When the S550 generation version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 made its debut for the 2020 model year, one of the most compelling options one could opt for was the Carbon Fiber Track Package, which added an array of lightweight bits and pieces – including its wheels. As select owners later found out the hard way, replacing one of those wheels wasn’t exactly cheap – with prices ranging from $5k-$7k each. Thus, when The Blue Oval revealed that the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse would also be available with carbon fiber wheels as an option, we were eager to hear how much those pieces might cost, and now we know, as that feature is now showing the model’s build and price configurator.
As a standalone option, the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse carbon fiber wheels cost an additional $8,995, but there’s one big catch – they’re only available in conjunction with the optional Handling Package, which adds another $4,995 to that tally, bringing the total cost up to $13,990 for those that want the special wheels. The Handling Package includes adjustable strut top mounts, front tow hooks, the Magnetic Damping System, a Shadow Black-painted rear spoiler with a Gurney flap, and revised chassis tuning. All in, a fully-loaded Dark Horse with all available options – including the carbon fiber wheels – stickers for just over $88k.
The Dark Horse’s optional carbon fiber wheels measure 19×10.5 inches up front and 19×11 in the rear, and weight 37 percent – or around 20 pounds – less than the standard units. The lightweight rollers are produced by Carbon Revolution, which also made the carbon fiber wheels for the S550-generation Shelby GT350 and GT500, and they’ve undergone 200+ environmental and structural environment tests to boot.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse comes equipped with an enhanced version of the naturally-aspirated Ford 5.0L V8 Coyote engine that cranks out 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque, along with an array of performance upgrades including a six-speed Tremec manual transmission (or optional 10-speed automatic), unique chassis tuning, larger rear sway bars, heavy-duty front shocks, 19-inch Brembo front six-piston brakes with 13.9-inch rotors, a strut tower brace and K-brace, a Torsen rear differential, MagneRide, and Pirelli P-Zero tires.
We’ll have more on the Dark Horse soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
I wonder how they hold up to pot holes and curbs?
They don’t!
Makes buying an older GT 350, 35OR, look like a bargain. They’re at least 400 lbs lighter as well.
The GT350 was a bargain (well for a Ford Mustang at least) given the amount of equipment the car came with and the unique body parts. I got a 2020 GT350 with the Recaros and the Handling package. The car was 65k. An equivalent Mach 1 with the Handling package was close to 70k and with the appearance package around 71k. Despite the bin-parts raiding the more expensive Mach only got a warmed over 5.0 and lacked the GT350’s excellent brakes. Ford did improve on the MagnaRide and I believe gave the car sticker and slightly wider rubber but overall, less content at a higher price compared to the GT350. The Dark Horse seems essentially the same thing, but this time gets the GT350’s brakes (probably due just as much to the added curb weight and wanting to offer better on track braking performance).
I have to wonder if Ford would have priced the S650 the way it has if the Camaro had remained in production since a buyer could get the ZL1 and even the ZL1-1LE for less than a loaded Dark Horse with much more performance. I guess the popularity of the Mach and the fact that Mustang is the last pony car standing emboldened Ford to price the car the way they have. Maybe they do okay with it but its close enough to the Corvette in price now that a buyer could cross shop the Corvette no problem. Granted you can get the Mustang with a few more bells and whistles but at the same time it’s entirely possible to step into a Corvette for a few grand more at each trim price point.
Those 350s and flat plane crank sure were the peak!
Man, got on the configurator and priced out a Dark Horse Premium with the CF wheels, painted stripes, A10 transmission, Recaro seats, Handling Package and Appearance package and it was right on 90k… that would put you into a nice Corvette 3LT with the Z51 package and a lot of options. Granted you don’t get the CF wheels on the regular vette but it’s a quicker car and the Dark Horse with the handling package and CF wheels isn’t going to be really handling any better than the C8 with the Z51 package and for about 20k more a buyer can get a Z06 (theoretically since last time I heard production on the Z06 was locked down for 3 years following its introduction).
More like 30,000K more if you can find one for list most are going for 200,000k the mark ups are insane on the Z06.