Ford unveiled its latest high-performance Mustang overnight in the US, taking the covers off the 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC. The ‘SC’ stands for a supercharged V8 under the bonnet, infused with track-use Australian engineering. However, despite its local contribution, Australian buyers are unlikely to see it in showrooms anytime soon.
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Developed under Ford’s new Ford Racing banner, the successor to Ford Performance, the Mustang Dark Horse SC sits above the regular Mustang Dark Horse. It is effectively a successor to the previous-generation Shelby GT500. Like the Mustang GTD and GT500 before it, the Dark Horse SC is not expected to be produced in right-hand drive, ruling it out for Australia for the time being.
A Ford Mustang spokesperson said, “We have no news to share on any plans to offer the Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC in Australia.”
Supercharged V8 performance
Power for the Mustang Dark Horse SC comes from a 5.2L supercharged petrol V8, with final outputs yet to be confirmed. However, Ford has indicated it will sit between the 567kW produced by the outgoing Shelby GT500 and the 608kW of the extreme Mustang GTD. Whatever, the final number, all of it is sent to the rear wheels only.
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The Dark Horse SC has been engineered alongside the GTD and Mustang GT3 race car, with much of its hardware borrowed directly from those programs. A 7-speed transmission is standard, paired with the GTD’s Variable Traction Control system, allowing drivers to choose from five levels of electronic stability intervention, including a fully deactivated mode.
Australian carbon-fibre tech at its core
One of the Dark Horse SC’s standout features is its optional Track Pack, which includes 20-inch carbon-fibre wheels manufactured by Carbon Revolution in Geelong. Victoria. The same Australian company supplies carbon-fibre wheels for the standard Mustang Dark Horse, the Shelby GT500, the Shelby GT350R, and the Ford GT supercar.
Beyond Ford, Carbon Revolution’s lightweight, high-strength wheels are also used by brands including Lamborghini, Chevrolet, Range Rover and Renault, underscoring the global reach of Australian automotive engineering.
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Dark Horse SC Track Pack
Opting for the Track Pack on the newest Ford Mustang transforms the Dark Horse SC into a more hardcore track weapon. Alongside the Australian-made wheels, it adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tyres, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes with massive 420mm front discs, and a unique boot lid featuring an integrated ‘ducktail’ spoiler.
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Ford claims this bootlid upgrade improves the efficiency of the carbon-fibre rear wing by 10 per cent without increasing its size, a solution that proved so effective it was later adopted for the even faster Mustang GTD.
Lightweight forged aluminium suspension components, a magnesium strut tower brace, revised MagneRide adaptive suspension, new anti-roll bars, a carbon-fibre driveshaft from the GT500 and a rear differential cooler all contribute to sharper dynamics. In total, Ford says the Track Pack is 68kg lighter compared to the standard Dark Horse SC.
Aerodynamics and design
Visually, the Mustang Dark Horse SC gains a more aggressive front exterior with a significantly larger grille opening, plus a new aluminium bonnet with carbon-fibre vents designed to improve cooling and manage front-end aerodynamics. Removing the rain catch tray beneath the vent is said to generate 2.5 times the downforce of the standard Mustang Dark Horse bonnet vent.
With the Track Pack fitted, Ford claims the Dark Horse SC produces 281kg of downforce at 290km/h, up from 250kg for the old GT500, though still well short of the GTD’s impressive 885kg figure.
All variants also benefit from additional underbody venting, an aggressive rear diffuser and rectangular exhaust tips.
Interior upgrades
Inside as well, the Mustang Dark Horse SC borrows heavily from the Mustang GTD. Ford has fitted the same sports steering wheel with the 12 o’clock stripe, Alcantara and carbon-fibre trim, and the rotary gear selector. The optional Dark Horse SC Special Edition adds 3D-printed titanium interior accents, again shared with the GTD.
Track Pack models feature leather and Dinamica suede-trimmed Recaro sports seats, optionally finished with teal highlights echoed on the brake callipers and exterior badges. While the rear seats are removed and replaced with a storage shelf to save weight.
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When will it arrive?
The 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC is due to reach US showrooms between June and August this year. While Australian engineering has played a key role in its development, local enthusiasts will have to admire this supercharged V8 Mustang from afar, at least for now.
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