Just a few days ago, it was discovered that Ford was raising the price of the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. At first we thought it was just another vehicle hit with the price increases that automakers have added to offset inflation . However, there’s another reason for the nearly $2,000 price increase for the standard and premium editions of the performance-focused S650 Mustang.
EPA Tacks on Guzzler Gas Tax on Mustang GT, Dark Horse
Pricing for the base Mustang Dark Horse is now $59,270, up $1,300 from before, while the Premium model starts at $61,865, up $1,700. These prices do not include destination charges. Remember, the car hasn’t started production yet, so the sudden increase is a big deal. Fortunately, there’s a valid reason for this, and it’s not because of inflation. According to the Mustang 7G forum, the sudden increase is due to the Gas Guzzler tax. The tax is primarily for Mustangs equipped with the 5.0-liter V8 with a manual transmission.
Manual-equipped GT variants have also seen a price hike. The GT Fastback and GT Premium Fastback are $1,000 more than before; opting for the 10-speed automatic negates the problem, although the price difference between the two models is much smaller than before. As for the EcoBoost, buyers have nothing to worry about, as four-cylinder Mustangs can’t be bought with a manual transmission, which means the gas tax can’t affect the price.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse has a class-leading 500 horsepower and shares some engine parts with the 760-horse S550 Shelby GT500 Mustang. If customers opt for the GT, there’s a slight reduction of 20 ponies under the hood, which doesn’t seem like a significant trade-off. Still, considering all the performance additions to the Dark Horse, including a rear axle cooler, lightweight radiator, auxiliary engine oil cooler, and louder cooling fans, it’s clear that the Dark Horse it’s the best option if you plan to take the car to the track.
