The Mustang Dark Horse SC Gets 5.2L Supercharged Engine, Race Car Technology

Ford has officially taken the wraps off a new, high-performance Mustang that fills the gap between the standard Mustang Dark Horse sports car, and the Mustang GTD supercar.

Developed alongside the GTD and the Mustang GT4 race car, the Mustang Dark Horse SC promises to be a track day weapon. Indeed, the new model features the latest MagneRide dampers with upgraded software to ensure that the suspension can handle extremely high cornering speeds.

The new dampers are assisted by magnesium strut brace towers and forged suspension links. These reduce weight, which improves handling, acceleration, and braking, as well improving steering feel, to help driver’s attack every apex. Ford’s engineers also used learnings from the Mustang GTD to adjust the suspension geometry, the steering rack, the tie rods, and the power steering gear in the Dark Horse SC.

All of the improvements were made with the standard carbon fibre wheels in mind. These reduce unsprung weight to improve its cornering characteristics further. The wheels are then wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires that were developed specifically for this model. Adjustable traction control developed for the Mustang GTD helps driver’s dial-in how much slip they want from those tires.

To help slow the Dark Horse SC down, it gets standard Brembo brakes. Buyers who choose to add the optional Track Pack to their vehicle get carbon ceramic brake discs that are 419 mm large in the front. Together with the carbon fibre wheels, the Track Package helps cut 68 kg of unsprung weight as compared to the standard Mustang Dark Horse.

The Mustang Dark Horse SC’s visual improvements also help improve cornering. A new aluminum hood (with race car-like hood pins) helps funnel air more efficiently. With the rain trays removed, the hood vents create 2.5 times more downforce than the vents in the standard Dark Horse.

At the rear, a revised diffuser improve rear axle cooling, and a belly pan that extends from the front splitter to the rear of the car helps manage the air more cleverly. Not only does it improve aerodynamics, it also improves brake cooling.

Again, buyers who opt for the Track Pack get even more downforce. A revised decklid with a ducktail spoiler improves downforce allowing Ford to install a smaller rear wing and improving outward visibility. Surprisingly, this trunk lid wasn't inspired by the Mustang GTD. It was actually developed for this application first, but it was so effective that it inspired the ducktail decklid on the supercar.

All of the handling improvements were necessitated by the new engine that sits under the hood of the Mustang Dark Horse SC. Gone is the 5.0L V8 of the standard Dark Horse, replaced by a supercharged 5.2L engine that’s connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Unfortunately, Ford has yet to confirm exactly how much power the engine will produce, but it’s sure to be more than the 500 hp than the naturally aspirated Dark Horse.

Inside, the Dark Horse SC gets the flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel out of the Mustang GTD. The race car-inspired wheel features a 12 o’clock stripe and performance controls. The Track Pack adds Recaro sport seats that feature Space Gray or teal accents. The package also deletes the rear seats, replacing them with a storage shelf.

Buyers can also opt for a Carbon Exterior Package, which covers the fascia and the mirror caps in the lightweight material and makes three different colours available for the brake calipers. Further customization can be achieved by opting for the coloured seatbelts, painted graphics, and colourful badges.

For 2026, the Mustang Dark Horse SC lineup will be topped by the limited edition Track Pack Special Edition, which combines the Track Pack and the Carbon Pack, and adds a black-painted roof, red Brembo brake calipers, unique graphics, 3D printed titanium accents, unique Recaro seats with Solar Red accents, and is available only in Oxford White or Shadow Black paint.

Sales of the Mustang Dark Horse SC will start this spring, with deliveries occurring in the summer. Prices for the model were not available at time of writing.