by The Mysterious Mustang from Ford
A new video from Red Bull, dedicated to the centenary of Ford’s high-performance cars, unexpectedly debuted a secret Mustang driven by Formula-1 legend Max Verstappen. The car is named the 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC, which is not yet part of Ford’s official lineup.
In the video, host Jeremiah Burton describes this model as
the most advanced, powerful, and track-capable Dark Horse in history
, indicating its positioning between the standard Dark Horse and the extreme Mustang GTD.
What’s Hidden Behind the SC Letters?
The SC designation most likely stands for Supercharged, which is confirmed by the characteristic engine sound in Ford’s new Instagram video. The post also mentions the debut of this model on January 15th.
The current Dark Horse is equipped with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 producing 500 horsepower. The presence of a supercharger could make the newcomer a spiritual successor to the legendary Shelby GT500, but now without the corresponding Shelby emblem.
Exterior and Technical Features
The car in the video has a more aggressive front bumper, carbon fiber elements, a larger rear spoiler, and a lowered ground clearance. The overall appearance conveys the power and track readiness expected from a top-tier Mustang version.
An important detail is the presence of steering wheel paddle shifters, indicating an automatic transmission in the shown version, although this does not rule out the appearance of a manual transmission in the future.
Regardless of what the SC abbreviation specifically means, the emergence of a new Mustang that combines high dynamic performance and track readiness without the excessive price of a supercar looks like a very attractive proposition from Ford. More details are expected to be revealed later.
The appearance of such a model could fill a significant niche between mass-produced powerful coupes and elite, limited-series ones. This allows Ford to attract a new audience of enthusiasts seeking genuine racing sensations but not ready for GTD-level investments. Technologies refined in such a version often later find their way into more mass-market models, raising the overall performance bar of the brand.
