2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse confirmed for Australia

The 2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is set to become the muscle car’s most performance-focused variant yet, locked in as part the next-generation range due in Australia late next year.

Revealed today alongside the new seventh-generation Mustang, the road-going Dark Horse variant of Ford’s iconic muscle car is claimed to be the first new performance nameplate for the car in 21 years.

The Dark Horse is expected to extract more power from the ‘Coyote’ 5.0-litre V8 used by the standard Mustang GT, with an output of 373kW – compared to in excess of 336kW for the GT.

As with the upcoming Ford Mustang GT, the Mustang Dark Horse’s V8 will be equipped with twin throttle bodies for the first time, while the flagship variant gains stronger conrods from the Shelby GT500.

The Mustang Dark Horse will be available with a choice of two transmissions: a Tremec-built six-speed manual from the previous-generation Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT350, and the 10-speed automatic used across most of the Mustang range.

MORE: 2023 Ford Mustang: More V8 power, new tech, due in Australia next year

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be equipped with a number of features aimed at weekend track days, including brake cooling ducts, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler, a lighter radiator and more powerful cooling fans.

In addition to the power-focused upgrades, drivers can look forward to a larger rear sway bar, adaptive suspension, heavy-duty front dampers, a strut tower, under-bonnet engine brace, Brembo brakes (six-piston front, four-piston rear) and a Torsen limited-slip differential.

Some of these handling upgrades are new to the Dark Horse, while others – such as the brakes and Torsen differential – are shared with the standard 2023 Mustang GT.

Cosmetic changes for the Mustang Dark Horse above the regular Mustang GT include darkened LED headlights, a gloss black grille, a Dark Horse-specific front bumper, side skirts and rear wing, as well as a revised rear diffuser and darkened quad exhaust tips.

According to Ford, the Dark Horse’s unique badges depict a mustang (the horse) facing forwards, rather than a side-on angle, as seen on the car's main emblem – said to be a first for the nearly 60-year-old nameplate.

To help put the power to the road, the Mustang Dark Horse’s 19-inch wheels (9.5-inch/241mm wide front, 10-inch/254mm wide rear) are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres as standard.

The optional handling package steps it up to 10.5- and 11-inch wide wheels, shod in recently-introduced Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS rubber.

The handling package also adds stiffer springs, larger front and rear sway bars, and a Ford GT-inspired rear wing with an integrated Gurney Flap.

Lightweight carbon-fibre wheels are also set to become available as an optional extra next year, made by Australian company Carbon Revolution.

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse benefits from a number of interior equipment upgrades available on the seventh-generation model – such as a 12.4-inch instrument screen and 13.2-inch infotainment display – although it features a number of bespoke elements to separate it from its lesser-equipped stablemates.

A suede-wrapped steering wheel with Indigo Blue stitching incorporates a Dark Horse-exclusive drive mode button, while automatic examples gain anodised silver paddle shifters on the back of the wheel.

Blue contrast stitching is used on the car’s door panels, seats, gear shifter surround and centre console, complemented by blue seat belts and ‘Black Alley’ interior trim highlights.

The optional Mustang Dark Horse Appearance Pack adds Deep Indigo Blue perforated seats.

Ford has announced it will build two track-only variants of the Mustang Dark Horse – the Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R.

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse S is a more stripped-out version of the road car, featuring an FIA-certified roll cage, safety nets, six-point harness and quick-disconnect steering wheel, with all the car’s controls moved to a central panel. 

Front and rear tow hooks, bonnet pins, an adjustable rear wing, racing exhaust system and upgraded brakes will also be fitted to the Dark Horse S.

Taking things a step further, the Dark Horse R scores a seam-welded chassis for additional rigidity, a larger fuel cell and additional Ford Performance parts.

The new 2023 Ford Mustang range is due in Australian showrooms towards the end of 2023.