New 2024 Ford Mustang comes to UK: The Dark Horse we’ve been waiting for?

Flying in the face of downsizing and tightening emissions regulations, Ford’s seventh generation ‘Stang is bound for British shores with an exclusively V8-powered range.  

While most manufacturers continue to quietly lop-off cylinders with each subsequent model, hoping buyers won’t notice, Ford has done the opposite with its new Mustang. Out goes the old 4-cylinder EcoBoost (we doubt many tears will be shed), and in comes two more powerful flavours of the colossal Coyote V8. Nice.  

But, before you look up to the sky for flying pigs, European buyers will inevitably be shortchanged on raw power compared to their US cousins. In base GT spec the new S650 gen car pumps out a respectable 440bhp. However, it would seem the real firecracker version of that eight-pot has lost some of its bang in transit across the Atlantic. Over the pond, track-ready Dark Horse variants produce a walloping 500bhp — in the UK, just 457 bhp. Womp womp… 

Ok, so the V8 has been corked a little, but we should be grateful that Ford has finally decided to grace us with a seriously sporty stallion — save for the ludicrously expensive and impossibly rare Mustang GTD. For one, the £65,000 Dark Horse edition certainly looks the part with its gnarly blacked-out grilles, 19-inch wheels, and sizeable bonnet nostrils to aid cooling.

Driver engagement should also rank highly. Buyers can choose from a 6-speed manual —we can’t think of another UK spec car with this powertrain combo— or a 10-speed automatic if you’d prefer an easier life. Plus, the standard Performance Package brings a raft of track-focused extras, including a limited-slip-differential, larger brakes, new front shock absorbers, and much more.

However, as well as a watered-down engine, Brits will also miss out on the top-tier Handling Package. Sporting various aero, chassis, and rubber upgrades, this pack promises to wring every last ounce out of the Dark Horse recipe. Although, we can’t be too aggrieved with the Blue Oval, as its exclusion is for legislative rather than commercial reasons.  

For many, though, the Mustang’s ability to slide its tail around like an angry salmon and clock record lap times is irrelevant. If you’d rather burble along with one arm on the windowsill, listening to your favourite country classics on the new 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, the standard GT should do nicely.

Starting at £55,685, you’ll save a healthy £10,000 over the spicier ‘Stang and retain most of that V8 muscle car goodness. Exact performance figures are TBC but expect acceleration to be a brisk 4 seconds to 60 mph, with a top speed in the region of 170 mph. Do you really need to go any faster?   

Inside, you’ll be greeted by either two large screens, or one continuous infotainment display in top-spec versions — both run on Ford’s improved Sync 4 software. There’s also less physical switchgear than before, but those looking for a retro touch can opt to configure their gauge cluster so that it mimics the analogue items found in classic Mustangs. 

Despite its notable styling, performance, and tech improvements, we can’t help but wonder if the new Mustang Dark Horse — with its diluted engine and chassis — is a classic case of ‘be careful what you wish for.’  Ironically, it seems, the standard GT (a car we’ve had in the UK since 2015) might just be the model to choose as a final ode to the V8 engine.  

It’ll be the cheapest V8 on the British market when it arrives in July, but is the new Mustang worth Audi RS3 and BMW M2 prices?

Hero image credit:  Ford