The 2023 Ford Mustang will keep the V8 dream alive when it goes on sale in the US and Australia next year – and for now, despite widespread industry rumours, there is no sign of an electric version. The first new Ford Mustang in eight years – since 2015 – was unveiled at the 2022 Detroit motor show overnight.
"Production for Australia-bound Mustangs is set to begin by late this year. Due to significant shipping time between the plant in Flat Rock, Michigan and Australia, we expect first arrivals in Q1, 2024," Ford Australia said in a statement issued to Drive.
The Ford Mustang is getting a new flagship performance line, with the 373kW Dark Horse confirmed for an Australian arrival in late 2023. The 2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is set to become the muscle car's most performance-focused variant yet, locked in as part the next-generation range due in Australia late next year.
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.
The new-gen S650 Ford Mustang is one of the most hotly anticipated new cars to hit Aussie shores, with Ford confirming yesterday to Wheels that the seventh-gen Mustang will reach Australia in Q1 of 2024.
Ford has released pricing for the 2024 Mustang, which starts at $32,515 and ranges up to $59,565 for the Dark Horse performance model. The V-8–powered GT is $43,090, a $3370 increase from last year's equivalent model. Ford says the 2024 models will start arriving at dealerships this summer.
All 2024 Mustang GT or EcoBoost options will become available with the full launch of the order banks on April 17th, 2023.
As reported by Ford Authority, insiders from Ford told the publication the Mustang Dark Horse will start from $US57,970 in the US – equivalent to $AU83,700.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is a horse of a different color and will challenge many competitors in its class. Powered by a performance-engineered 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 power core, the 2024 Ford Mustang will make 500 horsepower and 418 pound feet of torque with a responsive six-speed TREMEC® manual transmission.
Local deliveries of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang won't begin this year, with vehicles now set to arrive early in 2024.
Ford has unveiled the 2023 Mustang at the Detroit Auto Show. Good news, it's still got a V8, and there's already a hotter version available at launch.
The GT models are motivated by a 450-hp V-8 with an optional active exhaust that trumpets a thunderous roar. Both of these compelling engines pair with a standard six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic that makes the Mustang quicker than before.
As previously reported, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse will serve as the muscle car's new flagship variant, with its US price of $US57,970 ($AU85,780) translating to an Australian price of $90,000 plus on-road costs and options.
Industry sources say a battery-electric Mustang based on the Mach-E's platform will debut about mid-2028 to replace what will be the last internal-combustion model.
While the new pony is saddled-up for the future with a bevy of upgrades, the long-term fate of its closest competitors, the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger, isn't as rosy. The new-gen car continues to be powered by a 5.0-liter V-8, this time with output cranked to 480 horsepower.
The automatic GT gets 18 miles-per-gallon combined, while the Dark Horse with the six-speed manual comes in at 17 mpg combined – but just 14 in the stop and go traffic one might expect to see in the city.
Mustangs are not especially fast. Quarter horses and thoroughbreds are considered the fastest horses in the world and dominate the horse racing industry, while Arabian horses are known to excel in endurance riding and long distance racing. The average Mustang gallops between 40 to 48 kilometers per hour (25 to 30 mph).
Mustangs are built to withstand the running, the weather, and the threats to survival that would be found when roaming free. Smaller than the European breeds brought to America's eastern shores in the early days of our nation, mustangs possess speed and adaptability. They make excellent long-distance riding horses.
The Dark Horse was barely breaking a sweat, its performance potential easily exceeding the confines of our environment. The 5.0-liter engine's 418 pound-feet of torque is sent to the rear wheels through either a standard Tremec six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic transmission.
Wick's signature set of wheels is a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, a legendary muscle car and a performance-focused iteration of the standard version that first dropped in '64.
How fast is the 2022 Mustang Shelby GT500? Thanks to its supercharged V8 and fast-acting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, this high-powered Mustang goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. It's currently the fastest Mustang available, putting it in high demand among speed freaks.
2024 Ford Mustang Standard Equipment and Options
Ford is also offering an optional 10-speed automatic gearbox with the same 3.15 gearset from before. If the specs remain unchanged, it means the 2024 Mustang GT will also come with similar performance figures: 0 to 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.