Ford Mustang Dark Horse R teased ahead of July 27 debut

Ford Performance has confirmed a July 27 reveal date for the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R track car and released the first official teaser since the concept vehicle debuted in September last year.

Posted to Ford Performance’s brand-new Threads page, the teaser image takes the form of a sketch showing the grassroots racer’s aggressive rear-end, roll cage and stylised logo against a navy blue, white and red backdrop – the official colours of Ford Performance.

We already know the Dark Horse R will be a racetrack-only version of the production-spec Mustang Dark Horse, outfitted with a series of FIA-compliant modifications – very few of which are reflected or shown in the sketch.

Said modifications include a stripped-out interior, full FIA-certified safety cage, safety nets, race seat, harnesses, racing steering wheel, electrical disconnects and a fire suppression system, pitlane speed-limiter, bonnet pins, front and rear tow hooks, adjustable rear wing, full exhaust system, upgraded brakes, seam welding, long-range fuel cell and lightweight wheels.

Obviously it’s hard to the see bonnet, interior and electrical upgrades from the rear of a vehicle, and the sketch really only previews the R’s new rolling stock (wider tyres), roll cage and some subtle changes to the rear diffuser.

The initial concept reveal previewed the inclusion of a more aggressive front splitter to match the tweaked diffuser, but it’s clear there’ll be a fair bit of breathing room between the Dark Horse R and Mustang GT4, which is also derived from the standard Dark Horse.

There’s been no word yet about whether the Dark Horse R will feature any power or drivetrain upgrades compared to the standard Dark Horse and lesser Dark Horse S, but we do know the Coyote V8 will remain reasonably close to stock and retain its signature 5.0-litre capacity.

A version of the new-generation S650-series Mustang is already competing in the Australian Supercars series, even before its global launch in the US later this month and its delayed local release in early 2024, but Ford Australia has confirmed that neither the R or S will be sold here alongside street-legal Dark Horse flagship.

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