Evolution of Mustang Power
When the Ford Mustang first came out in 1964, the most potent engine available was a 289 cubic inch that made 271 hp and 312 lb-ft of torque. Those were strong figures for the era, but fast forward 62 years and even a base Mustang makes more than that. For reference, today’s 2.3 EcoBoost puts out 315 hp and 350 lb-ft, easily dusting the original model.
As for the current Mustang, the most powerful is the GTD, with its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 pumping out 815 hp and 664 lb-ft. That’s thrice the horsepower and double the torque of the original 289 from ’64.
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The Fastest ‘Stangs
The GTD is easily the most powerful Mustang ever built, with over 800 hp on tap. The thing is, it’s not exactly easy to get. Never mind that you’ll need over $300,000 to buy one; you also have to win a lottery to get one.
So, if you want a Mustang that’s nearly as powerful as the GTD without the eye-watering price tag and without going through all the hoops to get one, there is a solution. That comes in the form of the Dark Horse SC, which you can think of as an ever-so-slightly friendlier version of the model above it.
One still gets a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, although power has been reduced to 795 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. We still wouldn’t call it slow, and it makes even more than the last fast factory ‘Stang, the GT500. That one made ‘just’ 760 hp and 625 lb-ft.
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In the Dust
So, just how much faster is the Dark Horse SC than the GT500? After all, power is nothing without control, and the more you add, the more time-sapping wheelspin you get. That’s especially true in a rear-wheel drive car like the Mustang. Well, we finally know the answer, as Motor Trend put out timing gear for it.
Per its test results, the Dark Horse SC hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, 100 mph in 6.2 seconds, a 45-65 mph passing time of 1.1 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds at 131.8 mph. Those numbers make the already potent GT500 from a few years ago look slow: 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds, 0 to 100 in 7 seconds, and the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at 131.6 mph. One might think a 50-lb weight gain would’ve somewhat negated the power advantage, but it didn’t.
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A (Relative) Bargain
The Dark Horse SC is one-third the price of a GTD, give or take. It’s still not cheap, though, as its base price starts under $110,000. But if you go for the Track Pack, it’s a $36,500 option that brings the price closer to $150,000. We now live in an era where Mustangs can go for six figures, but the performance the hottest versions deliver still makes these a relative bargain.
Only a pony car can give you the option of having nearly 800 hp for less than a loaded luxury SUV, as well as go head-to-head or even outrun cars twice the price. That said, it’s a little sad that the Mustang is, again, the only one left of its kind. Of course, that could all change if Chevrolet actually plans to revive the Camaro or if Dodge finally puts a Hemi in the Charger.
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