Ford unveiled the Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible on August 14, 2026. This is more than a Dark Horse SC coupe with a folding roof: Ford Racing kept the complete powertrain but retuned the suspension for regular roads and long-distance trips. The supercharged 5.2-liter V8 produces 795 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque, with power sent through a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission.
The debut took place at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. In Ford's official August 14, 2026 publication, the model is described as the first new high-performance Mustang convertible since 2013. Ford has already announced the main technical details and order timing, but has not disclosed the price, weight or performance figures.
Key Figures and Dates
Specification | What is known |
|---|---|
Debut date | August 14, 2026 |
Engine | 5.2-liter supercharged gasoline V8 |
Power and torque | 795 hp and 660 lb-ft |
Transmission | Seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission |
Suspension | MagneRide with a convertible-specific setup |
Orders and deliveries | Orders open in fall 2026; deliveries to dealerships begin in spring 2027 |
Price | Not yet announced by Ford |
The Same V8 as the Coupe
The convertible gets the Dark Horse SC coupe's powertrain without any reduction in output: a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 795 hp and 660 lb-ft. For the coupe, Ford also lists a carbon-fiber driveshaft and a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission on the official Mustang Dark Horse SC page. The convertible press release does not mention a manual transmission; it lists only the seven-speed dual-clutch unit.
The power figures come with an important qualification: Ford quotes them for premium fuel under the SAE J1349 standard and explicitly warns that actual results may vary. That means the stated 795 hp should not be converted directly into guaranteed acceleration times: official figures for the convertible's acceleration and curb weight are not yet available.
What This Means in Practice
The Convertible does not promise a new level of power over the coupe. Instead, it brings the same engine to a different type of driving. Buyers get the sound of a supercharged V8 without a fixed roof, but should also account for the more road-oriented chassis tuning and the lack of published weight figures.
How the Convertible Differs from the Coupe
Ford clearly distinguishes the intended roles of the two cars. The Dark Horse SC coupe was developed with fast laps in mind, while the convertible is aimed at open-top driving on public roads. For that reason, Ford Racing retuned the adaptive MagneRide dampers. The public description provides no figures for spring rates, anti-roll bars or suspension geometry, so it would be premature to predict the convertible's track behavior from the coupe's specifications.
Car and Driver and MotorTrend report that the convertible will not be offered with the coupe's Track Pack, which includes carbon-ceramic brakes, carbon-fiber wheels and more track-focused tires. This is media reporting, not a separate Ford technical sheet for the Convertible; Ford's official publication simply does not list the Track Pack among the convertible's options.
The roof folds at the press of a button, but Ford has not specified its material, folding time or the maximum speed at which the operation can be performed. Confirmed aerodynamic data and cargo capacity figures have also not been published. These details should be checked closer to the start of sales rather than carried over from the coupe.
A Brief Timeline
On April 20, 2026, Ford announced that orders had opened for the Mustang Dark Horse SC coupe; first coupe deliveries were scheduled for summer 2026.
On August 14, 2026, the Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible made its official debut.
Fall 2026 — Ford's stated timeframe for opening convertible orders.
Spring 2027 — the expected start of convertible deliveries to dealerships.
What Has Not Been Disclosed
The most obvious gap is the price. Ford has announced neither the base cost nor the equipment packages. There are also no official figures for curb weight, acceleration to 60 mph or 100 km/h, fuel economy, or sales availability outside the markets covered by Ford's publications. For buyers outside the United States, it is especially important not to treat the US delivery schedule as confirmation of local availability.
What to Confirm Before Ordering
whether the model will be officially available in the required market;
which standard equipment and options Ford will announce;
which brakes, wheels and tires will be fitted to the specific version;
whether independent measurements of weight, acceleration and braking performance have been published by that point.
Where the Convertible Fits in the Mustang Lineup
The Dark Horse SC Convertible does not replace the regular Mustang Convertibles with the EcoBoost or 5.0-liter V8. Instead, it forms a separate top tier of the family. On the current Mustang lineup page, Ford presents the Dark Horse SC as a standalone version with a supercharged V8 and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The convertible brings that hardware to a format where everyday road manners matter alongside lap times.
The takeaway is straightforward for now: Ford has preserved the coupe's full power in the convertible but has not presented it as a track version without compromises. The key figures and debut date are known; a final assessment will have to wait for the price, complete equipment list and first independent tests.
