2026 Ford Mustang
Seventh generation · S650 2024–present
The current S650 generation, introduced for the 2024 model year.
The 2026 model year
Overview
Another continuation year, with pricing held close to 2025 across most of the lineup. The big addition is the Mustang Dark Horse SC — a supercharged, dual-clutch Dark Horse that brings GTD-derived power to a more attainable (if still six-figure) flagship, positioned as the spiritual successor to the sixth-generation Shelby GT500 (though it is not Shelby-badged). The EcoBoost, GT, and Dark Horse carry on, and the manual GT remains one of the very few manual muscle cars still on sale.
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 2.3L EcoBoost turbo I4 (315 hp / 350 lb-ft) 315 hp
- 5.0L Coyote V8 — GT (480 hp; 486 hp w/ active-valve exhaust) 480 hp
- 5.0L Coyote V8 — Dark Horse (500 hp) 500 hp
- 5.2L Predator supercharged V8 — Dark Horse SC (795 hp / 660 lb-ft) 795 hp
- Transmissions
- 6-speed manual — Getrag MT-82 (EcoBoost / GT), 6-speed manual — Tremec TR-3160 (Dark Horse), 10-speed 10R80 automatic, 7-speed dual-clutch (Dark Horse SC)
- Body styles
- Fastback coupe, Convertible (EcoBoost / GT; Dark Horse and Dark Horse SC are coupe-only)
- Base price
- EcoBoost from $32,320 + $1,995 destination; most configs held at 2025 prices
Year over year
What changed
- New Mustang Dark Horse SC: a 5.2L Predator supercharged V8 (795 hp / 660 lb-ft) shared with the GTD, a 7-speed dual-clutch, carbon-fiber driveshaft, next-gen MagneRide, carbon-fiber wheels, and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes — base price about $108,485, with Track Pack and Special Edition versions priced higher.
- Pricing held steady: most 2026 configurations kept their 2025 MSRPs (the GT's price is unchanged year-over-year).
- New colors added (e.g. Adriatic Blue Metallic, Orange Fury Metallic Tri-Coat) plus a Dark Horse SC–exclusive Argon Blue Metallic.
- Limited TLD (Troy Lee Designs) Signature Edition announced — 550 units with designer graphics and a laser-etched badge.
- EcoBoost, GT, and Dark Horse powertrains and body styles carried over.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- Still too new for a documented long-term reliability record.
- Same standing early caveat on the MT-82 manual in EcoBoost/GT cars; Dark Horse and Dark Horse SC use different (Tremec / dual-clutch) gearboxes.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The Dark Horse SC is the year's headline — GTD-grade supercharged power at roughly a third of a GTD's price.
- The manual 6-speed GT remained available, keeping the Mustang among the last manual-transmission muscle cars on the market.
- No Shelby variant was offered on the S650; the Dark Horse SC fills the supercharged-flagship role the GT500 once held.
Sources
- Wikipedia — "Ford Mustang (seventh generation)"
- Ford.com — 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC
- The Drive — "2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Offers GTD-Like Power for a Third of the Price"
- CarsDirect — "2026 Ford Mustang Avoids Big Price Hikes"
- Ford.com — 2026 Mustang
- CarBuzz — "Ford's Mustang GT Is Your Only Option" (manual muscle car)
Other Seventh generation years
Explore the S650 generation → All Seventh generation · S650 years →