Mustang Dark Horse

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

The new Mustang hasn't even hit dealerships yet but that hasn't stopped Ford from increasing the price of the Dark Horse and Dark Horse Premium derivatives.

According to the automaker's website, the base Mustang Dark Horse now weighs in at $59,270, which is $1,300 more than before, while the Premium model is priced at $61,865 - a $1,700 increase. These prices exclude destination/delivery charges.

So what's the reason behind this sudden increase? Spokesperson Mike Levine told Motor1 that the Dark Horse has been subjected to the Gas Guzzler Tax.

"While we strive for efficiency, Mustangs equipped with the 5.0-liter V8 with manual transmission will be subject to the Gas Guzzler Tax," said Levine in a statement.

The manual-equipped GT variants are also more expensive. Both the GT Fastback and GT Premium Fastback are $1,000 pricier than before. Opting for the 10-speed auto 'box negates the problem. The price difference between the two models is far smaller than it was before, though.

Naturally, the EcoBoost models have retained their original pricing. The four-cylinder Mustangs can no longer be specified with a manual transmission, so the 10-speed automatic is the only way to go.

Getting back to the Dark Horse models, things can get expensive if you select a few costly extras. Options like the Recaro leather-trimmed seats ($1,650), Pattern Painted stripes ($5,495), Dark Horse Handling Package ($4,995), Dark Horse Appearance Package ($1,500), and 10-speed automatic transmission ($1,595) can push the price of the Premium derivative close to the $80,000 mark.

That makes it nearly as expensive as the outgoing GT500, which is one of the best muscle cars that money can buy.

But the Dark Horse has plenty of appealing attributes that will attract buyers. It is a cut above the regular Mustang, and Ford describes it as a track-capable vehicle. That's not just a marketing spiel; the halo model comes with an uprated 5.0-liter V8 motor that produces 500 horsepower. The Coyote engine features piston connecting rods from the Mustang Shelby GT500 and a dual throttle-body intake design. Ford claims this is the most powerful production naturally-aspirated V8 Mustang ever.

Other impressive updates include a rear axle cooler, a lightweight radiator, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, and stronger cooling fans - all included to improve on-track performance. Other incredible options include the carbon fiber wheels which reportedly save 10 lbs per wheel. It sounds like a seriously impressive machine and makes us wonder how far Ford will go with the Shelby derivative, which is rumored to arrive in 2025.