Latest news with #FordPerformance
Auto Blog
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Max Verstappen Drives $300K Ford Mustang GTD With Chris Harris
I'm going to catch a lot of heat for this, but as a mom, I found that the Kia Carnival had more parent-friendly features than the Toyota Sienna hybrid, for much less at the top of the line. If you were wondering what it would look like when one of the most talented F1 drivers alive and a journalist with a serious lead foot took the wheel of Ford's most extreme street-legal car, wonder no more. Max Verstappen and Chris Harris have just tested the all-new Ford Mustang GTD — and it's safe to say this isn't your granddad's Mustang. The GTD, Ford's $300,000+ GT3-inspired halo car, was unleashed in a new video by Ford Performance, with Verstappen and Harris swapping seats, notes, and sideways glances around a private test facility. The car, with its hulking aero kit, supercharged V8, and wild transaxle layout, is aiming squarely at Porsche GT3 RS territory — and from the look on Max's face, it's getting there. Supercar Specs, Muscle Car Swagger Ford claims the Mustang GTD can lap the Nürburgring in under 7 minutes — faster than anything else with a Blue Oval badge, ever. Powered by a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 producing over 800 horsepower, it's backed by a rear-mounted transaxle and trick pushrod suspension that would make a Le Mans prototype blush. The whole layout mirrors the Mustang GT3 race car, which means this is less 'Shelby' and more 'track-day lunatic.' It's a car for people who think the standard Mustang Dark Horse isn't nearly terrifying enough. And with a starting price north of $300,000, it's also one of the most expensive Fords ever sold — right up there with the GT supercar and the upcoming F-150 Lightning Platinum Black, as explored in our ranking of the five most expensive Fords. Harris vs. Verstappen In the test session, the pair took turns behind the wheel — Harris admiring the balance and feedback, Verstappen treating it like Q3 at Suzuka. They talked braking feel, chassis dynamics, and the shockingly civilised ride quality given the car's insane track intent. The video also showed them hopping into a vintage Ford RS200 beforehand, just to remind us that Ford's motorsport pedigree didn't start yesterday. It's worth noting that Ford is riding a bit of a rollercoaster lately — booming sales in key segments, particularly electric, but also racking up recall numbers at record highs, according to our June reliability report. This GTD, then, is not just a statement of performance. It's a much-needed distraction from fuel pump recalls and QC complaints — like the recent announcement of over 850,000 vehicles being recalled due to potential stalling issues. Big Bet, Big Payoff? So why the GTD? Why now? For Ford, it's about brand image. You can sell a million crossovers, but without a hero car, nobody remembers you. The GTD is a flex — a showcase of what Ford can do when it stops thinking about cupholders and thinks about Nürburgring sector times instead. And with a Red Bull Powertrains partnership on the horizon, this Verstappen cameo is no accident. Ford wants to remind the world it can build fast, desirable cars — and not just EVs with squeaky panels or six-figure pickups for suburban dads. The GTD is visceral, loud, ludicrous — exactly what it should be. Final Lap Chris Harris called the GTD 'freakishly composed.' Verstappen couldn't stop grinning. And frankly, if those two are impressed, the rest of us don't need much more convincing. Just don't expect to see one at your local Ford dealer anytime soon. They'll all be sold out — or sitting quietly in someone's humidity-controlled garage, alongside an RS200 and a very smug owner. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
TimesLIVE
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Clive Sutton gives Ford Mustang Dark Horse the giddy-up with 587kW
London-based vehicle customisation specialist Clive Sutton has revealed its latest high-performance build: the CS800DH Mustang. Based on the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the upgraded model is one of the most powerful and comprehensively enhanced Mustangs available in the UK. The headline figure is 587kW at 6,700rpm, which is achieved by fitting a Ford Performance 3.0 l Whipple supercharger to the Mustang's 5.0 l V8 Coyote engine. This marks a 76% increase in power from the standard car's 334kW, while torque climbs 61% to 870Nm at 4,750rpm.
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Unleashing the thrill: experience the V8 Ford Mustang Dark Horse's performance and design
The Ford Mustang Dark horse has a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine pushing out 334kW and 540Nm. Image: Supplied There's something deeply satisfying about starting up a naturally aspirated V8 petrol-fueled engine. It's even more so when it's slotted under the long bonnet of a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, which sounds grumpy even when in quiet mode. I've had my fair share of exposure to the iconic American Pony Car over the years, including a first drive of the Dark Horse at the Charlotte Speedway in America, which is considered the home of Nascar. It's difficult to describe the feeling of climbing up the embankment of the famous oval with the side of the big sportscar only a foot or two away from the wall. It's both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time but without a doubt one of the highlights of my career. Ford Performance I also love the fact that Ford has thrown its full weight behind almost every aspect of motor racing that includes WRC, Nascar, Le Mans, Pikes Peak hillclimb in an electric Mustang and will be the engine supplier for the Red Bull Racing F1 team next year. I mean, when Ford CEO Jim Farley races in the inaugural Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational, you know it's more than just lip service. That's what you get with a boss who has racing fuel in his veins and understands what exciting cars are about. It's the same for Toyota with their range of GR products. Their Chairman, Akio Toyoda, actually races the products which explains a lot. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is out and out a Pony Car. Image: Supplied V8 engine Which brings us back to the track-focused Mustang Dark horse in all its thunderous glory with its 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine with dual throttle body intake design that's been modified with piston connecting rods pushing out 334kW and 540Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via Ford's software-updated 10-speed automatic transmission with a Torsen rear differential and a manual option to switch gears via paddle shifters. The tyres are staggered with Pirelli P Zero high-performance 255/40 R19 tyres in front and 275/40 R19 at the rear to cope with the power. Exterior With the Dark Horse being a track focussed car they've fitted it with a set of brake cooling ducts to keep the 390mm Brembo brakes (the rear discs are also ventilated) with six-piston calipers cool, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, a rear axle cooler, a lightweight radiator with improved cooling and more powerful cooling fans. Giving it a more menacing appearance, it has a unique grille and black trim under the headlights, a forward-facing wild horse badge on the front bumpers, with a raised rear wing on the boot. There's no cookie-cutter, same-same design here, this is out and out a Mustang Pony Car and not even the most casual observer would mistake it for anything else. Even after 60 years of production, it still turns heads wherever it goes and it received an enthusiastic thumbs up and broad smiles across all genders, colours and ages. Interior The interior has also been updated to the 21st century. It has a thicker flat-bottomed suede-wrapped steering wheel with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching with all the usual buttons and switches, including an easy-to-reach drive mode button. The 12.4-inch instrument cluster is fully digital allowing you to customise it to your preferred setting including historic Mustang clusters and a track set-up, flowing into a 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen infotainment system angled towards the driver. There's contrasting blue stitching across the door panels and seats, gear shift gaiter and centre console and the interior trim, bezels and vents have dark metallic gloss. Sliding behind the wheel of the low-slung Dark Horse and feeling the vibrations of the V8 through the seats provides an air of anticipation. The 12.4-inch instrument cluster is fully digital allowing you to customise it to your preferred setting including historic Mustang clusters and a track set-up. Image: Supplied Dynamic driving A loud cold start-up slows down to a rumble as you ease the long nose forward. Talking of that, it's not easy to gauge your distance when manoeuvring into tight spaces, and front park distance control would have been a welcome addition. With its distinctive soundtrack, previous Mustangs have always been fun to drive albeit rather vague with its steering and its innate ability to either understeer or oversteer when pushed hard. It's not the case with the Dark Horse, it is, I suppose, a horse of a different colour. The steering is sharp and precise and hard cornering can be done with confidence. At 1 837kg and 4 799cm long, it's impressive what the engineers have done to combine chassis, suspension, sway bars and steering into something resembling a racing car. It's still a handful, though with the rear wheels propelling you forward and at high speeds, you need to have your wits about you, especially with strong cross winds. Left in automatic, the gearbox provides smooth changes although there's no hard thumping your body into the seat through the first three gears as perhaps you would expect. Still, it's no slouch with our colleagues at Car Magazine recording a 0-100km/h time of 4.49 seconds. Using the paddles, the Dark Horse provides a more engaging drive when heading towards the red line, allowing you to shift up and down with the exhaust providing extra blips and bangs. Dial it down and the American muscle car becomes a fully-fledged GT car. It will comfortably take you to your destination with heated or ventilated seats cruising in 10th gear with no exhaust rumble to distract you from listening to music on the B&O Sound System. With naturally aspirated V8 engines becoming ever more scarce, the Ford Mustang and especially the Dark Horse stand out as beacons of hope. At R1 523 500 its dynamic handling, thundering grin-inducing exhaust notes, iconic history, and the smile it puts on people's faces, is reason enough to want one.
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Ford Mustang Cup racing series set for Australia
Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 Ford Mustang Cup racing series set for Australia
Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. 'Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market,' said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. 'This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). Supplied Credit: CarExpert It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. 'The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers,' said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. 'Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. 'The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem,' he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang
