Mustang magic: Ford's iconic muscle car evolves with Dark Horse edition

In a time when news about cars often centers around battery capacity and charging time, the Mustang offers a refreshing return to a bygone era. The engine transforms fuel into a seemingly endless torque supply, accompanied by a delightful rumble. Moreover, this classic car is not just powerful; it's also agile. Most importantly, it's comfortable enough for daily driving.

Ford, like Porsche, seems to have realized that it possesses a golden goose. The Mustang has evolved into a brand of its own, standing as the quintessential muscle car, leaving competitors like Camaro in its wake. Despite the fact that Ford introduced an electric SUV carrying the Mustang name—a vehicle that shares little more than the badge with the "real" Mustang—the world didn't fall apart. This speaks volumes about the Mustang's enduring legend.

The previous Mustang had already won me over. It was exceptional: comfortable for everyday use, agile enough to shatter stereotypes about American cars, and loud enough to make you smile with every sprint. The Mustang is on my "someday gotta buy it" list for good reason.

You'd expect it to be an improvement, but it’s not necessarily better. The most common argument in favor of the new Mustang is simple: yes, it’s fantastic, comfortable, and fast, but so was its predecessor. Where's the progress?

Yet, the Dark Horse is another model in the Mustang lineup. This enhanced version boasts 453 horsepower and 398 lb-ft, compared to the "standard" Mustang’s 446 horsepower. But the most important upgrades aren't visible at first glance.

The Dark Horse features sharper camshafts, an additional cooler for the 10-speed automatic transmission and differential, a lighter engine cooler, a thicker rear stabilizer, different front shock absorbers, six-piston Brembo calipers on 15-inch discs, a strut tower and subframe brace, and Magneride adaptive suspension with Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires. Carbon wheels will also be available later, but scratching them will be costly.

The question arises: is it worth it? If you don’t plan on regular track days, the answer is no because the basic Mustang is already a mature design that requires a skilled driver to exploit fully. But there’s more: living with the Dark Horse is surprisingly comfortable.

Yes, the steering might be more demanding, and the Mustang isn’t great for maneuvering in tight parking lots. However, it has many advantages: the driver's seat position is outstanding. Visibility from the driver's seat far surpasses that of the BMW M4. The trunk can hold a lot of carry-on luggage for your partner. And those seats! The firm side bolsters and soft middle made it possible to drive 404 miles at a stretch without feeling fatigued.

Initially, I wasn’t a fan of installing two screens inside, which forced the abandonment of the Mustang's characteristic double cockpit. However, it's a convenient solution, and the amount of data on things like intake air pressure or component temperatures is overwhelming. The electronics aren't perfect, though: on the highway, the car frequently reminds you to keep your hands on the steering wheel, requiring a hard yank and some "dancing" in the lane to show you’re in control. The material quality is consistent with what you’d expect from a Mustang—switch to sport mode, and the plastics will creak. I wasn’t expecting anything different.

Honestly, even with the 2.3L engine from the predecessor, the Mustang would still be appealing. But under the hood, we have the five-liter beast called Coyote. The Coyote is the king, which is the reason you buy this car. It can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission—not the best for daily use—or a ten-speed automatic. The latter is better at finding the right gear than the previous model, but it wasn’t bad before.

The Coyote has other pluses: it's reasonably fuel-efficient, as shown in the table below. Moreover, it produces a phenomenal soundtrack. With every start, it’s slightly more aggressive than it needs to be. Rolling through the city, it’s slightly louder than it should be. And then there’s track mode, opening all the exhaust valves. The neighbors won’t love it. But you will, right?