Ford recently pulled the covers off the Mustang Dark Horse SC convertible, the latest variant in the iconic pony car’s lineup. Now, a report from Automotive News has emerged suggesting that Ford may take the Mustang in an entirely new direction with an off-road variant tentatively called “Baja.”
This is not the first time we’ve heard talk of an all-terrain Mustang, but the rumor mill on such a vehicle had recently gone quiet. However, in a recent video discussing Ford’s future product plans, AN stated that Ford has shown dealers “an off-road Mustang called Baja” that is “as far as we know…still in the works at some point.”
That is the extent of the details we have on this potential off-road Mustang, but this is just the latest in a line of rumors about Ford developing a sporty off-roader to complement its line of Raptor-branded trucks and SUVs. Wefirst reported a possible Mustang Raptor back in 2023, which we had expected to arrive at some point in 2026.
Clearly, those plans shifted. A Mustang Baja was thenreportedly shown at a private dealer meeting in 2024, and we’ve heard whispers of an off-road Mustang prototype lurking deep within Ford’s walls. In 2025, Ford CEOJim Farley publicly stated his desire for an off-road-ready supercar. That vehicle was described as a “stand-alone supercar,” with Farley’s comments coming after the automaker entered the grueling Dakar Rally with thepurpose-built Raptor T1+. While a Mustang Baja wouldn’t quite fill that role, it shows that Ford has still been continuously pondering an off-road two-door vehicle.
If and when an off-road Mustang shows up, we think it will come in the most extreme form possible, presumably packing a V-8 engine and possibly motivated by the 795-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 found in the Dark Horse SC. The biggest changes versus its roadgoing brethren would likely be the inclusion of all-wheel drive, larger and knobbier tires, and a unique suspension setup with Fox Live Valve dampers, as seen on vehicles such as theF-150 RaptorandRanger Raptor.
Given that the Mustang is expected to be redesigned by the end of this decade, we would expect a Mustang Baja to arrive as part of that update. Details are thin for now, but more news on an off-road Mustang may emerge in the next couple of years.