Okay. OKAY. Let me just… I need a minute.

I’m literally writing this with shaky hands because Ford just dropped the 2026 Dark Horse SC and my brain is doing that thing where it’s processing 47 things at once and I can’t sit still.

If you’ve been around FFP for any amount of time, you know how we got started. Mustangs. That’s it. That’s the whole story. S550s, S197s, Fox Bodies – we’ve bled blue oval since day one. And when Ford killed the GT500 after 2022, a little piece of us died with it.

But today? TODAY? Ford just resurrected everything we loved about the GT500 and made it BETTER.

Let me break this down before I completely lose my train of thought.

What Even IS the Dark Horse SC?

SC = Supercharged. But Ford didn’t just slap a blower on a Coyote and call it a day. No no no. They pulled out the 5.2L Predator – the same engine from the GT500 and GTD – and dropped it into the S650 chassis.

We’re talking:

• 5.2L Supercharged V8 with the Eaton TVS R2650 supercharger
• 7-Speed Tremec Dual-Clutch Transmission (yes, the DCT is back baby)
• Carbon fiber driveshaft
• Torsen limited-slip differential with beefed up halfshafts

Horsepower? Ford won’t say yet. But the GT500 made 760hp, the GTD makes 815hp, and the chief engineer basically winked at reporters when asked if it’s closer to GTD power. My money’s on 780+. But honestly, even at 760hp this thing is going to be STUPID fast.

This Ain’t Just a GT500 2.0 – It’s Better

Here’s where my ADHD brain goes into overdrive because there’s SO much to unpack.

The suspension got a complete overhaul:

• Next-gen MagneRide dampers with new hardware AND software
• Stiffer springs than standard Dark Horse
• New stabilizer bars
• Updated front AND rear knuckles
• Modified front control arms
• MAGNESIUM strut tower brace (weight savings everywhere)
• Forged aluminum suspension links replacing steel parts

They revised the steering rack, the tie rods, the power steering gearing – basically everything that makes a car FEEL connected to the road. Ford says the learnings came directly from the GTD and GT3 programs. This isn’t marketing BS. This is race car DNA trickling down.

The Track Pack is INSANE

Okay so the base SC is already ridiculous. But the Track Pack? I might need to sit down.

• Carbon-ceramic brakes from the GTD (16.5″ front discs)
• 11.5″ wide CARBON FIBER wheels
• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires (305/30R20 front, 315/30R20 rear)
• 120 pounds of unsprung weight GONE
• Specifically calibrated MagneRide tuning
• Recaro leather + Dinamica sport seats
• Rear seat delete for weight savings

And the aero… 620 POUNDS OF DOWNFORCE. That massive rear wing with the ducktail decklid? Yeah, that’s from the GTD program. The belly pan runs from the splitter all the way past the front wheels. The hood vent alone produces 2.5x more downforce than the standard Dark Horse when you remove the rain tray.

That Special Edition Though…

Ford dropped a Track Pack Special Edition for 2026 ONLY and I’m already planning my kidney sale.

• Everything from the Track Pack AND Carbon Exterior Package
• Black painted roof
• Race Red Brembo calipers
• Unique painted hood graphics
• 3D-PRINTED TITANIUM paddle shifters (directly from the GTD)
• 3D-PRINTED TITANIUM gear selector knob
• Solar Red accents on the Recaros
• Only available in Shadow Black or Oxford White

They won’t say how many they’re making. Classic Ford move. But if you want one, you better be ready when order banks open in March.

The Little Details That Matter

You know what gets me? It’s not just the headline numbers. It’s the details.

That Teal Accent Package everyone’s talking about? It’s not just “teal” – it’s a direct callback to the original Mustang Boss 429. The interior gets that flat-bottom GTD steering wheel with the noon marker stripe. The anodized red buttons match the engine start button. They thought about EVERYTHING.

You can spec:

• 5 different seatbelt colors
• 3 brake caliper color options
• 2 interior stitching shades
• Painted graphics (not stickers – PAINT)

Oh, and there’s an SC-exclusive color for 2026: Argon Blue. Haven’t seen it in person yet but the press photos look incredible.

What Ryan Shaughnessy Said That Made Me Spit Out My Coffee

The Mustang brand manager straight up told the press: “We didn’t design the Dark Horse SC to be like Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini. We designed it to beat them.”

That’s not marketing fluff. That’s a declaration of war. And with GTD tech trickling down to a car that’ll probably cost 1/3 the price? I believe him.

When Can You Get One?

• Order banks open: Spring 2026 (late March)
• Deliveries start: Summer 2026
• Pricing: TBA (rumors say ~$105K base, ~$128K with Track Pack)

For context: standard Dark Horse is $64,080 for 2026. GTD is $328,000+. This slots right in the middle as the attainable supercharged Mustang. And compared to a Corvette Z06 at $120K+ with “only” 670hp? The math starts looking REAL good for the SC.

What This Means for FFP

Look, we’ve been building S550s and S650s for years. We know these platforms inside and out. And when these SCs start showing up this summer? We’re going to be ready.

Carbon fiber aero kits. Suspension components. Cooling upgrades. All the stuff that takes a factory monster and turns it into YOUR monster.

The aftermarket potential here is massive. That 5.2L Predator responds BEAUTIFULLY to bolt-ons. We’ve seen what tuners did with GT500s. Now imagine that starting point with better suspension, better aero, and better brakes out of the box.

I’m not going to lie – I’m already figuring out how we’re getting one in the shop ASAP.

Final Thoughts (If I Can Even Form Coherent Ones Right Now)

Ford didn’t just replace the GT500. They evolved it. This is what happens when a motorsports division and a road car team actually work together instead of just slapping badges on things.

The Dark Horse SC isn’t trying to be a Shelby. It doesn’t need that name. It’s something new. Something that carries GT3 and GTD DNA in a package that normal enthusiasts – okay, normal enthusiasts with decent incomes – can actually buy.

And for those of us who started our businesses because we couldn’t stop thinking about Mustangs? This is why we do what we do.

Orders open in March. See you at the dealer.

-Charles @ Function Factory Performance

Questions about the Dark Horse SC? Planning a build? Hit us up. We’re probably already sketching up parts lists.

All images © Ford Motor Company

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