Wild Ford Mustang Dark Horse R revealed
Track-only 500hp-plus V8-powered Mustang race car will be available for Aussie buyers, but it won’t come cheapIf you’re rocking a Porsche 911 track day car, you may soon see a Dark Horse closing in.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R has just been revealed in the US – a race-prepped, track-only sports car that will kick off with a one-make race series Stateside and is pitched as an affordable and durable track tool.
And you’ll be able to get one in Australia.
Although it’s only available in left-hand drive at present, there’s nothing stopping potential Aussie racers from importing the Dark Horse R, explained Ford Performance Motorsports global director, Mark Rushbrook, at the car’s global reveal in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He said the vehicle is a global product but all customer orders will go through the brand’s Michigan HQ, so Aussies and other international buyers will need to organise its export.
Based on the all-new seventh-generation S650 road-legal Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the race car has been designed to provide an affordable way to race, relatively speaking.
Priced from $US145,000 ($A216,000), the new racer is fitted with a full roll cage, adjustable anti-roll bars, adjustable front camber plates, Multimatic DSSV dampers and an upgraded 5.0-litre Coyote V8 powertrain that pumps out more than 500hp – or 373kW-plus.
Inside the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R is an FIA-spec Recaro race seat and Sparco race harness, a MoTec data display and logging system and a Sparco fire-suppression system.
Michelin slick tyres, Brembo race brake pads and a Borla race exhaust system are also part of the package.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R will be joined by a more affordable track-only Dark Horse S in due course, while road-going versions of the new seventh-generation Mustang – HP, GT and Dark Horse – will be on sale in Australia in the first quarter of 2024.
Pricing for the road-legal models hasn’t yet been announced but prices are expected to start at around $57,000 plus on-road costs for the four-cylinder HP, from around $70,000 for the V8 GT and potentially from more than $90,000 for the Dark Horse.
“Mustang Dark Horse R bridges the gap between Dark Horse and GT3 and GT4,” noted Rushbrook.
“Dark Horse R offers our passionate customers not just an attainable, factory-built race car, but also a racing series to compete with other Mustang enthusiasts.”
Rushbrook said Ford would look at expanding the one-make race series to other markets if the opportunity and demand was there.
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R equipment
Exterior:
- Front and rear tow hooks
- Reinforced jacking points
- Underbody tie down
- Chassis:
- Roll cage
- Multimatic DSSV dampers
- Adjustable front camber plates
- Adjustable anti-roll bars
- Select seam welding
- Brakes/Wheels/Tyres:
- Performance ABS
- Brembo race callipers (front)
- Brembo race rotors (front)
- Brembo race pads
- Race brake cooling ducts
- Ford Performance parts R1 flow formed 19-inch wheels
- Bespoke Michelin race tyres
- MSI wheel nuts and open lug nuts
Powertrain:
- Upgraded oil system
- Upgraded transmission cooling
- Upgraded differential cooling
- Borla Racing exhaust system
- Ford Performance oil pan
Interior:
- Recaro FIA racing seat
- Sparco quick release steering wheel
- Sparco FIA racing harness
- Sparco FIA fire suppression system
- Safecraft FIA safety nets
- Driver keypad and button controls
- MoTec data display and logging system
- Fuel cell
Related: Ford Mustang Dark Horse R teased ahead of July 27 debut
Related: New Ford Mustang delayed
Related: 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse revealed with Aussie carbon wheels
Related: Ford Mustang Dark Horse to slam down 373kW
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