It took Ford roughly a day between the leaks and the official unveiling of the Mustang GTD. But the model is finally here, and it dwarfs every other (stock) Mustang out there in terms of performance and looks. And if you must know, it is an important departure from the regular pony car as it boasts a jaw-dropping amount of power.
At its heart lies a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine with a redline at over 7,500 rpm. The exact output and torque are yet unknown, though the Blue Oval has confirmed that it targets more than 800 horsepower, thus making it the punchiest street-legal Mustang ever made. Everything is channeled to the rear wheels via the eight-speed transmission mounted at the rear and connected to a carbon fiber driveshaft. The car has a nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear and will be available with a titanium exhaust system with active valves.
The all-new and first-ever Ford Mustang GTD is a track-focused street-legal model capable of neck-snapping performance. In fact, the Dearborn automaker says it targets a sub-7-minute Nurburgring time. The machine's performance is aided by the semi-active suspension with multi-link at the rear, a hydraulic control system, and transaxle cooling with a race-inspired cover. The body can be lowered by almost 40 mm (1.6 in) when engaging the Track mode, and the model has an almost 4-inch (~100 mm) wider track than the Mustang GT.
The stopping power is supplied by the carbon ceramic brakes signed by Brembo, and it even has cooling ducts that were mounted below the rear suspension. Available in forged aluminum or forged magnesium, the 20-inch wheels were wrapped in massive 325 mm front and 345 mm rear tires, which aid traction and help the car corner better. The aerodynamics were also further boosted compared to the normal Mustang, as it features an underbody tray made of carbon fiber, hydraulically-controlled front flaps, and an active rear wing mounted on the C-pillars. The door sills, fenders, hood, trunk lid, apron, diffuser, and roof were made of carbon fiber to keep the weight in check.
Ford has yet to release images of the interior. However, it states that the Mustang GTD features Recaro seats, available 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, a serial numbered plaque, and a rotary dial shifter that were made from titanium sourced from a Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter jet. The rear seats were removed to improve the cargo space and make the car lighter, and buyers will be able to specify it in multiple color combinations. Production will take place at Flat Rock, and from there, it will be taken to Markham in Canada, where it will be "handcrafted for racing-inspired precision by the Ford Performance and Multimatic teams." Built in limited numbers, it will be available in late 2024 or early 2025, and it is expected to have an MSRP of around $300,000.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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