Mustang GTD: An American Beast for European Concerns

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【Summary】Ford has unveiled the Mustang GTD, a road-legal high-performance variant designed to compete with European sports cars. The GTD is based on Ford's Mustang GT3 race car and features a supercharged V8 engine targeting 800bhp. It also includes race-spec engineering, including active aerodynamics and suspension, which would be illegal in certain racing series.

FutureCar Staff Aug 29, 2023 6:45 AM PT

Mustang GTD: An American Beast for European Concerns

Ford has unveiled the new Mustang GTD, a high-performance variant aimed at taking on European competitors. The CEO of Ford, Jim Farley, stated that the GTD is the Mustang he always dreamed of building and wants to make Porsche, Aston Martin, and Mercedes sweat. The GTD is a road-legal version of Ford's new Mustang GT3 car, incorporating engineering that is actually illegal in certain racing series.

The name GTD, although familiar to Europeans as a diesel designation, in the case of the Mustang, stands for motorsport-derived titles. It is linked to the Mustang GT3 and GT4, as well as the IMSA GTD racing class. Under the hood, the Mustang GTD features a bespoke 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine with a dry sump oil system, a 7500rpm redline, and an active titanium exhaust. Ford aims to achieve a power figure of around 800bhp.

All the power is transmitted to the rear wheels through an eight-speed transaxle gearbox and a carbon fiber driveshaft to maintain a balanced weight distribution. The GTD comes with 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, although magnesium wheels are also available, and standard Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.

The GTD showcases advanced engineering, including active aerodynamics with hydraulically-controlled front flaps and an active rear wing. The car also features active suspension with variable spring rates and ride height, which is not allowed in racing. The interior of the GTD includes Miko suede seat upholstery and 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters made from retired F22 Raptors.

However, the Mustang GTD will be a limited-run model, and interested buyers will have to go through an application process similar to that of the Ford GT. The starting price for the GTD in the US is $300,000.