New CS800DH Mustang sees Dark Horse to 799hp

We’re on the record as big fans of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse – so much so that when we recently reflected on the V8s you could still buy, we nominated it alongside the Aston Martin DB12 and Land Rover Defender OCTA as one of the cars you should consider selling the kids to acquire. It might be the best Mustang we’ve ever driven – and that says a lot when you consider the competition contained in the previous generation. 

Nevertheless, we will concede that the European model suffers from a power issue, thanks to the regulatory noose that Ford draped over it. Perhaps the issue is the wrong word: at 453hp, the output from the V8 is ample – but it’s a decent second to the 500hp being experienced in the New World. Seeking to fix that, erm, shortcoming, Clive Sutton has launched the CS800DH, which, as its name (almost) suggests, offers Mustang buyers the option of a Dark Horse with 799hp. 

This is arguably more than the car actually requires, but we’re not inclined to argue with the 76 per cent increase in power achieved with the installation of a Ford Performance 3.0-litre Whipple Supercharger. The Mustang has a long history of supercharger whine and there’s no reason to think it wouldn’t make your pleasure centres go all gooey in the Dark Horse – especially when it retains the manual gearbox and comes hand-in-hand with 642lb ft of torque from 4,750rpm. 

As you might expect, that puts the chassis under slightly more pressure than it faced previously, but the specialist reckons it has solved this with lower, stiffer MagneRide suspension and the introduction of 20-inch Vossen wheels clad in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. There are ‘aerodynamic’ enhancements too, in the shape of a 1,580mm-wide rear wing, larger diffuser, double-sided bonnet, new front splitter and side skirts, all in carbon fibre. The interior can be dressed as you like. 

Of course, you might not notice any of that if the sound lives up to the on-paper promise of a Borla ATAK quad-tip exhaust system and custom-made H-pipe. The Dark Horse sounds decent in a distant, rumbly sort of way; expect the CS800DH to build on that significantly. It will need to because its maker has priced it from £135,000 to £165,000, which is substantially more than the £70k Ford charges for the basic model. Good thing the car retains its three-year manufacturer warranty backed by a bespoke equivalent from Clive Sutton to cover the modifications. 

“Our customers love the Mustang and consistently turn to us to unleash its full performance capability, alongside accessing our suite of distinctive exterior and interior enhancements,” noted Clive Sutton’s founder and CEO. “With 780 bhp, the full Ford Performance warranty, a glorious supercharger whine and our bespoke exhaust, there’s nothing like the CS800DH Mustang.” Expect to read about what it’s actually like to drive very soon.