A Sinister Supercharged Pony Car

Ford has upped the ante with the Mustang Dark Horse SC. Under the hood is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The automaker will release the car’s official power numbers and the price later in the year, right before deliveries begin this summer.  

The Dark Horse SC will slot just below the Mustang GTD, which makes 815 horsepower, and just above the 500-horsepower Dark Horse, which should give you a clue as to its output. The previous-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 also had a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 and seven-speed DCT, making 760 hp and 625 pound-feet of torque.  

The Dark Horse SC comes standard with MagneRide dampers with the latest software baked in. It also features revised springs with firmer rates, new stabilizer bars, updated front and rear knuckles, and modified front control arms. Under the hood, Ford installs a lightweight magnesium strut tower brace.  

2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Hood Vent

Photo by: Ford

2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Wing

Photo by: Ford

Photos by: Ford

Six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo brake calipers are standard. The Dark Horse SC wears Pirelli P Zero R rubber wrapped around 20-inch aluminum wheels.  

Ford improved the SC’s airflow and brake cooling over the regular Dark Horse with a new front fascia. The new front fascia has a center opening that’s 65 percent larger than on the base Dark Horse, and the side inlets are double the size.  

The new aluminum hood generates 2.5 times the downforce as the standard Dark Horse hood vent, with the rain tray removed, and the open area is five times larger. At the back, the Dark Horse SC has a new diffuser.  

Track Pack Upgrade

2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Track Pack

Photo by: Ford

The available Track Package gives the MagneRide dampers a Track Pack-specific calibration, which Ford built around the package’s 20-inch carbon-fiber wheels. Ford worked with Michelin to develop the SC’s custom Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, with carbon-ceramic brakes from the GTD, measuring 16.5 inches in the front and 14.5 inches in the rear.  

The Track Pack also replaces the SC’s standard decklid with a ducktail-style one that works in conjunction with the updated carbon-fiber rear wing. Together, the two aero bits generate 620 pounds of rear downforce at 180 miles per hour.  

The Dark Horse SC Tack Pack also gets the variable traction control system from the GTD. It has five levels of assistance, including a fully disabled ESC.  

Inside, the Dark Horse SC features the GTD’s leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, Alcantara, and carbon-fiber accents. The Track Pack’s standard Recaro leather and Dinamica sport seats are optional in the standard SC.  

Photo by: Ford

Photo by: Ford

Photos by: Ford

Price, Availability, & Options

Ford will offer a Teal Accent Package for the Dark Horse SC Track pack, adding teal to the brake calipers, brakes, badging, and seat belts. Buyers will also be able to get the Carbon Exterior Package, which adds carbon accents to the front fascia and mirrors.  

For 2026, Ford will also offer a limited-run Track Pack Special Edition. This combines the Track and Carbon packages and will come with a black-painted roof, Race Red Brembo brake calipers, and will be available exclusively in Shadow Black or Oxford White. Inside, the Recaro seats will have unique Solar Red accents.  

Ryan Shaughnessy, Mustang brand manager, said Ford didn’t design the Dark Horse SC to be like Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini. “We designed it to beat them,” he said.  

Ford will share pricing and output figures later. You can start placing orders this spring, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the summer.  

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Source: Ford

Motor1’s Take: The 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC will try to split the difference between the $66,075 Dark Horse and the $328,000 GTD. With a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 under the hood, it might be biting at the GTD’s big bumper for a fraction of the price. We can’t wait to drive it.