World Champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. right after he unveiled the Ford Bronco RTR SUV on the media day before the Detroit Auto Show, January 13, 2026.Mark Hacking/The Globe and Mail
Ford arrived in its hometown this week with a useful reminder: performance doesn’t have to mean just one thing. The new Bronco RTR and Mustang Dark Horse SC, both revealed at the 2026 Detroit auto show, sit at opposite ends of the motorsport spectrum – desert bashing on one side, paved-track precision on the other. Yet, together they indicate Ford believes enthusiast vehicles still matter.
The Bronco RTR is the result of a deepening relationship with Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles, a partnership forged in Formula Drift and Ultra4 racing, now applied to the brand’s most off-road-focused SUV. Developed and tested in the deserts of California and Mexico, the brief was straightforward: deliver high-speed, competition-inspired off-road capability straight from the factory, without forcing buyers into aftermarket builds or Raptor-level expense.
In standard form, the Bronco RTR arrives with 33-inch rugged-terrain tires and a new high-clearance suspension, a first-time pairing for the Bronco lineup. Step up to the available Sasquatch package and the hardware becomes more serious: 35-inch Goodyear tires, a trick HOSS 3.0 suspension system with Fox shock absorbers and reinforced steering. Add in race-derived anti-lag turbo software and the 1,000-watt cooling fan from the Bronco Raptor, and the RTR lands as a machine engineered to maintain speed and composure when the terrain turns unpredictable.
World Champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the background discussing the new Ford Bronco RTR SUV on the media day before the Detroit Auto Show, January 13, 2026.Mark Hacking/The Globe and Mail
Visually, Ford and RTR have leaned into identity. The RTR grille and signature lighting are matched with Hyper Lime accents across graphics and Evo 6 wheels, contrasted by Avalanche Gray paint, a colour that debuted on the Ford Mustang RTR late last year. It’s purposeful, but not cartoonish, and signals that this Bronco is meant to be driven hard, not parked at Costco.
“At RTR, one of our taglines, [is] ‘Available to all, not for everyone,” says Gittin Jr. at the reveal for the vehicle. “What that means is, unapologetically being us and knowing that we build the things that we love … there’s going to be people that resonate with it and others that don’t – and being total fine with that. That is in the DNA of the Bronco RTR.”
So where does it fit? Ford currently offers seven Bronco models in Canada, before trim packages are counted. The RTR slots above mainstream trims and overlaps the Badlands in intent, particularly when optioned with the Sasquatch package, but remains clearly below the full Bronco Raptor in both cost and extremity.
Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley gestures during the reveal of the Ford Bronco RTR SUV on the media day before the Detroit Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 13, 2026.Rebecca Cook/Reuters
Ford has already hinted at a lower starting price than a Badlands Sasquatch, suggesting a balance between performance and price that’s aimed at buyers who want genuine high-speed desert capability without the usual wallet anxiety. Orders for the Bronco RTR open later this year and it is expected to arrive in Canada in early 2027.
If the Bronco RTR thrives on dust and momentum, the Mustang Dark Horse SC is built for lap times and endurance. Developed by Ford Racing using learning from the Mustang GT3, GT4 and GTD programs, the SC represents the most track-capable Dark Horse yet and a clear escalation within the Mustang hierarchy.
Power comes from a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering a promised and significant step up over the standard Dark Horse, which generates 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque. Beneath the surface, nearly every chassis component has been reconsidered: next-generation MagneRide dampers, firmer springs, revised suspension geometry and steering hardware tuned for greater precision and feedback.
The optional Track Pack pushes the Dark Horse SC firmly into serious track-day territory: Carbon-fibre wheels, bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, Variable Traction Control derived from the GTD and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes that should dramatically increase thermal capacity and reduce weight. There are also aerodynamic revisions, including a vented aluminum hood and ducktail-style rear deck lid, which contribute to a claimed 620 pounds of rear downforce at 290 kilometres an hour.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC right after it was revealed during the 2026 Detroit auto show.Mark Hacking/The Globe and Mail
“At the heart of [the Dark Horse SC], really, is the engineering mastery that we gained at the track,” says Arie Groeneveld, chief program engineer at Ford Racing. “We wanted to offer the customer a true race-bred V8 option, then really improve aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics.”
Inside, the Dark Horse SC borrows heavily from the GTD playbook: a flat-bottom steering wheel, Alcantara and carbon-fibre trim, optional Recaro seats and the option to delete the rear seat with the Track Pack. There will be plenty of personalization opportunities as well, capped by limited-run Track Pack Special Editions featuring GTD-derived titanium accents.
With five Mustang models currently listed in Canada (excluding the GTD), the Dark Horse SC clearly sits above the standard Dark Horse and any GT Performance Package. It also remains more attainable, in both price and production numbers, than the GTD. Pricing remains unannounced, but the hardware suggests a meaningful premium over the “regular” Mustang fleet. The Dark Horse SC is expected to arrive in Canada this summer.
Together, the 2027 Ford Bronco RTR and 2027 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC show Ford doubling down on emotional, capability-driven performance – not as nostalgia, but as strategy. One thrives in dust, the other at the apex, yet both reinforce a brand still willing to build machines for people who drive them like they stole them.
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
Shopping for a new car? Check out the Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.
Report an editorial error
Report a technical issue
Editorial code of conduct
Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.
© Copyright 2026 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved.
Andrew Saunders, President and CEO

source