Ford Mustang Dark Horse gets 850hp upgrade
The new Dark Horse was intended to be the most powerful Mustang ever. Hennessey urges you to go one better...
We’ve not even seen the Dark Horse of Ford’s very latest generation of Mustang in the flesh yet and already tuning firms are hovering over it like flies. This is understandable, of course - the domestic market for Ford’s muscle car dramatically overshadows its export potential, and because its domestic market is North America, its buyers fully expect an exhaustive range of upgrade options. Ford itself has been on the case - we expect to see it launch a track-only Dark Horse R later this month - but so has the aftermarket: cue the ‘H850’ Mustang Dark Horse from Hennessey.
It’s worth remembering that the standard model is no shrinking violet before it gets to the Texas-based tuner. The Dark Horse is so called because Ford supplies it with the Coyote 5.0-litre V8 turned up to 500hp thanks to GT500 connecting rods and numerous other upgrades. Whether you get the manual or the 10-speed automatic, the flagship Mustang is a fast car. But like most tuners, Hennessey prides itself in ‘making fast cars faster’ - hence the telling introduction of a supercharger, a high-flow induction system, upgraded injectors and a new fuel pump.
Overseen by a bespoke HPE Engine Management system, the Hennessey's flagship Dark Horse develops 850hp and 650lb ft of torque, which is a hefty improvement in anyone’s book. Especially as Hennessey is apparently relying on the standard (albeit significantly beefed-up) chassis to handle the additional power - or at least it makes no specific mention of tweaking the suspension at this point. The tuner doesn’t mention performance figures either, although it’s fairly safe to assume that the blower’s presence is transformative under virtually any use case.
"Our supercharged Mustang builds have continually been customer favorites over the years, and Ford's improved S650 platform will prove to be its most capable,” said founder and CEO, John Hennessey. “Without question, our supercharged 850 horsepower Dark Horse model will be one of the most exciting and powerful muscle cars on the road – sure to turn heads with its distinctive supercharger wail and exhaust note."
Just in case the (presumably) huge noise doesn’t do the trick, the tuner has added custom side skirts, front splitter and rear spoiler - all in carbon fibre - to the Dark Horse’s already imposing styling pack, as well as a rather fetching set of forged aluminium wheels. You also get a smattering of Hennessey badges and associated embroidery inside, although it seems like the interior is also mostly left alone. No word on cost yet, although production is pencilled in for Q4 of this year. The starting price for a new Dark Horse is around £45k in the States - expect a premium befitting a supercharger.
That's a mod I'd pay for
Actually, hang on a sec....
I had a quick go of one the other week, a normal auto and cant say I was all that enamored with it, need longer in one, in a manual, but it just didnt feel all that fast after my Fiesta ST (albeit a highly tuned one) but I think this is a thing when you go from "fighter to bomber" so to speak, seen it before with a mate going from a tuned Astra to a Monaro and didnt buy it as it felt disappointing in comparison.
That's a mod I'd pay for
Actually, hang on a sec....
I had a quick go of one the other week, a normal auto and cant say I was all that enamored with it, need longer in one, in a manual, but it just didnt feel all that fast after my Fiesta ST (albeit a highly tuned one) but I think this is a thing when you go from "fighter to bomber" so to speak, seen it before with a mate going from a tuned Astra to a Monaro and didnt buy it as it felt disappointing in comparison.
I insisted on a half day with a loaner before I really fell for their charm and bought one!
I'd love to know if the S550 will get a kit to retrofit the dual intakes from the S650 as I think that's one of the bigger engine changes between generations.
I've no plans to up the power on mine until I know the suspension (and brakes!) can make use of it.
We used to have so much fun in a 100hp Mini or 128hp Peugeot 205 GTi so why do we need 8 times this much?
I thought 390hp was way more than needed in a TVR, I would have been happy with 250hp in a car that light.
I worry about the latest generation of 2 ton cars that are quicker than a TVR in the hands of most people that can't really drive.
That's a mod I'd pay for
Actually, hang on a sec....
I had a quick go of one the other week, a normal auto and cant say I was all that enamored with it, need longer in one, in a manual, but it just didnt feel all that fast after my Fiesta ST (albeit a highly tuned one) but I think this is a thing when you go from "fighter to bomber" so to speak, seen it before with a mate going from a tuned Astra to a Monaro and didnt buy it as it felt disappointing in comparison.
It's more picking up on the travesty of homologating it's interior. The Mustang interior and particularly it's instrument cluster is part of the character of the car.
Ive driven many many new stangs and own and have restored 'the daddy' - a 1968 fastback. Hence why the screens are so jarring, the drivers view and interior presentation are in many ways just as classicly appealing as the thumping great V8 and rwd in a Mustang.
In terms of speed absolutely agree that a hot hatch and one of them will be totally chalk and cheese, in a good way, a fast focus/fiesta and a mustang to me is a superb two car garage in all reality.
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