Mustang GTD is Ford's answer to 911 GT3 RS

Ford reveals track-focused Mustang GTD

Ford Motor Company's CEO Jim Farley may be doing a modern-day Henry Ford II move. If the “Deuce” wanted to challenge Ferrari in the 60s, Farley on the other hand wants to come up with a car that would challenge the Aston Martins, the Porsche GT3s, and the Mercedes-AMGs of the supercar world.

The Blue Oval has taken the wraps off the new Mustang GTD, which they call “the most audacious and advanced Mustang ever”. The thinking behind the new car is simple. Ford wants all the bits and technology of the Mustang GT3 race car and put it into a street-legal machine.

While the Mustang GTD is still in its final development phase, Ford has already shared some details about the track-focused Mustang. For starters, the GTD body sees some extensive use of carbon fiber to shed weight, making up the front splitter, hood, fenders, door sills, roof, trunk lid, and rear diffuser.

There are also lots of optional exterior upgrades available for the Mustang GTD to further boost performance and curb appeal. Those include additional carbon fiber trim pieces for the front and rear of the car, as well as an aerodynamic package that consists of hydraulically-controlled front flaps, carbon fiber floor, and an active rear wing with an F1-style Drag Reduction System or DRS.

The Mustang GTD revealed at the Monterey Car Week still had its windows tinted, but Ford says we should expect a mix of Miko suede, leather, and carbon fiber on the GTD's cabin.

If the outside looks jet fighter inspired, then inside of the Mustang GTD is where you'll find jet fighter-derived components. That's right. Ford says the titanium material used to 3D print the paddle shifters, dial shifter, and serial number plate were taken from retired Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors.

Powering the Mustang GTD is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 similar to the Shelby GT500. Official figures are yet to be released, but Ford targets over 800 horsepower with the GTD – making it the most powerful Mustang from the factory. They also shared the redline is 7,500 rpm, and it will have a titanium exhaust with an active valve system.

All that power is routed on a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle gearbox for optimized 50:50 weight distribution. The gearbox is connected to the engine via a carbon fiber driveshaft. There's a variable traction control system in track mode for fine-tuning the car's electronic driver aids.

Meanwhile, the Mustang GTD rides on a semi-active suspension from Multimatic, which has adjustable spring rates and ride height. There are also adaptive spool valve dampers for better setup optimization. Stopping power is courtesy of Brembo's carbon ceramic brakes.

Lastly, the Mustang GTD gets a set of 20-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in 325mm front and 345mm wide rear tires as standard, but buyers can opt for forged magnesium wheels that have a similar design to the GT3 race car.

The body made from Flat Rock, Michigan, and the supercharged V8 from the Dearborn engine plant will be mated together at Multimatic's factory in Ontario, where the final assembly will take place. Ford says it will go on sale by late 2024 or early 2025 with an SRP of around USD 300,000.

As for its Nurburgring time which will serve as the ultimate acid test for the Mustang GTD, Ford says they are targeting a sub-7 minute lap soon. Porsche has done a 6:49 with the latest GT3 RS, so it will be interesting to see what the Mustang GTD can muster.