Ford Introduces Color-Shifting Paint for Mustang Dark Horse Package

Ford is offering a number of exclusive accessories and materials for its new Mustang Dark Horse model, the automaker announced.

Specific to the Mustang Dark Horse interior is its all-new anodized blue, lightweight titanium manual shift knob. The lightweight six-speed knob is hollow and does not get as hot to the touch as similar aluminum knobs in warmer weather, Ford said. Anodized silver paddle shifters will accompany the 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission on automatic models.

Mustang Dark Horse also features a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in performance suede for added grip, while contrasting Bright Indigo Blue stitching adds detail across the instrument and door panels, seats, gear shift boot and center console trim and lid, designers said. Steering wheel buttons will control vehicle functions like drive mode selection, the instrument cluster and 13.2-inch SYNC 4 center stack. The available electronic drift brake is leather-wrapped and features an anodized lever with precise action to help the driver easily modulate the rear wheels to a full lock while in track mode for sideways movement, Ford said.

Additionally, the Mustang Dark Horse Appearance Package includes specially bolstered RECARO performance seats featuring exclusive Deep Indigo Blue bolsters trimmed with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching, plus black Dinamica suede in the seat’s center for improved lateral grip. Deep Indigo Blue seatbelts and distinctive seat perforations with blue accents beneath the seating surface round out the blue theme.

The design team also developed all-new color and trim surface selections, with the bezels and vents finished in Black Alley – a dark metallic gloss replacing the familiar bright silver shades found in other Mustang trim levels. Each Mustang Dark Horse also features an instrument panel badge that includes the vehicle’s chassis number.

The Mustang Dark Horse will also be available with the all-new Blue Ember metallic paint, a shade that features special effect pigments of deep blues infused with a warm amber hue to give this exterior paint a highly dramatic color shift in different lights and angles, Ford designers said.

“If color is a reflection of a vehicle’s personality, Blue Ember transforms the Mustang Dark Horse and highlights a natural saddle-color horse hidden inside the strong chiseled fastback’s exterior form,” said Carrie Kennerly, Ford senior color and materials designer. “Multiple elements are combined to give Blue Ember its intriguing and stealthy appearance that really drives home how unique Mustang Dark Horse is.

To develop Blue Ember, the Ford Color Mastering team intermixed complementary colors, or harmonious colors, that are opposite to each other on the color wheel, Ford said. Special effect pigments are used in a higher volume than other paints to enhance the color by reflecting light to create a striking amber highlight that looks different throughout the day.

Available vinyl and hand-painted graphics accentuate the raised center of the hood and the low gloss Tarnished Dark and gloss black finish matches Dark Horse-specific parts on the vehicle. The Appearance Package gets a specialized hood vinyl graphic that builds on the base Dark Horse graphic but visually ties into the black-painted roof.