It's a Mustang showdown.
In the world of muscle cars, where power and performance reign supreme, a tantalizing showdown is brewing courtesy of Hennessey Performance Engineering. They are in the throes of fine-tuning the S650 Ford Mustang Dark Horse H850, a beast projected to thunder with a whopping 850 horsepower. But before that monstrosity hits the roads, there's an epic face-off that muscle car enthusiasts won't want to miss.
See horrifying vintage crash test videos here.
For gathering crucial benchmark data for the S650 Ford Mustang Dark Horse H850 project, Hennessey's engineering mavericks decided to set the stage with a trio of Mustang legends: the unaltered Dark Horse, the futuristic 2024 Mustang GT, and the formidable 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350R. And, to further tantalize the audience, they chronicled the raw power and speed of these icons in a captivating drag race video.
So, which stallion emerges as the alpha?
On paper, each vehicle boasts impressive stats. The quintessential Ford Mustang Dark Horse flexes with 500 horsepower and a torque of 418 lb-ft, thanks to the prowess of the Gen 4 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated Coyote V8 engine. Akin in spirit but with subtle tweaks, the S650 Mustang GT gallops close with approximately 480 horsepower from a similarly configured engine. Yet, when it comes to sheer muscle, the Mustang Shelby GT350R asserts dominance. Its 5.2-liter flat-plane naturally aspirated Voodoo V8 engine thunders out an impressive 526 horsepower, making it a force to be reckoned with.
However, as any racing enthusiast will tell you, numbers are just a part of the story. The outcome of a drag race is an alchemy of several elements – the asphalt's embrace, the driver's skill, the chosen wheels and tires, and, often, the unpredictable spirit of the moment.
As the roar of the engines echo and the dust settles, it's evident that this isn't just a race; it's a testament to engineering prowess, legacy, and the undying spirit of competition. Who wins? Well, that's a tale that every muscle car aficionado would want to witness firsthand.
