The Ford Mustang Dark Horse fares well before the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, intensifying the duel between a muscle car and a sports car.
With Chevrolet and Dodge walking towards electrification, Ford holds its ground among muscle cars and simply refuses to give up. Ford last year introduced the seventh-generation Mustang (S650) with a new flagship, the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, to make the ultimate expression of a modern muscle car. It’s fast, appealing, and carries a muscular Coyote V8. The Dark Horse will sit at the top of the Mustang lineup and will start a new era of modern muscle cars.
On the other hand, the Chevy Corvette Stingray has repeatedly proven itself among sports cars. It has a rich character, wholesome power and impressive track potential, and a bevy of features. However, with the new Ford Mustang working sideways as a sports car and a muscle car, the Dark Horse will soon haunt the Corvette Stingray. But why?
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Is More Affordable
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will go on sale later in 2023 with a price of $57,970, which makes it an affordable proposition ahead of its competitors and the Chevy Corvette Stingray. The lower price will attract a lot of buyers looking for a sports car or a muscle car with an excellent price-to-power ratio. Hence, it’s sharp styling, rich touch, and track abilities should help Ford earn some fat profits.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray starts at $65,895 and can reach $77,845 for the 3LT trim, making it at least $8,000 costlier than the latter. Still, the Corvette Stingray remains a strong offering with its track prowess and deluxe character. However, once the Dark Horse arrives, competition between the two will intensify because who wouldn’t want an affordable supercar killer?
Mustang Dark Horse Has A Smaller Yet More Powerful Engine
The Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8 uses piston connection rods from the Shelby GT500, an auxiliary air cooler, a light radiator, and faster cooling fans for better engine output. The V8 uses a six-speed TREMEC manual gearbox or a 10-speed automatic torque converter for precise gearshifts.
These tunings assure 500 hp and 418 lb-ft, offering shocking acceleration once hauled. While Ford is coy regarding the Dark acceleration figures, we expect it to hit 0–60 in 3.5–3.8 seconds.
The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray gets power from a 490-hp 6.2-liter LT2 V8, which makes it 10 horsepower less than the latter. However, the Stingray’s lighter and more aerodynamically advanced body helps it hit 0–60 mph in just 2.9 seconds.
Nevertheless, the Dark Horse will allure a ton of Corvette loyalists with its manual gearbox. Moreover, enthusiasts will love the new V8 engine and readily refine its staggering power with some performance enhancements.
Mustang Dark Horse Will Be Ford’s Most Track-Ready Muscle Car
As the newest flagship of Mustang, Dark Horse boasts the best performance-grade features for track prowess. Its unique chassis tuning incorporates larger sway bars, more robust and more responsive shocks, massive brakes, and a TORSEN limited-slip rear axle. The latest MagnaRide suspensions sense 1,000 times per second to improve handling.
The Dark Horse has standard 19-inch front Brembo six-piston and four-piston rear brakes. An optional Handling Package adds 19-inch wheels with Pirelli Trofeo high-performance tires and a unique rear spoiler with Gurney Flap. Buyers can also equip Carbon Revolution carbon fiber wheels for high-spirited driving for improved performance.
2024 Mustang Interior Better Than The Corvette C8
Step inside, and the Dark Horse will shock you with its “fighter-jet-inspired design”. The interior looks fine, with top-notch materials and design. The new sports seats at the front offer an excellent driving position and outward view. The rear seats, though, are suitable for kids and pets.
The interior is driver-focused but bathed in luxurious touches. The dashboard is highly ergonomic, with two large screens and accessible controls. The carbon fiber trims and leather inserts with blue stitching add a rich touch.
The cockpit offers excellent functionality with a 12.4-inch fully digital cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen. The suede steering wheel is thicker and equipped with paddle shifters and a heating function for extra comfort and functionality. The interior comes with a 12-speaker B&O premium audio system, which is a standard fit for a rich audio experience.
Talk about space, the Dark Horse tosses the Corvette Stingray aside. Unlike the Stingray, the Mustang seats four passengers, with more space provided for the front passengers. The rear occupants will have to adjust sadly! At the back, the trunk offers 13.3 cubic feet of standard cargo space, but once the interior is finished, it should offer additional space with the rear seats folded.
Boldness Favors The Ford Mustang Dark Horse
The distinctive Blue Ember metallic paint exhibits a warm tone when exposed to sunlight but a cooler tone under artificial lights. The Dark Horse’s new horse badge distinguishes it from other Mustangs.
The flavorful shadow graphic around the LED headlamps complements the black grill and trapezoidal nostrils. The bumpers also have NACA ducts and fangs to deliver more air for brake cooling.
The rear flaunts a new diffuser, dark tailpipes, and a signature spoiler that separates it from the rest. The optional blue Brembo calipers and carbon fiber wheels enhance the overall appeal.
Sources: Ford and Chevrolet.
