The New Shelby Super Snake-R Is a Mustang Dark Horse On Steroids

The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is already a pretty ferocious muscle car. With 500 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8, it rockets to 60 mph in just about four seconds. But the team at Shelby American never settles for pretty ferocious.

Enter the 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R. Debuting during Monterey Car Week, the Super Snake-R is based on the factory Mustang Dark Horse but receives significant mechanical and visual upgrades, all aimed at making this muscle car even more formidable on the track.

It all starts under the hood. Ford’s Coyote V-8 gets a supercharger, boosting output to over 850 horsepower—20 more than the current Super Snake. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, and buyers can choose between a Tremec six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Fully adjustable coilovers, wider Michelin performance tires, lightweight alloy wheels, and two-piece slotted brake rotors complement the Super Snake-R’s massive power boost—not to mention a sizeable rear spoiler designed to increase downforce.

Aggressive new front and rear bumper designs, paired with carbon-fiber body panels, give the Mustang an even more intimidating look. Buyers can choose from five paint options: Carbonized Gray Metallic, Grabber Blue Metallic, Oxford White, Race Red, and Shadow Black.

Inside, the cabin gets a performance-focused makeover, featuring Shelby American-branded bucket seats trimmed in Alcantara and leather. Manual-transmission models also receive a custom billet shift knob. And so passengers know they’re in something truly special, each Super Snake-R includes serialized plaques on the dash, floor mats, and sill plates.

Despite the upgrades, Shelby American reports a curb weight of just 4,004 pounds—only 116 pounds more than the standard Dark Horse. But with over 850 hp under your right foot, that added weight likely won’t be easy to spot.

Of course, all this performance comes at a price. The 2026 Super Snake-R starts at $225,995, which includes the cost of the donor Mustang Dark Horse. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s still a bargain compared to Ford’s own $325,000 Mustang GTD.