The hardcore Ford Mustang Dark Horse will go on sale for £65,585 in the UK

Alongside the release of its all-new seventh-generation Mustang GT, Ford will also bring its hardcore ‘Dark Horse’ edition to the UK. It’s not only the most track-focused series production Mustang to date but will also be the foundation for the car’s motorsport campaigns for the foreseeable future.

The reworked ‘Coyote’ V8 will see a slight output increase to 446bhp, and while the torque figure maintains a steady 398lb ft, Ford has focussed its attention on smaller details refined from the standard car’s ‘Performance Pack’ to spruce up the Dark Horse. Those include various upgrades to the cooling systems and a Torsen limited-slip differential to improve cornering ability. Gods, remember the days when American cars were at war with handling? They’re firmly behind us now.

The Dark Horse will be offered with the same two transmissions as the standard car: a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic. The latter will be supplied with paddle shifts, which work alongside a ‘flat-shift’ system to enable drivers to change gears without releasing the accelerator. So it makes you lazier, then.

Further changes include a more tuned chassis setup, larger anti-roll bars and heavy-duty dampers. You’ll also get meatier six-piston front brake calipers by Brembo, Pirelli P Zero PZ4 rubbers, and Ford’s ‘MagneRide’ active suspension as standard.

These lengthy mechanical changes will also be accompanied by noticeable aesthetic ones. The highlights are shadowed LED headlamps to set off the gloss black grille and new nostrils, in addition to a redesigned front bumper, lower side skirts, and a bigger rear wing. A stealthier rear diffuser and darkened quad-exhaust tips are also present, and really up the ante from the standard Mustang.

A spate of Dark Horse badges also litter the bodywork, including along the front wheel arches, tailgate, and door sills, while a funky shade of ‘Blue Ember metallic’ coats the Dark Horse. We’re still torn on the paint, but it’s definitely a head-turner if that sort of thing appeals to you. So basically, if you’re under the age of 30.

These changes build on the offerings from the standard car, which includes a completely redesigned interior and places a much bigger impetus on tech and gadgetry.

The Dark Horse will be available from £65,585 here in the UK - exactly ten grand more than the car upon which it’s based. What do we think, readers?