When it comes to muscle cars, two things matter most: power and presence. For decades, American muscle has been defined by roaring V8s, tire-shredding burnouts, and a rebellious spirit that refuses to be tamed. However, as the automotive landscape shifts toward electrification, the definition of a muscle car is being challenged like never before. Enter the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona.
Which of these two machines truly embodies the essence of a muscle car? That’s what the folks from MotorTrend in this video aim to discover as they took both for a spin through the Mojave Desert.
For reference, the Dark Horse is not your typical muscle car—it’s the most track-focused Mustang on this side of a Shelby, positioned as Ford’s answer to BMW’s M cars. Under the hood, the Dark Horse packs the legendary 5.0L Coyote V8, tuned to produce 500 horsepower. From a standstill, the Dark Horse rockets to 60 mph in under four seconds, spinning its tires and filling the air with the unmistakable soundtrack of a naturally aspirated V8.
The Dodge Charger Daytona is a bold experiment in what a muscle car can be in the electric age. Instead of a V8, it has an electric powertrain pumping 670 horsepower. Instead of a traditional exhaust note, it has the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust—a speaker-based system that mimics the rumble of a classic HEMI V8.
On paper, the Daytona delivers all the ways a muscle car should. It’s absurdly quick, with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.2 seconds—faster than the Mustang. It’s aggressive-looking, with retro-inspired styling that pays homage to the legendary ‘68 Charger.
