Ford has confirmed the 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC’s supercharged V8 engine cranks out 795 hp, which is a lot, but you’ll pay a lot to get it.
The new Mustang model starts at $103,490, which makes it one of the most expensive American sports cars on sale this year, though still quite a bit less than the $327,000 Mustang GTD.
Nevertheless, Ford offers a wide array of Mustang models at MSRPs as low as $32,640 for a 315 hp turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost. But one delivers the most bang for the buck.
The base Mustang GT powered by a 480 hp 5.0-liter V8 lists for $46,560, which is $.97 per horsepower. You’ll pay $1.04 with the EcoBoost and the competition also comes up short.
The Dodge Charger Scat Pack has a 550 hp turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder is $54,995, so $1 per hp, and the $49,995 420 hp Charger R/T is $1.19 per hp.
The Chevrolet Corvette isn’t even in the same ballpark. The $70,000 Stingray comes with a 490 hp 6.2-liter V8 that checks out at $1.43 per hp. The lighter, sleeker mid-engine Corvette gets a lot out of each of those horses, of course, but we’re just talking about price per pony today.
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There is one Dodge muscle car that beats the Mustang on equine value, but in a different way. The electric Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack now starts at $59,995 and has a 670 hp dual motor all-wheel drivetrain that prices out at $.90 per horsepower. You only get all of it when you engage the Power Shot mode, however, which adds 40 hp for up to 15 seconds. The nominal power is 630 hp, but that’s still just $.95 per hp.
As for that Mustang GTD, its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is rated at 815 hp, so it costs $4 per hp, while the 1,250 hp Corvette ZR1X that lists for $209,700 with both a gas and electric motor looks like a relative bargain at $1.68 per hp.
