Watch Richard Hammond Review The Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Video

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is an absolute beast of a machine. With its eight-cylinder engine doling out 500 horsepower, a host of track-focused goodies, and an aggressive design, it’s easily the most hardcore Mustang outside of the Shelby lineup. That makes it a dream ride for enthusiasts craving speed and precision, and naturally, journalist Richard Hammond just couldn’t keep his hands off of it.

Before firing up the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Hammond gives it a hearty drink of synthetic fuel to ease his conscience about driving the gas-guzzling V8. The Mustang Dark Horse loves its, and Hammond gives the pony car some gas, letting it stretch its legs across the countryside. He commends it for its power and performance at a relatively approachable price point.

Richard Hammond is right at home behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. He praises its naturally aspirated 5.0L Coyote V8, which Ford has been honing for generations, calling it “good.” Interestingly, however, while it’s rated at 500 horsepower, the European variant only delivers 450 horsepower, but Hammond cheekily notes that it’s easy enough to “accidentally” coax 50 more horses out of it.

Hammond says that driving the Mustang Dark Horse is a visceral experience. The gas pedal has a unique ability to settle his knotted guts, while the steering wheel opens up his chest and makes it easier to breathe. It’s a pleasure to be in control of such a machine, embodying the human need to traverse the landscape, and quickly.

“Just the right side of a track car. It’s still a street car, but a purposeful one,” he says. “This is a car distilled down to what it really is. A joy machine.”

Of course, this isn’t the first Ford Mustang that Hammond has had the privilege of driving. Almost 20 years ago, he reviewed the 2005 Mustang, and while he liked it, he wasn’t as impressed with it as he was the Mustang Dark Horse. He’s also played with the Ford Ranger Raptor and the Ford Fiesta ST.