Here's Why Ford Chose the Name 'Dark Horse SC,' Not 'Shelby GT500,' For the New Mustang
The 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC is an evolution of the Shelby GT500, but what's up with the name?
If you were eagerly awaiting the reveal of the next-gen Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, you’re likely not alone. Instead, we met the 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC.
From a mechanical standpoint, the Dark Horse SC is extremely similar to the previous generation GT500. Ford would rather draw comparisons to the standard Dark Horse model, however — and that’s because Ford is all-in on the “Dark Horse” branding introduced with this latest generation of Mustang. In case you missed it, there were three Dark Horse models already on sale before Ford added the SC: the standard roadgoing Dark Horse and the track-only Dark Horse S and Dark Horse R. Adding the SC to the mix makes four.
Road & Track had a sneak preview of the new Dark Horse SC ahead of its reveal, during which we had a chance to ask a Ford spokesperson why this car is named Dark Horse SC and not branded a Shelby. “This is a Ford Racing vehicle, and the reality is that Shelby doesn’t race,” a spokesperson tells R&T. “In taking what we do on the track and bringing it to the road, it is really important that we maintain that link, and show that this is a Ford Racing product.”
Ford rebranded its long-named “Ford Performance” division to be “Ford Racing” in September of last year. At the time, Ford said it was a “wholesale reintroduction of our racing brand and signals a completely new way of thinking about the business, brand, and products that our racing efforts bring to life. ”If you didn’t take Ford’s word for it before, perhaps now is the time …
(photo credit: Andi Hedrick | Road & Track)
