The Blue Oval has finally pulled the curtain back on its highly anticipated, high-performance pony car. Here’s what you need to know.
By Gray Van Dyke
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After months upon months of rumors, hints and teasers, Ford’s mysterious high-performance sports car is finally here.
The Blue Oval has dubbed it the ‘Mustang Dark Horse SC,’ and, as you can probably guess based on the name, the car is designed to be an even more extreme variant of the brand’s current track-tuned pony.
However, that only tells part of the story, as the SC not only touts GTD pedigree but also promises to fill the hole left by the GT500. Here are the highlights based on what Ford has shared so far.
To take the track manners of the Mustang Dark Horse to the next level, Ford’s development team spent considerable time at both Sebring and the Virginia International Raceway. While there, engineers tested the new SC alongside both the Mustang GTD and the GT3 race car.
Based on those insights, the Blue Oval then overhauled the Dark Horse with a host of changes to improve everything from aerodynamics and cooling to suspension, stopping power and even the interior experience.
As such, in addition to pilfering GTD’s flat-bottomed steering wheel, the Dark Horse SC also benefits from other optional goodies like Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, 3D-printed titanium accents.
While Ford has yet to share output for the SC, it goes without saying that it will be powerful. After all, even the current Mustang Dark Horse makes 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
Accordingly, between the addition of a supercharger and some extra cubes of displacement, the 5.2-liter V8 in the Dark Horse SC is bound to make even more. However, it’s unlikely that the car will come too close to the GTD’s 815-pony figure — especially because it brings a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission rather than Ford’s fancy transaxle
In refining the Dark Horse for even more potent on-track performance, Ford has made some choice upgrades to the aerodynamics and cooling provisions.
For instance, the SC benefits from a new aluminum hood design with a massive vent to improve airflow and manage front-end dynamics. According to Ford, it creates 2.5 times the downforce of the standard Dark Horse.
Assuming you’re looking for even more wind-cheating provisions, there will be an available upgrade option that adds a special ducktail-shaped decklid and a carbon wing. Together, Ford says the combo adds as much as 620 pounds of downforce at 180 mph.
Ford might not have unveiled the full specs for the Dark Horse SC, but the brand is already touting some tantalizing upgrades as part of a forthcoming Tack Package.
In addition to the above rear wing, the option also brings forged suspension links, a lightweight magnesium strut tower brace, as well as some next-gen MagneRide dampers with revised spring rates and knuckles. Moreover, thanks to a set of carbon fiber wheels and the GTD’s Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Ford says that it managed to shave off 150 pounds.
As Porsche has done with its dizzying variety of 911s and personalization options, Ford looks to be targeting enthusiasts through customization potential and limited ownership opportunities. In the SC announcement, Ford also teased the arrival of a Teal Accent package as well as a Special Edition variant.
Between unique paint and color accents, exclusive upholstery, eye-catching carbon fiber trim and various other special touches, the new Dark Horse will bring plenty of options. Models like the Mustang Mach1, the GT500 and the GTD have proven that the Mustang experience is about more than going from stoplight to stoplight, and the SC is set to reinforce as much.
As exciting as it is that Ford finally pulled the wraps off the Dark Horse SC, there’s still a lot the company hasn’t said. Beyond output, curb weight and any number of other important figures, we’re still waiting for an MSRP.
Seeing as it will slot in between the Dark Horse and the GTD, the asking price is bound to follow suit. However, as there’s a six-figure delta between those two Mustangs, there’s still quite a range — it’s unlikely to be cheap.
Orders are reportedly opening this Spring. If you’d like to learn more in the meantime, head over to Ford’s website.
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