- The Dark Horse SC is rated at 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 are in an era of abundant horsepower. It’s never been easier to get horsepower numbers we can only dream of—and the upcoming Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC doesn’t change that trend. With a whopping 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 newest high-performance Mustang. As we revealed last month, it starts at $103,490 before taxes and destination charges. It’s not cheap, especially for a Mustang, but the SC’s promise is strong. Ford says it was developed alongside the GTD and Mustang GT3 as an off-the-shelf weapon, which includes a number of technologies to handle the enormous output.
Photo by: Ford
Very Powerful Engine
The powertrain sounds familiar, especially compared to the GTD. A hand-assembled supercharged 5.2-liter V8 makes good power, while a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch handles the power.
The SC specials start with the bodywork, which has been developed to provide sufficient cooling for track use. The hood is aluminum, with a carbon fiber hood vent that produces 2.5 times more downforce than a standard Dark Horse hood vent. The rain tray has to be removed, but it’s a nice improvement nonetheless.
There will also be an optional Track Pack, which adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, rear seat delete, and carbon fiber wheels, resulting in a total weight reduction of 150 pounds. However, all Dark Horse SCs get the latest generation Magnetorheological dampers and variable traction control.
Is It Worth It?
But all this comes at a high price. For a Dark Horse SC with Track Pack, you’ll spend at least $139,990. Add the Special Edition on top, which adds painted hood graphics, a Solar Red interior, and a Carbon Fiber Appearance Package, and it’ll set you back $170,970.
That’s a lot more than the base price, and you’re starting to buy a pretty good car for the money. Things like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, some Porsche 911 variants, and even the Corvette ZR1 fall into that price category.
But realistically, the ideal Dark Horse SC would be a Track Pack at $139,990, compared to a Corvette Z06 at $122,795 and a Porsche 911 Carrera at $140,356. Comparing the two, it feels like a performance bargain, but there’s a definite drop in interior quality and overall experience. It also has a huge horsepower advantage over the 911 Carrera’s 388 hp, and ahead of the Z06’s 670 hp.
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Source: Ford
Motorcycle Pickup1: With 795 horsepower, the power of the Dark Horse SC is even stronger. It’s not cheap, but its performance is still a relative bargain in an increasingly expensive market.
