Ford files mysterious Mustang Dark Horse trademark in Australia

Ford has applied to trademark Mustang Dark Horse in Australia and Europe, potentially revealing the winning name behind a recent public competition.

Earlier this month, the Blue Oval announced an upcoming black accent package for the Mustang required a name on social media, with more than 25,000 entries from fans.

The company is yet to officially announce the winning title from the competition, which ended on June 9, but it seems the majority have chosen Mustang Dark Horse.

According to the brand, the black accent package will include; black exterior badging and black-painted aluminum wheels, while dark highlights are likely to replace select bright items inside and out.

Ford filed for the trademark in Australia on June 23, with the application currently ‘awaiting indexing’.

It covers ‘four-wheeled land vehicles’, including electric vehicles, SUVs and passenger cars, with no specific reference to the blacked-out package – but the timing reveals a strong connection.

The marque also registered Mustang Dark Horse with the European Union Intellectual Property Office at the same time, although publicly available information reveals no application has been made in the United States thus far.

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"Ford submits trademark applications for various brand assets as a normal course of business, but they aren't necessarily an indication of new branding, badging or product plans," a spokesperson for Ford Australia told Wheels.

Several online posts, including comments below Ford’s tweets, show copious references to Mustang Dark Horse, alongside other suggestions.

This includes; Black Stallion, Shadow, Wild Horse, Larry, Black Beauty, Nightmare, Charcoal Stallion and Midnight Edition – with the final recommendation used by rival brand Nissan.

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The company previously offered a Black Shadow Pack for the Mustang GT fastback in 2020, priced at $1000. It was discontinued from model-year 2021, with the addition of a California Special appearance package for MY22.

A blacked-out styling package could be considered one of the most-used automotive design trends of the past decade, with many dark-accented models available on a permanent basis, such as Mazda’s ‘SP’ range.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is likely to be unveiled in the coming months.

It could form part of Ford’s final send-off for the current sixth-generation model ahead of the seventh-generation 2024 Mustang, which will continue to offer V8 power and a manual transmission.