Hennessey H850 Ford Mustang Dark Horse: A Shelby GT500 Competitor?

Hennessey H850 Dark Horse Performance

• 🚀 The Hennessey H850 is a modified Ford Mustang Dark Horse, featuring a Whipple supercharged 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.
• ⚡ It boasts an impressive 850 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, a significant upgrade from the factory output.
• ⏱️ Performance figures include a 0-60 mph time of 3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.9 seconds.
• ⚙️ The H850 can be equipped with either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the automatic offering more consistent drag strip times.

Exterior and Design

• 💙 The featured H850 is in the popular Vapor Blue color, with optional vinyl stripes and a gloss black painted roof.
• 💨 Functional aerodynamic elements include a large front splitter for downforce and a unique Dark Horse rear wing with an optional gurney flap.
• 🛑 Braking is handled by 15.7-inch two-piece rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers in a distinctive blue hue.
• 🔊 The exhaust system features a quad-tip setup designed to produce an aggressive sound.

Interior and Technology

• 🛋️ The interior largely retains the stock Dark Horse trim, featuring Alcantara material and blue stitching, with optional Recaro seats.
• 📱 The infotainment system includes a digital gauge cluster and a Mustang-specific screen for adjusting exhaust and auxiliary gauges, though the integration of screens is noted as a drawback.
• 🕹️ Controls for climate and heated steering wheel are integrated into the infotainment touchscreen, requiring finger dragging for adjustments.
• 🔋 Features include a wireless charging pad with a cooling fan and an electric drift brake.

Driving Experience and Verdict

• 🐎 The H850 delivers insane thrust and a powerful driving experience, making it the fastest Dark Horse the reviewer has driven.
• 🔊 While the exhaust note is praised, the lack of supercharger whine from the Whipple system is noted as a minor disappointment.
• 🛣️ Handling is excellent, with Ford's improvements to steering feel and communication providing confidence even with the high horsepower.
• 🤔 The reviewer questions if the H850 is the ultimate performance Mustang, noting its strong straight-line speed and handling capabilities, but also the significant additional cost over a stock Dark Horse.