New performance hero of downsized Mustang family holds big premium over previous line - including the special editions.

WHAT’S with the Mustang gaining a brand new performance-oriented trim level 560 years into its dynasty?

Turns out that the concept behind the ‘Dark Horse’ moniker is all to do with Ford desire to bring the Mustang into the future.

Obviously by that they mean the petrol, and now purely V8, Mustang, and not the Mach-E. Regardless of what views ‘purists’ happen to hold, ithe latter IS also a Mustang and is ultimately the car that has a better chance of being around after the oil wells run dry. Whenever that might be.

Anyway, turns out Detroit wanted to make something that would appeal to a younger demographic.

Getting them interested in the Mustang required, the logic continues, introducing something new to the lineup — a trim level without pedigree, history, or legacy, that could begin to build those up for itself.

Well, good luck with that. For one, go to any Mustang club event and you’ll see that most attendees are … well, getting on in age.

Moreover, if they’re not in their sixties and seventies those are the periods in which their mindset seems to lay. Even if the cars they own were built some considerable time after those “good old days.”

The announcement of pricing for the new seventh generation car Mustang arriving next highlights another good reason why older drivers are more likely to gravitate to the Pony car. Affordability.

The cheapest of the new line, at $92,990, is not actually a Dark Horse, but a GT Fastback, that costs $8000 more than its equivalent in old family whose supply line was curtailed some months ago.

Next up are the actual Dark Horse models, in manual and automatic, respectively at $116,990 and $114,990, in which power upgrades from the GT’s 362kW to 373kW, but torque holds at an identical 567Nm. The big change to the DH engine is adoption of stronger piston connecting rods hitherto used by a GT500 sold Stateside.

So, two points from that information. First, yes, having been a no-cost option before, a manual is now more expensive than the 10-speed auto that most people prefer.

Second, and more relevant, is that the Dark Horse cars not only set a new price level for a factory V8 Mustang but are in fact a LOT more expensive than any previous limited edition models from the big house. The most recent of those, the 435kW/556Nm Mach 1, was $97,990.

Just three gen seven variants incoming, and the absence this time around of a convertible and the four-cylinder EcoBoost option, surely relate that there’s no Ford NZ expectation of the Mustang mania that gripped the market last time.

Different circumstances. When the old car announced it got many riled up because it was the FIRST produced in right hand drive, and gave a lot a people chance to scratch that ‘muscle car’ itch. And they did. Just the once, in the main. Mustang volume was brilliant for just the first year; beyond that, it has steadily waned and, last year, the car was basically relying on interest in those specials.

Ford New Zealand, unsurprisingly, has not shared any volume predictions. When Mustang Mach-E released, however, there was general consensus the battery-pure model will be the stronger seller Stang.

Even if there is more interest than they have forecast, it’s likely volume will be capped because, for all the changes that come with the gen seven, enter economy and emissions are not included. It’ll cop a hit under Clean Clear legislation; not just at buy-in but also to the distributor, via the Clean Car Standard. The more cars that come in, the more it costs Ford NZ. They have the same challenge with Ranger, but it’s the one they will work harder to protect, as it is a far important vehicle.

Dark Horse points of difference go beyond it being a bit gruntier. The type adopts larger rear sway bars, heavy-duty front shock absorbers, fatter (at 482mm) Brembo front brake discs clamped by six-piston calipers, a Torsen rear differential, and staggered 19-inch wheels.