2028 Mustang Shelby GT350 Successor to Wear Dark Horse

Ford's next track-focused Mustang, slated for a late-2027 reveal and officially a 2028 model, is expected to adopt Dark Horse SC-style widebody treatment and return to a naturally aspirated V8 with a manual transmission, according to documents reviewed by Ford Authority.

Reveal timing and production run

Dealer documents referenced by Ford Authority indicate the new model will be revealed in late 2027 and carried as a 2028 model. The same documents reportedly outline a relatively short production timeline, with the model scheduled to leave the lineup after the 2029 model year. Ford Authority is the source for the timing and production details.

Body style and visual treatment

The newcomer is expected to be offered only as a fastback and to receive widebody appointments similar to the Dark Horse SC. Ford Authority says Dark Horse branding is likely to remain part of the model's identity; Ford has secured rights to use the Dark Horse Boss name in 2025, according to the reporting.

Powertrain candidates and transmission

Reporting points to a large naturally aspirated V8 under consideration, with displacement candidates identified as either 5.2 liters or 5.4 liters. The model is expected to offer a manual transmission. Ford Authority links the possibilities to several existing Ford V8 architectures and components:

• The 5.2-liter Voodoo flat-plane V8 used in the previous Shelby GT350, which produced 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet (582 Newton-meters) and was paired exclusively with a Tremec-sourced manual transmission.

• The Aluminator 5.2 XS crate engine, fitted with a Cobra Jet intake manifold and GT350 heads, rated at 580 horsepower and 445 pound-feet (603 Newton-meters) on premium fuel; as a crate engine it is considered unlikely to be the production powerplant.
• A 5.4-liter V8 with Coyote architecture ties to Ford's GT3 and WEC racing programs, engines developed with dry-sump lubrication, a Bosch Motorsport control unit, and racing transmissions supplied by Xtrac for the GT3 application. The WEC-related engine was developed for an ORECA-based LMDh prototype and its hybrid system.

Ford Authority reports that the production engine choice remains uncertain. The coverage emphasizes the expectation of a free-breathing V8 and a manual gearbox rather than turbocharging or mandatory hybrid assistance.