Zac Quinn 
Ford Performance recently unveiled the epic Ford Mustang Dark Horse GT3 on the eve of the 100th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Next year, it will lock horns with the likes of the C8 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, as well as other marques in a stacked FIA GT3 class that’s utilized by all major sports car racing bodies. These include WEC, IMSA and SRO. At the heart of the new S650 Ford Mustang race car is a Coyote-based V8 engine, but not just any engine. Instead of running the standard 5.0-liters we see in the street car, this thing’s been sized up to 5.4-liters.
S650 Ford Mustang GT3 Dark Horse Engine: Details
According to Road & Track, Ford started the build with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, but since the Performance team wanted to maximize the displacement, they opted for a 5.4-liter over the 5.0. GT3 racing is defined by Balance of Performance (BoP), a mechanism that evens the performance between different types of cars. Making use of a constantly changing combination of ballast, intake restrictors, rpm limits, and boost limits (if applicable). BoP aims to make cars that are significantly different and compete on equal footing. In theory, it should make for better racing. In practice, it can artificially slow down superior cars.
Who do you really think would win in a race between a Z06, a Mustang, a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, and a Porsche? Exactly.
As it stands, GT3 cars make “around” 500 horsepower, which is what the new Mustang Dark Horse‘s 5.0L makes, but there are instances where the GT3 needs more power; plus, the increase in displacement means its easier to hit 500 without putting as much strain on the engine components. That’s especially important when taking on an endurance race.
In addition to the other benefits that come with an increase in engine displacement, the Ford Mustang GT3 Dark Horse may have an increase in torque. This method can be compared to what Porsche does for its 992-generation GT3 R race car, which uses an enlarged 4.2-liter flat-six, while the 911 road cars use engines with 4.0-liters. Another difference between the GT3 and the Mustang road car is that the GT3 uses a rear transaxle gearbox, which helps even out weight distribution and may also allow Ford to move the V8 further back in the chassis than in the street car. However, that may remain a mystery until Ford releases photos showing what’s under the hood of this epic car.
