THE BREAKDOWN
- The Dark Horse SC has 795 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque.
- Ford claims it was developed alongside the Mustang GTD and GT3 for track performance.
- The 5.2-liter V8 is hand assembled in Dearborn, Michigan.
We’re in an era of abundant horsepower. It has never been easier to have horsepower figures that we once only dreamt of—and the upcoming Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC isn’t changing that trend. With an incredible 795 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque, the SC is just 20 horsepower shy of the $327,000 Mustang GTD, and a third of the price.
The Dark Horse SC is, of course, Ford’s latest high-performance Mustang. As we revealed last month, it will start at $103,490 before taxes and destination charges. Not cheap, especially for a Mustang, but the promise of the SC is quite strong. Ford says it was developed alongside the GTD and Mustang GT3 as a track-ready weapon, which includes a brace of tech to handle its monstrous output.
Hugely Powerful Engine
The powertrain sounds familiar, especially compared to the GTD. A hand-assembled supercharged 5.2-liter V8 delivers the goods, while a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch handles the power.
The SC-specific stuff starts with the bodywork, which has been developed to supply sufficient cooling for track use. Its hood is made of aluminum, with a carbon fiber hood vent that generates 2.5 times more downforce than the standard Dark Horse’s hood vent. The rain tray has to be removed, but it’s a nice upgrade nonetheless.
There will also be an optional Track Pack, which adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, a rear seat delete, and carbon fiber wheels, resulting in a total weight loss of 150 pounds. All Dark Horse SCs, however, get the latest generation of Magnetorheological dampers and variable traction control.
Is It Worth It?
But all of that comes at a cost. For a Dark Horse SC with the Track Pack, you'll spend at least $139,990. Add the Special Edition on top, which adds painted hood graphics, Solar Red interior, and a Carbon Fiber Appearance Package, and that will set you back $170,970.
That is much steeper than the base price, and you start getting into some pretty sweet cars for that money. Things like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, some Porsche 911 variants, and even the Corvette ZR1 are in that price bracket.
But realistically, the ideal Dark Horse SC is the $139,990 Track Pack, which goes up against the $122,795 Corvette Z06 and $140,356 Porsche 911 Carrera. Compared to both, it feels like a performance bargain, but a definite downgrade in interior quality and overall experience. It also has a colossal horsepower advantage over the 911 Carrera’s 388 hp, and a solid bump over the Z06’s 670 hp.
Motor1's Take: With 795 horsepower, the case for the Dark Horse SC only gets stronger. It’s not cheap, but it’s still a relative performance bargain in an increasingly expensive market.
