2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Ford says that all of the 2024 Mustang's bodywork is new, save for the front pillars and roof, but the overall impression is one of many slight tweaks to the Mustang's current formula, albeit with more extreme lines. The familiar long hood/short decklid proportions are still here, though the grille is now more upright and the rear fenders look curiously familiar to those from the Chevrolet Camaro.

Soon, though, Ford won't have to worry much about comparisons. Currently, the Mustang's primary competitors are the other American muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro. But the Challenger will be discontinued after the 2023 model year to make way for an electric replacement. The Camaro isn't far behind; Chevrolet has said production of the current-generation Camaro will stop after the 2024 model year without indicating what might follow. That will leave the Nissan Z, Toyota Supra and BMW 2 Series coupe as the Mustang's primary gas-powered competitors. But there's something they are all missing. Something about a V and the number eight ...

The GT sees its power boosted to 480 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque right out of the gate. Choose the GT's optional active-valve exhaust system and these figures are bumped to 486 hp and 418 lb-ft.

In terms of just the GT's output, the 2024 model year's horsepower ratings now match previous special editions like the Mustang Bullitt and pre-2022 Mach 1. As for the prize stallion in the range, there's the Mustang Dark Horse. Its 500-hp V8 benefits from strengthened camshafts, forged piston connecting rods, and a uniquely balanced crankshaft. Keep your foot to the floor and the revs climbing higher, and this tire-smoking V8 spins all the way up to a redline of 7,500 rpm.

Not to be overlooked amid all the V8-performance drama, the standard Mustang EcoBoost gets a reworked turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder for the 2024 model year. It delivers 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, making it the most standard horsepower ever offered in a Mustang.

Engineering mods to the turbo four-cylinder include a new bore-to-stroke ratio, along with updates to its direct injection system and variable cam timing. Ford estimates this helps the 2024 EcoBoost Mustang get 22 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway (versus 22 city/32 highway for the automatic-equipped 2022 model).

Two new features have also been added for 2024. GT models with the automatic transmission and EcoBoost models with the upgraded exhaust system get a new Remote Rev feature that allows you to rev the engine via a sequence of button presses on the Mustang's remote key fob. The second is a Performance Electronic Parking Brake, which comes on both Mustang models with the Performance Pack equipped. It looks like a traditional handbrake from inside the vehicle, but it's electronically controlled and can be used while the car is in Track mode to help get the Mustang into sustained slides more easily. Fun idea? Certainly. Good idea? We'll see.

So far, we've only driven a Mustang convertible with the EcoBoost powertrain and the Performance Pack. Fords reprogrammed the 10-speed automatic's shift mapping and the new version is better than before, but still shy of ideal. In everyday driving, the auto stays in the background, but when you pick up the pace it starts to get in the way. It just doesn't shift as smoothly or as quickly as the best dual-clutch automatics. Best results come from doing the work yourself with the paddle shifters — but remember, those only come with the Performance Pack.

Speaking of which, that package adds a lot of content. But at $3,475 it's not exactly a steal. While it comes down to personal use cases, anyone planning on hustling their EcoBoost up a nice road on weekends shouldn't hesitate to tick the box. The limited-slip diff and upgraded Brembo brakes make a considerable difference. That said, we'd skip the additional $1,750 MagneRide adaptive suspension in the EcoBoost. It did little to improve the car's temperament at high speeds and made things borderline unpleasant in traffic.

The 2.3-liter has enough power to put a smile on your face, and the slight turbo lag actually adds to the excitement. That said, the noise accompanying an acceleration run turns that smile upside down. Who knows, maybe Ford has more variants up its sleeve in the coming years to help with that. One can only hope.

We're a bit bummed that the EcoBoost is automatic-only now, but not enough to feel soured on the entire car. The four-cylinder Mustang is a competent sports car that offers more thrills from its handling abilities than its powertrain. Throw in some decent gas mileage and it's still a winning recipe for shoppers to consider.

Ford's subtle tweaks to the V8 do enough to make this engine feel like it's reached its peak — good timing, too, before it likely leaves us in the coming years. The noise is simply ferocious and grows with intensity the higher up the revs climb. Downshifts aren't always necessary for power, but we went through the ritual just to hear the car sing. When the transmission is in the appropriate gear, rolling onto the throttle provides big acceleration. But it's not scary; the GT's power feels controllable and exciting, something we can't always say about our long-term Shelby GT500 test car.

The gearshift itself feels like a clone from prior GTs. It's not quite at the caliber of what you get in a Porsche 911 or Honda Civic Type R, but the shifts are quick and direct. We also appreciate the rev-matching feature, which you can deactivate if you prefer to do all the work.

You might expect the lighter EcoBoost to be the better-handling Mustang, but we actually found the GT to feel more planted heading into high-speed corners. This provided the confidence to push a bit harder. You don't have to hit extralegal speeds to get the most out of this car, but GT is intuitive enough to handle things if you do. The steering is reactive to small inputs, making on-the-fly adjustments a non-issue. And when you need to slow down, the upgraded GT Performance package Brembos had plenty more to give. We'll put them to the test when we get the car on the Edmunds test track soon.

Pony-ing up (sorry, had to) to the GT means committing to a very capable performance car. But more importantly, it's a connection to the engine that's made the Mustang so special over the years. Spec it with the Performance package, say yes please to the six-speed and the end result is something really special.

It does ride more firmly than the GT but an enthusiast wouldn't consider it the least bit uncomfortable. Even with all of the Dark Horse's go-fast parts, it's still just as useful as the entry-level EcoBoost model. If there are a lot of track days in your future, the Dark Horse would be a worthwhile step up from the GT. Check out our Mustang Dark Horse article for even more information.

On that note, the optional MagneRide damping system trades everyday comfort for high-speed refinement. It's worth the $1,750 jump for anyone with track days on their list, but for everyone else, the Mustang is a more pleasant car with the standard suspension setup.

Behind the wheel, a large 12.4-inch instrument cluster display is now mounted side by side with a 13.2-inch touchscreen that now sits up high, rather than below a pair of air vents as it did in the outgoing car. There's still a volume knob but the climate controls have now been integrated into the screen and are consequently harder to use while driving. The new screen is large and bright, though it is placed a bit far away from the driver. We had to lean forward and stretch a bit to reach the bottom of the screen from a regular driving position.

One of the few physical controls remaining below the screen is a button with the Mustang's pony icon that opens up the car's performance pages. This gives the driver quick access to various performance settings, including exhaust loudness, launch control, and the Performance Electronic Parking Brake if equipped.

The Mustang's safety technology also gets an upgrade, now offering reverse automatic braking in addition to adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance. The 2024 model also introduces a feature that Ford calls active pothole mitigation; it comes with the optional MagneRide adaptive dampers on EcoBoost and GT models and comes standard in the new track-oriented Dark Horse variant. In Ford's words, "the system continually monitors the suspension and relies on shock movement to detect potholes and changes shock behavior to prevent the wheel from falling into potholes." No word yet on which safety features will come standard or be optional across the Mustang lineup.