Ford is reportedly developing a new high-performance Mustang that could revive the spirit of the legendary Shelby GT350. According to a report, the automaker is working on a performance variant of the current S650-generation Mustang that would slot between the existing Dark Horse and the supercharged Dark Horse SC.
The rumored model would borrow its aggressive appearance and performance hardware from the Mustang Dark Horse SC, including a wider body and track-focused upgrades. However, the biggest difference would be under the hood, where Ford is said to be developing a naturally aspirated V8 with either 5.2 or 5.4 liters of displacement.
Engine and Transmission
Estimates suggest the engine could produce around 650 horsepower, placing it above the standard Dark Horse’s 500 horsepower and below the 795-horsepower Dark Horse SC. The previous-generation Shelby GT350 produced 526 horsepower from its 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank Voodoo V8.
The new Mustang would reportedly come equipped with a Tremec manual transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. At a time when so many performance cars are abandoning traditional manual gearboxes in favor of automatics and dual-clutch transmissions, this is a notable departure that would prioritize driver engagement.
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Chassis Improvements
Beyond the engine and transmission, Ford is reportedly preparing a series of chassis improvements to distinguish the newcomer from the standard Dark Horse. These include larger brakes, increased cooling capacity, and a more sophisticated suspension setup, with some components potentially shared with the Dark Horse SC.
The car would also reportedly be offered exclusively as a coupe, prioritizing chassis rigidity and track performance over open-air cruising, much like the previous GT350.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but an estimated starting point around $80,000 would seem reasonable given the model’s position in the lineup. The current Dark Horse starts in the upper-$60,000 range, while the Dark Horse SC pushes into six-figure territory.
As for availability, the initial report suggested a 2027 model-year launch, but a newer Ford Authority report indicates dealers have been told to expect the car in late 2027 as a 2028 model. The production run is expected to extend through the 2029 model year, though none of these details have been officially confirmed by Ford.