Ford Mustang Dark Horse review

The Dark Horse’s 5.0-litre Coyote bent eight gets its own unique spec, featuring conrods from the old 749bhp GT500, enabling it to withstand higher internal pressures and therefore a more punchy calibration. The good news is that means almost 500bhp; the bad news is that in Europe, emissions legislation chokes that back to 449bhp, which is quite a lot less than a standard V8 Mustang has in its home market (although still around 10bhp more than it will develop in the UK).

Both versions come with either 10-speed auto or six-speed manual gearboxes, but the Dark Horse's manual is made by Tremec, rather than Getrag, and reputed to be tougher and filled with ratios better-suited to track work.

Also in anticipation of a tougher work load, it has additional coolers for the engine oil, transmission and rear axle with its integrated Torsen limited-slip differential.

The Dark Horse also gets completely bespoke suspension settings, with standard magnetorheological dampers, stiffer springs and thicker anti-roll bars, plus larger and wider wheels and tyres and bigger brakes - although these can be added to the standard Mustang via the Performance Pack.

Congratulations to Ford for flying in the face of convention by keeping alive the only naturally aspirated, eight-cylinder, front-engined, rear-driven, stick-shift coupé on sale in the UK. In my book, at least, that’s plenty of points banked right there.

There were only US-specification cars available at the North Carolina launch, so it's to be hoped Euro-spec cars don’t feel too strangled. As the differences are software-related, I did ask whether it was possible to back hand a European car to a US power output, which elicited a level of muttering but not a discernible ‘no’, which I interpreted as ‘yes, but not by us’.

In full-fat form, this Coyote is a wonderful engine, offering the kind of low down torque that you wouldn't expect from a motor devoid of turbos and with so high a specific output, combined with a voice which is pretty inspirational, even in Good Neighbor (sic) mode. With all valves open, it sounds like a Nascar party has broken out in your garden.

On the road and like the previous Mach 1, it’s more good than great. The steering has a slight vagueness as you come off centre and those big brakes are overservoed and lack feel. But the ride quality on the trick dampers is outstanding.

Indeed, so long as you don’t mistake it for some kind of Porsche-bashing road warrior, it’s easy to relax into the big chairs, enjoy the engine and the wonderfully mechanical feel of the heavy gearshift and find a lolloping cross-country gait that's entirely satisfying, if falling a little short of being utterly thrilling.

The Dark Horse is entertaining on track, too, with good-natured slides available on demand, indefatigable brakes and an entire box of toys, such as line lock, Drag Strip mode, flat-shifting and a handbrake designed specifically to induce drifts. This is a car for enthusiasts, quite clearly designed by enthusiasts.