilometers per hour). The Corvette’s driver messed up the start big time, hence the rather appalling 14.79 seconds at a meager 112.11 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour). Based on the way it upshifts, the ‘Vette is equipped with a manual transmission rather than a torque-converter automatic.
The question is, how good of a quarter-mile time is 12.3 seconds? Taking the Corvette as the yardstick, the mid-engine Stingray is listed by General Motors at 11.3 seconds. GM says the Z06 improves to 10.6 seconds. The quickest C8 Corvette of the bunch is the E-Ray, whose rear-mounted small block and front-mounted electric drive unit enable 10.5-second passes.
Ford claims the Shelby GT500 requires 10.7 seconds, although we all know the S550-generation Shelby GT500 is pretty hard to launch with minimal wheel spin. Also remember that most of the Mustang’s weight (56.2 percent) hangs over the front axle rather than the rear.
At press time, a brand-new Stingray is $68,300 sans destination charge. The Mustang kicks off at $30,920 for the auto-only EcoBoost or $42,495 for the GT, whereas the Dark Horse carries a recommended base price of $59,270. For reference, the Mach 1 used to retail at $51,720 for 2021 or $57,965 for 2023.
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
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