Who Needs a Ferrari? This 788HP Mustang Dark Horse Is a Street-Legal Sledgehammer

Quick Highlights

  • 788hp, 642lb-ft torque from a Whipple-supercharged 5.0L V8
  • Price starts at £135,000 ~ $175,000, can reach £165,000 ~ $213,000
  • Borla exhaust, carbon aero kit, and lowered suspension
  • Recaro seats, Alcantara interior, and short-throw shifter
  • Built by Clive Sutton in London with full Ford Performance warranty

A Mustang on Steroids

Clive Sutton 788HP Mustang Dark Horse
Source: Clive Sutton

Clive Sutton has turned the already potent Ford Mustang Dark Horse into a monster. The London-based tuner installs a 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger on the standard 5.0-litre V8, pushing output from 447hp to a wild 788hp. Torque also surges by 61%, reaching 642lb-ft — the kind of figures you expect from six-figure Italian exotics.

For reference, the stock Mustang Dark Horse produces 447hp and 418lb-ft, using the same 5.0L Coyote engine without forced induction. That’s the same setup found in the U.S.-spec model, which, despite holding its MSRP for 2026, now charges extra for key options like MagneRide and Recaros — a shift covered in detail here. Sutton’s CS800DH blows right past it, both literally and figuratively.

Performance That Backs the Looks

Clive Sutton 788HP Mustang Dark Horse Side
Source: Clive Sutton

To handle the added muscle, the CS800DH gets more than just power upgrades. It features a Borla ATAK quad-tip exhaust with a custom H-pipe for a louder, deeper roar. Suspension is lowered and stiffened, and the car rides on Vossen alloy wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

Aerodynamics are dialed up with a carbon fibre kit that includes a vented hood, deep front splitter, sculpted side skirts, and a large rear wing. The result is a stance and presence that make even track-day specials look tame.

Race Tech Inside Too

Clive Sutton 788HP Mustang Dark Horse Inside
Source: Clive Sutton

Inside, the CS800DH demo car gets the full custom treatment — a pair of heated and cooled Recaro sport seats, trimmed in blue Alcantara, dominate the cockpit. The entire cabin is reworked with premium materials, and a short-throw MGW racing shifter enhances the manual driving experience with tighter, more mechanical shifts.

The build stays true to the muscle car ethos, but with a far more refined, race-inspired finish than a standard Mustang.

Yes, It’s Still Under Warranty

Clive Sutton 788HP Mustang Dark Horse Rear
Source: Clive Sutton

Despite the massive performance bump, Sutton’s upgrades stay within Ford Performance’s approved boundaries. That means the factory three-year or 36,000-mile warranty remains intact. Sutton also offers matching coverage for all added components — a rarity in the tuning world, especially with builds of this scale.

Clive Sutton, one of the UK’s most prominent American car importers and high-performance builders, has a long history of creating extreme Mustangs and Ram trucks for British buyers. The CS800DH is the most aggressive example to date.

Price and Availability

Clive Sutton 788HP Mustang Dark Horse Front
Source: Clive Sutton

Pricing for the CS800DH starts at £135,000 ($175,000), but most buyers will easily tip past £165,000 ($213,000) once custom details are spec’d. The car will make its official debut at Salon Privé, held at Blenheim Palace from August 27–31, 2025.

With supercar power, aggressive aero, and real street presence, this Mustang makes a strong case against six-figure Ferraris — while still giving you room for four and a V8 soundtrack no twin-turbo flat-plane crank can match.

It may wear a Ford badge, but with 788hp, full carbon aero, and a price tag to match a McLaren, there’s nothing mainstream about it.

Source: Clive Sutton

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