Every S650 Ford Mustang Ranked By Horsepower From EcoBoost to 800 HP GTD
Over 500 horsepower separates the slowest and fastest Mustang models
It's been around three years since the seventh-generation Ford Mustang-codenamed the S650-went into production. That's given Ford plenty of time to flesh out the range, which now includes everything from the relatively affordable EcoBoost model to the recently revealed Dark Horse SC and the six-figure Nürburgring champ, the Mustang GTD. There's a broad disparity in power and performance between all the Mustang variants, so here's a simple ranking of all of them, based on horsepower. They've been ranked from least to most powerful.
Related: Every Corvette C8 Ranked By Horsepower
7. Mustang EcoBoost: 315 Horsepower
Ignore the four-cylinder Mustang at your own peril. Yes, it lacks the iconic soundtrack of the V8 models, but the standard 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine doesn't lack power. It produces 315 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, and it's only fractionally slower than the V8-powered GT up to 60 mph. The EcoBoost needs around 4.5 seconds to hit that mark, which is plenty of performance for a car that starts at just $32,640. Handling is crisp, but the only pity is that EcoBoost models don't have access to the Mustang's manual gearbox. The 10-speed automatic is a great transmission, though.
6. Mustang GT: 480 Horsepower
This is the first V8-powered model in the Mustang lineup. The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 sounds as good as expected and produces 480 hp and 415 lb-ft. With this engine, the Getrag six-speed manual becomes available; shift gears yourself, and you can expect a similar 0-60 time as the EcoBoost automatic. The experience in the GT is more engaging, though, thanks to the character of the big V8. At $46,560, it's a lot pricier than the base EcoBoost, but with the Camaro gone and Dodge only using six-cylinder or electric power in the latest Charger, the Mustang GT is the only true V8-powered muscle car you can buy at this price point.
5. Mustang GT with Active Valve Exhaust: 486 Horsepower
For $1,595, you can get a little more power from the Mustang GT by adding an optional active valve exhaust system. Featuring quad chrome tailpipes, this option boosts outputs to 486 hp (at a slightly higher 7,250 rpm) and torque to 418 lb-ft. With this exhaust upgrade and the automatic transmission, the Mustang GT is quite a performer and can rip to 60 mph in under four seconds. It achieves that without the aid of all-wheel drive, which is even more impressive.
4. Mustang Dark Horse: 500 Horsepower
The Mustang Dark Horse is a noticeable step up in performance, if not in terms of straight-line speed. Here, the 5.0-liter V8 gains forged connecting rods, with outputs improved to 500 hp and 418 lb-ft. It's not much quicker than the GT, but the magic of the Dark Horse lies in its track-focused enhancements. It features big Brembo brakes, coolers for the engine/transmission/diff oil, an under-hood K-brace, and a specially tuned chassis. A Handling Package with Magnetic dampers and stickier P Zero Trofeo RS rubber makes this a significantly more accomplished track toy than the GT.
3. Mustang Dark Horse SC: 795 Horsepower
The first supercharged Mustang in this list is an absolute monster. Ford took a while to reveal the Dark Horse SC's output, but we now know it makes 795 hp and 660 lb-ft from its 5.2-liter supercharged V8. Essentially a newer version of the previous Shelby GT500, the Dark Horse SC uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic to route power to the rear wheels. Starting at $103,490 before destination, it's not cheap, but it can also be considered a performance bargain-this has 97% of the Mustang GTD's power for a third of the price.
Related: Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Packs 795 HP at a Fraction of GTD Price
2. Mustang GTD: 815 Horsepower
Priced at over $300,000, the Mustang GTD competes with a number of true exotics. It comes well-equipped for the task, with the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 tuned to produce 815 hp and paired with an eight-speed Tremec dual-clutch transaxle. It's one of the quickest cars in the world, capable of a 202-mph time speed. But it's what the GTD can do on a track that's really astonishing. The semi-active suspension allowed it to lap the 12.9-mile Nürburgring in under seven minutes, beating all other American sports cars at the time. Its beefed-up body also looks spectacular, but you'll need the right connections and incredibly deep pockets to acquire one.
1. Mustang GTD Competition: Over 815 Horsepower
After the original Mustang GTD's Nürburgring record was overtaken by the Chevy Corvette ZR1X, Ford returned the favor with the GTD Competition. It achieved a new record of 6:40.835 minutes, beating the ZR1X by over eight seconds to once again be crowned the quickest American production car. Only the Mercedes-AMG ONE is now ahead of the GTD Competition, with that F1-inspired hypercar achieving a time of 6:29.090.
The GTD Competition still has a 5.2-liter supercharged V8, and although we don't know how much power it makes, Ford confirmed it's a figure "beyond" the original GTD's 815 hp. That's down to hardware updates and aggressive tuning. New high-performance tires and even more extreme aerodynamic enhancements allowed the GTD Competition to set its blistering lap time.
For now, it's the most powerful S650 Ford Mustang, but who knows what Ford may come up with next?
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM.