Ford has just unveiled its latest creation, the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, a race car based on the road-going Mustang Dark Horse but with several enhancements to make it more aggressive and uncompromising on the track. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R is the official race car of the 2024 Mustang Challenge, a new IMSA-sanctioned, Mustang-only racing series that will debut next year.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R features a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful non-Shelby Mustang ever. The engine is paired with either a six-speed Tremec manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The race car also comes with a Borla racing exhaust system, a Recaro FIA racing seat, a Brembo front and rear brake package, Ford Performance Parts R1 flow-formed wheels, and bespoke Michelin 19-inch slick race tires.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse R also boasts unique chassis tuning, a larger rear sway bar, heavy-duty front shocks, a strut tower brace and K-brace, a Torsen rear differential, and MagneRide adaptive suspension. The MagneRide system uses magnetorheological fluid to adjust the damping force of the shock absorbers in real time, depending on the road conditions and the driving mode. This results in a smoother ride, better handling, and more comfort than conventional hydraulic suspension.