This Sports Coupe Will Spank a Ford Mustang Dark Horse With Fewer Cylinders
The seventh-generation Ford Mustang is off to a smashing start. Most notably, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse offers the most powerful factory naturally aspirated 5.0L Coyote V8 ever. However, the Dark Horse isn’t without competition. Enter the BMW M240i xDrive, a launch-happy, all-wheel drive (AWD) sports coupe with the heart of a Toyota Supra.
The BMW M240i xDrive will lay down a scorching 3.6-second sprint to 60 mph, faster than a 500-horsepower Ford Mustang Dark Horse
The Ford Mustang retains its classic formula for the 2024 model year. It’s front-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD), offers V8 power, and owners can still have it with a traditional three-pedal setup. However, even with the most powerful factory NA Coyote V8 ever to reside in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the pony lumbers compared to some composed all-wheel drive European competition. Such is the case with the deceptively fast BMW M240i xDrive.
| Model | ¼ mile | Starting price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW M240i xDrive | 3.6 seconds | 12.1 seconds | $52,695 |
| Ford Mustang Dark Horse (6 Spd) | 4.1 seconds | 12.5 seconds | $61,080 |
Don’t get me wrong; the Dark Horse is no slouch. In Car and Driver’s testing, Ford’s latest range-topping pony car sprinted to 60 mph in about 4.1 seconds without the assistance of a smart-shifting 10-speed automatic. That’s right, a competent rower can move the Mustang to 60 in just over four seconds without giving up their TREMEC manual transmission. Understandably, opting for the 10-speed 10R80 automatic transmission will shave a few tenths off the sprint.Â
However, even with a fleet of horses at its disposal, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse can’t match the grippy launches of the BMW M240i xDrive and its turbocharged 3.0L B58 inline-six. Of course, you won’t get a manual backing up the B58 in your M240i. It’s an eight-speed automatic for the Bimmer or you choose a different car.
Sure, the horsepower gulf is more than a Mitsubishi Mirage’s entire power output. However, the M240i’s heart is the same 382-horsepower mill in the already taut and snappy Toyota GR Supra 3.0. Not too shabby. What’s more, the xDrive model adds BMW’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The result? The G42 M240i xDrive will outsprint both the Dark Horse will outsprint the Dark Horse and its Toyota-badged sibling.
