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Mustang Dark Horse SC: Race-bred supercharged V8

2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC. [Credit: All images courtesy of Ford Motor Co.]

 

 

With 795 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque, the new Mustang Dark Horse SC (supercharged) is the most powerful Dark Horse ever created. According to Ford Racing, the car "was developed by engineers who live their lives at racing circuits, and that track-first mentality is woven into every bolt and calibration of this car."

By leveraging race-proven lessons from Mustang GT3 and performance technology from Mustang GTD, Mustang Dark Horse SC offers customers a street-legal, track-ready driving experience that's distinct from the exclusive Mustang GTD but is a significant step up over the standard Mustang Dark Horse in terms of horsepower, torque, and cutting-edge performance equipment.

The new Mustang Dark Horse SC expands the Mustang Dark Horse family in a bid to challenge Europe's premium sports cars with a supercharged V8 and race-bred technology "that can only come from America's race team."

2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC Track Pack.

 

 

"Since we introduced Dark Horse in '22 and Mustang GTD in '23, we've established Mustang as a performance brand that can take on the world's best," said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing. "Mustang Dark Horse SC is the next chapter, drawing on lessons from Mustang GT3 and technology and learnings from Mustang GTD. It demonstrates exactly how Ford Racing is bringing our race and road operations together."

Engineers and designers looked at every element of Mustang Dark Horse during the evolution to Dark Horse SC. Engine, gearbox, aerodynamics, cooling, braking, suspension tuning, steering feel, tire compounds -- almost nothing was left unchecked to take Dark Horse performance to the next level.

"To engineer Mustang Dark Horse SC, we tested alongside the Mustang GTD and Mustang GT4 at some of the most challenging tracks in the world, including Sebring and Virginia International Raceway, using those elite Mustangs as benchmarks," said Arie Groeneveld, chief program engineer for Mustang Dark Horse SC. "The result is Mustang Dark Horse SC benefits from every hard-won lesson we've learned at the very top of the performance ladder."

It starts with the Dark Horse SC supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that's paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for fast and precise shifts. Mustang Dark Horse SC mixes straight-line performance with a soundtrack that competitor sports car makers have largely abandoned. That sound of a supercharged V8 is a core part of Mustang performance, but it is not this fast horse's only trick.

Every Mustang Dark Horse SC comes with next-generation MagneRide dampers featuring upgraded hardware and software, as well as revised springs with firmer rates, new stabilizer bars, updated front and rear knuckles, and modified front control arms. Along with improvements in tire technology, Mustang Dark Horse SC elevates handling capability beyond the Mustang Dark Horse Handling Pack.

A lightweight magnesium strut tower brace is standard, while forged suspension links replace steel components to further reduce weight and improve steering feel. Ford Racing engineers used what they learned from both competition and Mustang GTD development to produce a flatter, more responsive handling character than the 5.0-liter Mustang Dark Horse by adjusting the rear suspension geometry and updating the steering rack, tie rods, and powersteering gear.

An optional Track Pack takes the impressive cornering performance and capability of Dark Horse SC to an even higher level.

A Track Pack-specific MagneRide calibration was built around the Track Pack's standard carbon-fiber wheels. To handle the vehicle's increased capability, Ford Racing worked with Michelin to develop custom Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. Measuring 305/30R20 in the front and 315/30R20 in the rear, this setup leverages Mustang GTD technology to help deliver near-supercar levels of traction.

Variable Traction Control, also developed for Mustang GTD from race experience, allows drivers to dial in the desired amount of traction assistance for dynamic driving situations, with up to five levels of assistance in addition to fully deactivated ESC.

Mustang Dark Horse SC is available exclusively with Brembo brakes. Six-piston front calipers and four-piston rears with cast discs are standard and build on the record-setting 60-0 performance of the 5.0-liter Mustang Dark Horse, while the Dark Horse SC with Track Pack adds the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes from Mustang GTD. Complete with 16.5-in. front discs, the carbon-ceramic brakes are significantly lighter than cast brakes, and along with the standard carbon-fiber wheels and other enhancements, contribute to the Track Package's 150-lb weight savings. The carbon-ceramic brakes significantly improve thermal management relative to Mustang Dark Horse, contributing to improved on-track endurance and increased driver confidence.

Track endurance was a major goal for Mustang Dark Horse SC, as the design team worked to manage cooling and aerodynamic function with iconic Mustang form. The new front fascia features revised brake cooling, while a new aluminum hood that includes standard hood pins and a large vent improves powertrain cooling and helps manage front-end aerodynamics. When the hood vent's rain tray is removed, it creates 2.5 times the downforce of the standard Mustang Dark Horse hood vent, while the open area is five times greater.

In back, a revised rear diffuser contributes to improved rear axle cooling, along with a large belly pan that extends from the splitter to behind the front wheels to manage aerodynamics and brake cooling. The Track Pack makes even broader aerodynamic changes, replacing the rear decklid with a ducktail-style design for improved downforce. The new rear decklid is the base for an updated carbon-fiber wing with exposed carbon endplates and lightweight carbon stanchions -- the decklid itself improves the rear wing's efficiency by around 10%, eliminating the need for a larger wing, or one with a higher angle of attack, that would obscure rear visibility.

The new decklid had such a dramatic impact on Dark Horse SC that the Mustang GTD team adopted a version of the duckbill design during a joint development trip. In total, Mustang Dark Horse SC with Track Pack produces 620 lb of rear downforce at 180 mph.

Inside, the Dark Horse SC cockpit adopts the Mustang GTD's leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, featuring a 12-o'clock stripe and performance controls, surrounded by Alcantara and carbon-fiber accents. Optional Recaro leather and Dinamica sport seats are included in the Track Pack, which offers Space Gray or Teal accents and replaces the rear seats with a storage shelf.

Personalization options include a Carbon Exterior Package for the fascias and mirrors to complement the standard carbon-fiber interior finishes and three different brake caliper colors, while Dark Horse SC Track Pack customers can option into a Teal Accent Package that adds vibrant teal caliper brakes, badging, and seat belts. Owners can further customize the exterior with painted graphics, while the cabin is available with five different seat belt colors.

For 2026, the Dark Horse SC family is topped with limited-run Track Pack Special Editions combining the Track and Carbon packages with a black-painted roof, Race Red Brembo calipers, unique graphics, and GTD-derived 3D-printed titanium accents. Available exclusively in Shadow Black or Oxford White, Track Pack Special Edition also features unique Solar Red accents on the Recaro seats.

Mustang Dark Horse SC is available to order now with deliveries in late summer. Starting price is $106,090 and can climb to $170,000+. Learn more at ford.com/cars/mustang/models/dark-horse-sc.

Source: Ford Motor Co.

Published July 2026

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