2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC (S650) - Official Specs, Photos, Videos

[9secondko]

Negative online posts the day of a debut by people of which 99.999% of them are not buyers, constitutes a collossal failure? I disagree. Short of the GTD, the DHSC is the best thus far.

I think the DHSC will always maintain a higher value versus gt500. It will outperform the gt500 without a doubt. Ford likely benchmarked every single metric to be better. Other than a namesake, the gt500 won't stack up. Why pay a premium for #2?

As soon as the DHSC hits the streets, everyone will be on board. Wait and see.

mod course 99% won’t be buyers. They don’t like the car!

no one is going to spend dream car money on yesteryears model either a body kit and few bits and bobs to sound new.

if the came out with 900+ horsepower, awesome. But it’s not sounding that way. And with corvette already performing like mad snd mopar coming out with stratospheric v8s soon, Ford had better get its act together.

Ford is trying to avoid comparison by talking up off road. Well they better not paint thrmselves into s corner if the upcoming trx is any indication of what the competition is up to.

the boardroom needs some fresh testosterone again.

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[Thomas]

The Mach1/Cobra was last used in 2003-2004, Boss 2012-2013, the "kids" when those came out and had them on their wall are in their early 20's to early 30's. They are the prime demo for the Mustang now.

When I was born the last mach1 was already like 10yrs old. By the time I could drive they were 26+yrs old, and when I was just getting my first real job the 03-04 was 3yrs old and I didn't hesitate to get a used one. I was not part of a generation that grew up with Boss, Shelby's or Mach1's. But I still knew a cool car when I saw one. I didn't care at all for the Fox Body or SN95 that was the Modern Mustangs when I was growing up. To me those classic names from before I was born were the only ones that mattered to me. If you asked if I wanted a Cobra or Mach1, I'd pick the Mach1 all day long. The only time I debated trading was for a nice 2013 Boss. It took it getting totaled to get me out of it.

Right now the only Mustangs I'd trade my Bullitt for would be a select few color s550 a10 Mach1's, or a 19+ GT350.

I wouldn't trade my GT500 for any Ford vehicle other than a 2nd gen Ford GT (which I can't afford). I'm the mid-30 demographic and I had zero interest in mustangs or the heritage until I got to test drive a GT500 purely by fluke, and I would have been in an M8 or an AMT GT otherwise. The unique combo of the stellar DCT, handling, power level, sound and styling gave the car a level of responsiveness and fear+giggle factor that german cars just didn't provide. In other words, it was fun. Like really fun. The fact it was a GT500 by name didn't matter at all. Nor really do any of the prior model names. It's all about the hardware and how the performance is delivered. The new DH SC should be really similar.

Personally I'm more interested in the new Toyota GR GT than anything else new I've seen recently, sounds a bit turboish but the architecture of the car is really really promising.

 

[Unas2k5]

The sound clip I heard was not that good. Sounded all snap crackle and pop. If that's your thing, I guess it's good.

If I bought one (I would not replace my GT500), the exhaust would almost certainly get swapped out.

Well I heard it in person and it does sound good. I mean great for stock exhaust but honestly my exhaust on my 5.0 sounds better. I have full stainless works exhaust long tubes /catbacks.

 

[Unas2k5]

I have made a bid on some older Mustangs on BaT I'd say that the older cars are getting higher bids over the original MSRP.

I still say the later 2018-2020 GT350 cars are the best car. It has the best factory engine. It's fast:

They no longer have the voodoo the 5 liter is just a better engine. The current GT350 is a 5.0 with whipple/borla / suspension and seat covers. They’re literally GTs torn down and installed with aftermarket parts.

 

[OX1]

You are forgetting the 5.2 with Supercharger is heavier than the 5.0 in the base DH. Plus, the DCT is heavier than the A10/Manual. I could immediately feel a difference in the front-end weight when I got out of my 2020 GT350 and into the 2020 GT500. The supercharger/Assembly is heavy.

I do not think 4400 is going to be that far off for this thing.

Do you agree that the closest version of an S650 DH auto is the
S550 Mach 1 auto. (in overall mods?).

If so, my first premise/determination was how much more
does a " more heavily modified", auto S650
(in other than "GT500" form/mods), weigh over and S550 (that was 80 lbs)

21 GT500 CFTP is only 185 lbs heavier than 21 Mach 1 auto.
That is with the blower, DCT, larger brakes, more cooling, larger wheels, fluids, etc...

The reason that weight is not a lot more, is the GT500 got things like CF
driveshaft, lightweight fenders, composite rad support, even alum front
crash beam (over the Mach 1 auto). And the CFTP got CF wheels,
lighter front seats, no rear seats/belts.

My second premise is if "CFTP" (OR DH SC CF) is also only 185lbs more, than a DH auto, it should be 4178. but DHSC is also losing 80 lbs in CF rotors (approx) over 20+ GT500. That would put you right around 4100, and I'm giving Ford another 40 lbs over that, for general weight creep.
Hence 4140 for DHSC CFpack.........

Now if you are saying base auto DH already has things like CF driveshaft,
lightweight fenders, composite rad support, even alum front crash beam.
Then my premise is incorrect, and DHSC could be an even fatter pig.

But you'd have to show me some comparisons/weights on how DHSC S650 CF pack gained
300 lbs over 20+ CFTP (4400 as you say, vs 4100 I weighed myself), even after losing 80 lbs in brake rotors.

 

[Unas2k5]

You can easily figure out what the gross weight is on the Dark Horse SE. Run a vin number off one on PTS. I can’t give you the GVWR on a vehicle that hasn’t been shown to the public BUT if you go to the auto show and get a vin number off one that would put all the speculation to rest. I’m sure there are forum members that have access to PTS.

 

[Unas2k5]

I just pulled up a 22 GT500 with a GVWR of 5050LB

 

[robvas]

Based on the fact that manufacturers don't put out cars like this to not surpass the performance of old model.

Didn't the original Dark Horse basically equal the Mach 1?

 

[WItoTX]

I just pulled up a 22 GT500 with a GVWR of 5050LB

That includes occupants and whatever other crap. The car itself is north of 4k.

The DH SC will be 4200-4300 considering the base DH weighs, near as makes no difference, 4000 lbs.

 

[WItoTX]

Didn't the original Dark Horse basically equal the Mach 1?

Track wise, everyone I've spoken with that has driven both, has said the DH is a good second or so faster on a 2 minute course. A lot has to do with tires, and how it manages it's weight. Look at the current M2. It's massively heavier, but also much faster than the previous gen M2. These MFGs are figuring out how to make the bulk work. And I hate it. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Mach VII]

Personally, I am disappointed/surprised they didn't call it Dark Horse Legend. They have stated they want to create a new era of iconic versions of the Mustang and the 'Legend' name (I believe was being used to describe an engine)kind of ties the two thoughts together. Adding 'SC' to the Dark Horse name is unimaginative and not adding to recognition.

 

[Strokerswild]

Sooooo.....the DHSC and a Bronco RTR are the big, top secret, stellar "new" product releases??? Nothing else?

Talk about a nothingburger.

 

[Unas2k5]

That includes occupants and whatever other crap. The car itself is north of 4k.

The DH SC will be 4200-4300 considering the base DH weighs, near as makes no difference, 4000 lbs.

I know that’s why I included GVWR. There’s a version with rear seat delete and carbon fiber so it would be safe to reduces a few hundred pounds off that 22 GT500’s 5050GVWR

 

[WItoTX]

Sooooo.....the DHSC and a Bronco RTR are the big, top secret, stellar "new" product releases??? Nothing else?

Talk about a nothingburger.

Ford Racing released that they will be competing in Hypercars next year. With Logan Sargent. Supposedly with a new 5.4. So there's that.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Didn't the original Dark Horse basically equal the Mach 1?

What are the performance metrics of each?

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