2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC - Official Specs, Photos, Videos

[JimC]

Now we have the new car which was advertised as Shelby GT500 since the Fall of 2023.

]

Who "advertised" the new Mustang as the Shelby GT500? It wasn't Ford - there isn't a single instance that Ford said "we are going to make a new Shelby GT500". In fact they were pretty clear that they were not going to be renewing the Shelby licensing with the S650.

Other people kept calling it the Shelby GT500, but Ford never said it was.

Sponsored

 

[PRO-630HD]

Who "advertised" the new Mustang as the Shelby GT500? It wasn't Ford - there isn't a single instance that Ford said "we are going to make a new Shelby GT500". In fact they were pretty clear that they were not going to be renewing the Shelby licensing with the S650.

Other people kept calling it the Shelby GT500, but Ford never said it was.

The information on that came out in Sept. 2022 and it came from Ford. Articles linked below. On Sept. 10, 2022 the new 7th Gen Mustang was revealed which happened to be my sister's birthday. She was a big Mustang fan and the only reason I remember the exact day of its world premiere. Since the 7th Gen was introduced and no GT500s were built for 2023 people were naturally wondering when the GT500 would return. Ford Authority broke the news, and everybody reported on this. If they weren't planning on building a new 2026 GT500 Ford wouldn't have released the article.
Ford planning new Mustang Shelby GT500 for 2026, according to report - Autoblog
S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coming In 2025 As 2026 Model

The news of rebadging the GT500 started in May of 2024 again from Ford. They had been testing S650 GT500 mules starting in April of 2023. They even mention Dark Horse in the article and wanted to use IP created by Ford and attract younger owners.
S650 Ford Mustang May Not Use Shelby GT500 Name: Exclusive
Ford Testing S650 Mustang Shelby GT500 Mules: Exclusive
S650 Ford Mustang Designed To Appeal To A Younger Customer

To say the new Dark Horse SC has lineage or similarities to the 2020-2022 GT500 is an understatement! They are shockingly similar. I can easily argue the Dark Horse SC has much more in common with the 2022 GT500 and it does the current Dark Horse. The car came out exactly as predicted. Halfway through they decided to use Ford IP instead of Shelby. Right around that time as well Ford is realizing the $Billions they had invested in the EV market were going to Tank come Fall as Autopens electric dreams would come to a screeching halt. The bean counters may have come out of the woodwork as well trying to save money at every corner to counter the debt from their Electric blunder. Ford does have a lot of great IP though going back to the very beginning. If someone has the skinny on Ford and Shelby getting separated chime in with the story, I am curious!

 

[RebelMan]

The FP800S IS a Ford Racing supercharger kit (Whipple), plus a few bolt-ons and stickers from the parts catalogue. It's a rolling advertisement basically. A really cool one, but not one you can buy as a complete package.

Point is the people that have this package aren't going to insult the GTD owners just because it produces about the same in HP.

By comparison, if you don't think HP between the various models and internal battles don't exist within Ford, why wouldn't they just tell us all at this point that the DH SC makes 815hp? It's the SAME engine as the GTD...which was the SAME engine as the previous GT500.

Could it be a few ponies off here or there because of intake or exhaust routing? Sure...but even still. That's egg on the face for GTD buyers. Buy a car that costs $500k with 815hp or buy one that's going to be about 1/5th of the price with the same engine. You think buyers are going to be OK with that? I don't think so.

I'll tell you why in one word... COBRA. Remember what happened to FORD when they rated the '99 model? That's the only reason why they are treading carefully with the rating. Again GTD owners couldn't care less about the rating. It isn't just about HP with the GTD, it's about power to weight ratio, handling, aesthetics, overall drivability and fun plus exclusivity that matter to these buyers.

EDIT: While I agree with the 911 GT3 RS being the original metric Ford was shooting after...guess which other American manufacturer came out and slapped everyone around with the best bang/buck in the history of the automobile?

I'd rather not and again it's not relevant. GDT buyers are most likely the kind that could afford both anyway. Can you guess whom one American might be?

 

[RebelMan]

The car is bad ass. The only thing I don't like is they ditched the dual filter setup. They made it work with Whipple, just do it here and use both nostrils even with a single throttle body.

Yes its a refresh of a 2021 Shelby GT500 that's not a Shelby. That says less about this car and more about the fact the previous gen was a Ford Performance car and not a true Shelby. This version is better looking by a mile, sorry.

Only real issue with this car is that it's going to cost 100K+. Which is a big ass issue. Other than that its going to be fantastic.

100%

 

[RebelMan]

Ummm Ford started the SUV craze with the Explorer. Its like you were born in the 2000s or something.

Good grief dude, you really need to get your facts straight...

 

[RebelMan]

Are you special friends with Farley or something? The only one whining is you. You came out of no where on this forum and started trolling everyone who disagrees with your opinion on this car like a rabid cult member. ALL of your responses are juvenile. People are allowed to having differing opinions, get over it. If you like the car then buy one and stop talking down to everyone you disagree with. Jesus Christ.

The tables have turned. I need to remind you that YOU started all this, again! My presence on these boards are not indicative of anything but your ignorance is. I appreciate feedback, not diatribe. Time to wise up.

 

[RebelMan]

Agreed with this. I would add though they haven’t done enough to make more S550 owners want to trade up. Some have for sure. But it seems like many more S197 owners upgraded and lots of S550 owners are standing pat until something more unique comes out

Precisely. The performance move from the S197 to the S650 was substantial. I considered the 2019 Bullitt but thought the $51K price was too much for some of the compromises I would have to make. Then the Dark Horse comes around for even more at $65K but there were far more pros then cons and I couldn't live with the itch to upgrade anymore. I also considered the 2021 MACH 1 and had I bitten on to either S550, I most likely would have skipped the S650 generation's refinements.

 

[RebelMan]

The information on that came out in Sept. 2022 and it came from Ford.

It did not come from Ford. It came from an eager reporter spreading fake news, but I don't think it was done to intentionally mislead. I think it was just semantics.

 

[Katastrophe]

Point is the people that have this package aren't going to insult the GTD owners just because it produces about the same in HP.

I'll tell you why in one word... COBRA. Remember what happened to FORD when they rated the '99 model? That's the only reason why they are treading carefully with the rating. Again GTD owners couldn't care less about the rating. It isn't just about HP with the GTD, it's about power to weight ratio, handling, aesthetics, overall drivability and fun plus exclusivity that matter to these buyers.

I'd rather not and again it's not relevant. GDT buyers are most likely the kind that could afford both anyway. Can you guess whom one American might be?

Honestly...I'm not the best guy to talk to about the GTD. That whole...everything was just a disgusting rug-pull as far as I'm concerned. All the teasers on it...all the PR from Farley himself. "We're going after the Porsche GT3/RS". Everyone with half a brain, saw the teaser from Sebring and was hard as a rock imagining a road going Mustang GT3 with a number plate. High revving V8, lightweight...driving dynamics from the Gods.

As soon as the hardware and numbers were announced on that car (not to mention when the "acquisition process" was released)...I (along with many others) peaced out instantly. It was nothing that I expected it to be, nor wanted it to be. I'm an enthusiast first and foremost, not a brand loyalist.

The 99' Cobra fiasco is old news...I just disagree on that being remotely relevant at all, I'm sorry.

What IS relevant, is what is currently available. 810hp from a Ford Racing Whipple, with a warranty, available on ANY 5.0 Mustang with ANY transmission. While I agree, a GTD buyer is not buying their car solely based on an HP number...that still doesn't make it any less embarrassing that all of these variants of blown V8's exist under the same umbrella and all make within 5-10 horsepower of each other.

As far as the ZR1 not being relevant, again...I'll disagree with you. It came out and completed it's mission. Not only that, but it slaps around some million dollar hypercars in the process. As a bonus, I don't have to rack up some "social media hero score" in order to buy one. I just show up. Plunk my cash down like anyone else and wait in line. Myself and others aren't out here FORCED to play corporate suck-up.

Anyway, if we disagree on the GTD, so be it. That car has come and gone from my mind. The only reason I brought it up with the DH SC is because of the obvious...it uses the same powerplant, with very similar hardware. Yes, the GTD has exotic and bespoke equipment that'll never be found on another roadgoing Mustang (that we know of), at least up to this point. I'm just simply saying, that an SC is most likely going to provide 90% of the on track performance that a GTD has, for about 1/3 or 1/4 of the price. That, in my opinion, is WAY too damn close.

 

[fishinrich]

meh

 

[BrakeFade]

Honestly...I'm not the best guy to talk to about the GTD. That whole...everything was just a disgusting rug-pull as far as I'm concerned. All the teasers on it...all the PR from Farley himself. "We're going after the Porsche GT3/RS". Everyone with half a brain, saw the teaser from Sebring and was hard as a rock imagining a road going Mustang GT3 with a number plate. High revving V8, lightweight...driving dynamics from the Gods.

As soon as the hardware and numbers were announced on that car (not to mention when the "acquisition process" was released)...I (along with many others) peaced out instantly. It was nothing that I expected it to be, nor wanted it to be. I'm an enthusiast first and foremost, not a brand loyalist.

The 99' Cobra fiasco is old news...I just disagree on that being remotely relevant at all, I'm sorry.

What IS relevant, is what is currently available. 810hp from a Ford Racing Whipple, with a warranty, available on ANY 5.0 Mustang with ANY transmission. While I agree, a GTD buyer is not buying their car solely based on an HP number...that still doesn't make it any less embarrassing that all of these variants of blown V8's exist under the same umbrella and all make within 5-10 horsepower of each other.

As far as the ZR1 not being relevant, again...I'll disagree with you. It came out and completed it's mission. Not only that, but it slaps around some million dollar hypercars in the process. As a bonus, I don't have to rack up some "social media hero score" in order to buy one. I just show up. Plunk my cash down like anyone else and wait in line. Myself and others aren't out here FORCED to play corporate suck-up.

Anyway, if we disagree on the GTD, so be it. That car has come and gone from my mind. The only reason I brought it up with the DH SC is because of the obvious...it uses the same powerplant, with very similar hardware. Yes, the GTD has exotic and bespoke equipment that'll never be found on another roadgoing Mustang (that we know of), at least up to this point. I'm just simply saying, that an SC is most likely going to provide 90% of the on track performance that a GTD has, for about 1/3 or 1/4 of the price. That, in my opinion, is WAY too damn close.

You can make any car perform at 90% of any other car with enough money and the right parts. Look at the after market for performance cars in general. But it still doesn’t make it a Porsche GT3, a Ford GT, Viper ACR, etc.

 

[JimC]

The information on that came out in Sept. 2022 and it came from Ford. Articles linked below. On Sept. 10, 2022 the new 7th Gen Mustang was revealed which happened to be my sister's birthday. She was a big Mustang fan and the only reason I remember the exact day of its world premiere. Since the 7th Gen was introduced and no GT500s were built for 2023 people were naturally wondering when the GT500 would return. Ford Authority broke the news, and everybody reported on this. If they weren't planning on building a new 2026 GT500 Ford wouldn't have released the article.
Ford planning new Mustang Shelby GT500 for 2026, according to report - Autoblog
S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coming In 2025 As 2026 Model

The news of rebadging the GT500 started in May of 2024 again from Ford. They had been testing S650 GT500 mules starting in April of 2023. They even mention Dark Horse in the article and wanted to use IP created by Ford and attract younger owners.
S650 Ford Mustang May Not Use Shelby GT500 Name: Exclusive
Ford Testing S650 Mustang Shelby GT500 Mules: Exclusive
S650 Ford Mustang Designed To Appeal To A Younger Customer

To say the new Dark Horse SC has lineage or similarities to the 2020-2022 GT500 is an understatement! They are shockingly similar. I can easily argue the Dark Horse SC has much more in common with the 2022 GT500 and it does the current Dark Horse. The car came out exactly as predicted. Halfway through they decided to use Ford IP instead of Shelby. Right around that time as well Ford is realizing the $Billions they had invested in the EV market were going to Tank come Fall as Autopens electric dreams would come to a screeching halt. The bean counters may have come out of the woodwork as well trying to save money at every corner to counter the debt from their Electric blunder. Ford does have a lot of great IP though going back to the very beginning. If someone has the skinny on Ford and Shelby getting separated chime in with the story, I am curious!

Those are third party sources, not Ford though. Nothing came from Ford directly, they are all from third parties who were speculating. So Ford corporate never "advertised" the GT500 was coming.

The biggest Mustang club is MOCSEM located in SE Michigan and we have a lot of Ford employees and people with Ford Racing who are members. They all said, "no, there won't be a GT500 coming" by the way. Despite all those third party sites saying there was.

 

[R3G]

Dark Horse SC will definitely be a six figure car. I’m looking at Raptor R as a comparison which is over $110K and runs a similar engine. Dark Horse premium with HP already pushes $80K. Granted you can get a base at $67K if you want. 2022 GT500 was like $78K or something for a base. I am guessing $97K for a base SC and the CFTP adding an addition $18K or so, plus any other options like the teal package or special editions I bet $115K easy before market adjustments, which will definitely be there for the first year. Ford dealers will have no problem selling it for $130K. Every allocation will be spoken for, in fact, I bet most dealers already have a “list” of buyers willing to pay over sticker for one even without knowing the price yet.

 

[falcongtho3]

It's painfully obvious after Thursday nights dog and pony show that Ford is trying to distance itself form Shelby, Boss, Mach 1 and any other legacy nametags. Ford wanted to be Tesla at one point and has paid the price. Billions of lost and wasted investment. Now it want to be Porsche, and leave those who built their financial groundwork in the dust. A GTS style decontented GT package would be much appreciated. Another 6 figure car is not what the market needs. The money they spent along on the show the other night could have probably put a mid-sized sedan to market. Tons spent on a Hypercar. huge investment in F1, I'm fans of both. believe it or not , but there needs to be focus on its core business and that has become a myopic mission that ignores so much that needs to be in focus; product development, product quality control, and customer engagement and support. Lastly, for anyone who did watch, did anyone whose was not Ford appear or act in any way like they wanted to be on that stage? Didn't look that way to me.

 

[DannyJ7]

So, saw the SC in person today at Detroit Auto Show. Wheels are hideous in person. Caliper color looks like ripped off Project Mu. Overall looks very ZL1. Some great parts.

Sponsored