2024 will see the race debut of the new Ford Mustang GT3 and, following in the footsteps of many other brands in GT racing, Ford has now taken the wraps off a GT3 racer-inspired extreme version of the Mustang for the road which is set to be made available to lucky customers in 2025.
The Mustang GTD is billed as the most advanced Mustang ever, a limited-edition, street-legal performance car designed and built in a joint effort by Ford Performance and Multimatic.
At the car’s heart is an 800+hp 5.2 litre supercharged V8 coupled to an 8-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle and carbon fibre driveshaft for near-ideal weight balance.
The car also features extensive use of carbon fibre in the body, highly advanced, Multimatic-designed suspension that adjusts spring rate and ride height settings for track or street use, active aerodynamics, magnesium wheels, a titanium exhaust.
“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fibre Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
“We obsessed about the racing technology under its skin. What makes it go is even more compelling than what you can see when it passes you by,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “When you look at the engineering, the aerodynamics, how the powertrain works, the Mustang GTD is a rocketship for the road.”
As Stephen Kilbey discussed with Mark Rushbrook just a few weeks ago, Ford is investing heavily in the Mustang brand as a halo product for the blue oval and the GTD is set to join a parade of recently launched proof of that pudding with the Mustang GT4, the Mustang GT3, as well as the Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer and more.
“This is our company, we’re throwing down the gauntlet and saying, ‘Come and get it,’” said Farley. “We’re comfortable putting everybody else on notice. I’ll take track time in a Mustang GTD against any other auto boss in their best road car.”
“Mustang GTD represents the very best of Ford Motor Company and what our team needs to do every day,” said Farley. “This is what happens when we take what we’re good at and push the boundaries to see where the bubble stops. It represents the essence of the transformation we’re going through at Ford, from software to special edition cars.”
The Details
Mustang GTD sees carbon fibre parts replace the regular production items to reduce weight, lower the centre of gravity and improve responsiveness. The fenders, hood, cover that replaces the trunk lid, door sills, front splitter, rear diffuser and roof are all carbon fibre with optional carbon fibre front and rear fascias.
The aero package includes a comprehensive carbon fibre underbody aerodynamic tray, and hydraulically controlled front flaps to manage airflow for aerodynamic balance in coordination with an active rear wing.
The space which would form the trunk on a standard Mustang road car is now occupied by semi-active suspension, a hydraulic control system, and a transaxle cooling system that uses a race-inspired cover that replaces the trunk lid and includes two air scoops to funnel air off the back glass into the area and through the heat exchangers.
Mustang GTD utilizes a purpose-developed supercharged 5.2-litre V8 with dual air inlets and the first dry-sump engine oil system fitted to a roadgoing Mustang to help keep the engine lubricated during sustained and demanding cornering. The engine’s more than 7,500 rpm redline generates exceptional notes through the available titanium active valve exhaust system. It’s the highest horsepower street-legal Mustang ever developed by Ford.
All of that power is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a carbon fibre driveshaft connected to an 8-speed rear transaxle for near 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear. Lap time drive simulations and powertrain dyno testing led to the selection of the powertrain and transaxle architecture to put power to the ground.
The Mustang GTD features state-of-the-art semi-active suspension that can vary both spring rates and ride height. The adaptive spool valve damper technology with hydraulically actuated dual spring rate and height suspension provides two unique states which enhance on-road and on-track performance independently. The suspension settings allow for nearly 40 mm lower ride height in Track Mode and overall has a nearly four inches wider track than the Mustang GT.
A short-long arm front suspension provides enhanced lateral stiffness and improved kinematics, especially in high-G cornering. The rear suspension features an integral link pushrod and rocker arm architecture where the inboard Adaptive Spool Valve shock absorbers and coil over springs are arranged in a horizontal cross pattern and integrated with a strong, stiff, and weight-efficient motorsport-style tubular subframe. The unique architecture creates a motion ratio from pushrod to damper of 1:1 so the car responds precisely to track conditions.
Road grip and cornering stability for the Mustang GTD come from 325 millimetres in width front tires, as wide as the rear tires of Ford GT, while the rear are 345 millimetres, these are mounted on 20-inch forged aluminium wheels or available forged magnesium wheels. The magnesium wheels offer the ideal combination of weight and durability and a similar design to the Mustang GT3 race car.
Behind those wheels are massive BremboTM carbon ceramic brakes, which are optimized for heat rejection leading to harder, more consistent stopping further into the braking zone. Rear brake heat is shed with the aid of cooling ducts mounted below the rear suspension.
Mustang GTD features technology new to Ford with Variable Traction Control in track mode. This allows the driver to push the limits of the car by modulating engine output and traction control intrusiveness. Adjustments can be made without taking hands off the wheel, allowing the driver to match track conditions to their driving ability
The cockpit features are finished in premium materials including Miko suede paired with leather and carbon fibre, while digital displays keep drivers engaged and in full command. RECARO® seats optimized for track days are complemented by available 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, rotary dial shifter and serial plate, all made from retired Lockheed Martin F-22 titanium parts. The rear Seating has been removed to reduce weight and provide cargo space.
Production of Mustang GTD will be limited, and pricing is expected to begin at approximately $300,000. It will start life at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant and then be transported to Multimatic facilities in Markham, Canada, where it will be handcrafted for racing-inspired precision by the Ford Performance and Multimatic teams. Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024, early 2025.
