The Ford Mustang Dark Horse fares well before the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, intensifying the duel between a muscle car and a sports car.

With Chevrolet and Dodge walking towards electrification, Ford holds its ground among muscle cars and simply refuses to give up. Ford last year introduced the seventh-generation Mustang (S650) with a new flagship, the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, to make the ultimate expression of a modern muscle car. It’s fast, appealing, and carries a muscular Coyote V8. The Dark Horse will sit at the top of the Mustang lineup and will start a new era of modern muscle cars for Ford.

On the other hand, the Chevy Corvette Stingray has repeatedly proven itself among sports cars. It has a rich character, wholesome power and impressive track potential, and a bevy of features. However, with the new Ford Mustang working sideways as a sports car and a muscle car, the Dark Horse will soon haunt the Corvette Stingray. But why?

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse Is More Affordable

The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will go on sale later in 2023 with a price of $57,970, which makes it an affordable proposition ahead of its competitors and the Chevy Corvette Stingray. The lower price will attract a lot of buyers looking for a sports car or a muscle car with an excellent price-to-power ratio. Hence, it’s sharp styling, rich touch, and track abilities should help Ford earn some fat profits.

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray starts at $65,895 and can reach $77,845 for the 3LT trim, making it at least $8,000 costlier than the latter. Still, the Corvette Stingray remains a strong offering with its track prowess and deluxe character. However, once the Dark Horse arrives, competition between the two will intensify because who wouldn’t want an affordable supercar killer?

The Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8 uses piston connection rods from the Shelby GT500, an auxiliary air cooler, a light radiator, and faster cooling fans for better engine output. The V8 uses a six-speed TREMEC manual gearbox or a 10-speed automatic torque converter for precise gearshifts.

These tunings assure 500 hp and 418 lb-ft, offering shocking acceleration once hauled. While Ford is coy regarding the Dark acceleration figures, we expect it to hit 0–60 in 3.5–3.8 seconds.

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray gets power from a 490-hp 6.2-liter LT2 V8, which makes it 10 horsepower less than the latter. However, the Stingray’s lighter and more aerodynamically advanced body helps it hit 0–60 mph in just 2.9 seconds.

Nevertheless, the Dark Horse can allure a ton of Corvette loyalists with its manual gearbox. Something the Corvette does not offer.

Mustang Dark Horse: Ford’s Most Track-Ready Muscle Car

As the newest flagship of Mustang, Dark Horse boasts the best performance-grade features for track prowess. Its unique chassis tuning incorporates larger sway bars, more robust and more responsive shocks, massive brakes, and a limited-slip differential. The latest MagnaRide suspension sense 1,000 times per second to improve handling.

The Dark Horse uses standard 19-inch front Brembo six-piston and four-piston rear brakes. An optional Handling Package adds 19-inch wheels with Pirelli Trofeo high-performance tires and a unique rear spoiler with a Gurney flap. Buyers can also equip all-carbon fiber wheels with the Dark Horse Mustang with improved performance by reducing unsprung mass.

Step inside, and the Dark Horse will impress you with its “fighter-jet-inspired design”. The interior looks cozy, with its top-notch materials and modern design. The new sports seats at the front offer an excellent driving position and outward view. The rear seats, though, are suitable for kids and pets.

The interior is driver-focused but bathed in luxurious touches. The dashboard is highly ergonomic, with two large screens and accessible controls. The carbon fiber trims and leather inserts with blue stitching add a rich touch.

The cockpit offers excellent functionality with a 12.4-inch fully digital gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Alcantara-suede steering wheel is thicker, and available with a heating option. The automatic models are equipped with paddle shifters. The standard 12-speaker B&O premium audio system ensures a rich audio experience.

Talk about space, the Dark Horse tosses the Corvette Stingray aside. Unlike the Stingray, the Mustang seats four passengers, with more space provided for the front passengers. The rear occupants will have to adjust sadly! At the back, the trunk offers 13.3 cubic feet of standard cargo space, but it will offer additional space with the rear seats folded.

Boldness Favors The Ford Mustang Dark Horse

The distinctive Blue Ember metallic paint exhibits a warm tone when exposed to sunlight but a cooler tone under artificial lights. The Dark Horse’s new horse badge distinguishes it from other Mustangs.

The flavorful shadow graphic around the LED headlamps complements the black grill and trapezoidal nostrils. The bumpers also have NACA ducts to deliver more air for brake cooling.

The rear flaunts a new diffuser, dark tailpipes, and a signature spoiler that separates it from the rest. The optional blue Brembo calipers and carbon fiber wheels enhance the overall appeal.

With all things said and done, with more power to offer, a three-pedal drive experience, the Mustang has a lot going for itself. We just pray that dealerships don’t mark up the price like the C8 Corvette. It can only hurt the Mustang in the long run.