2025 Ford Mustang GTD: Unveiling a Race-Ready Marvel
In the calm, clandestine sanctuary of a concealed metal storage haven tucked away behind the monumental facade of a wind tunnel fortress in Allen Park, Michigan, in 2021 bore witness to a clandestine gathering of a chosen few. Their audacious mission, a mere scribble on the feasibility page, was nothing short of envisioning a Mustang that could challenge the crème de la crème of Europe's elite sports cars.
From the crucible of their efforts, the magnificent 2025 Ford Mustang® GTD, a street-legal marvel that captured the very soul of the Mustang while ascending to a newfound pinnacle of performance prowess.
Today, we unveil the avant-garde 2025 Ford Mustang® GTD—a veritable technological marvel inspired by the indomitable spirit of the Mustang GT3, destined to conquer the hallowed Le Mans circuit in the imminent future. This iteration, an unparalleled masterpiece, carves its illustrious path through the annals of Mustang history.
Jim Farley, the maestro at the helm of Ford, proclaimed, "The Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar. It heralds a fresh paradigm shift for us. Instead of crafting a road car fit for the track, we have birthed a track titan for the open road. The Mustang GTD channels the racing soul of our Mustang GT3, cloaking it in a carbon fibre Mustang exoskeleton and unleashing it upon the streets."
Every facet of the Mustang GTD's conception bears the mark of purpose. Every curve tells a tale of function. The singular ambition: to claim the racetrack with an infusion of technology hitherto unseen, outshining the race cars upon which its legacy was forged. This incarnation of the Mustang GTD was nurtured by the same hands that have sculpted Ford's Mustang race cars and the triumphant Le Mans-winning GT. It is engineered to be the most agile road-worthy Mustang ever created.
The Mustang GTD flaunts an unyielding grip, gifted by dynamic downforce orchestrated by adaptable aerodynamics, coupled with prodigious traction from colossal tires ensconced within an advanced dual ride height, short-long arm front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Its stopping prowess is authoritative, thanks to carbon ceramic brakes. Propelling this automotive symphony is a supercharged 5.2-litre V8, poised to unleash 800 thunderous horses upon the world.
Mark Rushbrook, the Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports, mused, "We obsessively dissected the racing technology beneath its sinuous skin. Its propulsive force is even more breathtaking than its exterior form. Delving into the engineering intricacies, the aerodynamics, and the ligaments of the powertrain, the Mustang GTD emerges as a terrestrial rocketship."
The genesis of the Mustang GTD traces its lineage back to the blueprints of the anticipated return of the Mustang GT3 race car to Le Mans in the coming year. It marks the zenith of the Mustang family tree, now encompassing road-legal and track-exclusive thoroughbreds. This distinguished lineage includes the recently unveiled Mustang GT4, the iconic Mustang GT3, and the impending Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer, among other illustrious kin. Together, they continue to amplify the legacy of Mustang, reigning supreme as Ford's most revered and triumphant nameplate, conquering roads and racetracks on a global stage. The "GTD" moniker pays homage to the IMSA "GTD" racing class, a nod to the FIA GT3 technical regulations.
Jim Farley declared with conviction, "This is the embodiment of our company's spirit, a bold challenge to all contenders. We dare them all to compete. I stand ready to take the track in a Mustang GTD against any rival auto executive piloting their flagship roadster."
Conceived collaboratively and engineered with meticulous precision by Ford and Multimatic, the masterminds behind the Mustang GT3, Mustang GT4, and the victorious Le Mans-winning Ford GT, the Mustang GTD stands as the culmination of decades of engineering innovation, forged through an unwavering commitment to the realm of motorsports. Crafted with steadfast intent and precision, it is destined to etch its mark as an iconic chapter within the chronicles of Mustang and Ford.
Jim Farley reaffirmed, "The Mustang GTD embodies the pinnacle of Ford Motor Company's capabilities, encapsulating our daily pursuit of excellence. It symbolises the result of harnessing our expertise to push the boundaries and explore the depths of our potential. It signifies the essence of the transformation taking place at Ford, spanning from cutting-edge software to bespoke limited-edition vehicles."
The design of the Mustang GTD is the epitome of purpose-driven innovation. Every curve and contour has been meticulously sculpted to elevate aerodynamic performance during high-speed escapades – from the front splitter and ventilated hood to the sensually curvaceous fenders and the dynamically adjustable C-pillar mounted rear wing.
The Mustang GTD achieves a weight reduction, a lower centre of gravity, and heightened responsiveness using an extensive array of carbon fibre body panels. Carbon fibre adorns the fenders, hood, trunk lid replacement cover, door sills, front splitter, rear diffuser, and roof, with optional carbon fibre front and rear fascias available to enhance agility.
An all-encompassing underbody aerodynamic tray crafted from carbon fibre enhances the overall aerodynamic package. Drawing inspiration from motorsports, this assembly features advanced elements such as hydraulically actuated front flaps, choreographed to orchestrate airflow for impeccable aerodynamic equilibrium, working with the active rear wing.
Where once a conventional trunk resided, this space now hosts a semi-active suspension, a hydraulic control system, and a transaxle cooling setup, complete with a race-inspired cover replacing the trunk lid. Dual air scoops deftly channel air over the rear glass through heat exchangers, efficiently dissipating brake heat.
Anthony Colard, the Ford Performance Design Manager, elucidated, "Our design team fostered a symbiotic exchange with the Mustang GT3 design unit and the aerodynamics team, crafting an embodiment of aerodynamic excellence."
The culmination of these meticulously curated aerodynamic features results in substantial downforce, finely balanced between the front and rear axles. This elevation in cornering speeds begets precise control and impressive lap times on the world's most demanding tracks.
Greg Goodall, Ford's Chief Program Engineer, expounded, "Every component was chosen and refined to deliver blistering lap time performance. Our project's singular objective was to transcend our past achievements with a targeted sub-7-minute Nürburgring lap time. The result is the swiftest roadworthy Mustang ever produced by Ford."
At the heart of its heart lies a bespoke, supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine featuring dual air inlets and a groundbreaking dry-sump engine oil system to ensure optimal lubrication during demanding cornering. With a redline surpassing 7,500 rpm, this engine produces a symphony of remarkable notes, amplified by the available titanium active valve exhaust system. This is Ford's most potent street-legal Mustang, delivering a staggering amount of horsepower.
The prodigious power generated is seamlessly channelled to the rear wheels via a carbon fibre driveshaft linked to an 8-speed rear transaxle, achieving an almost perfect 50
/50 weight distribution between the front and rear. Rigorous powertrain dyno testing and lap time simulations informed the selection of this powertrain-transaxle architecture, ensuring optimal power application.
Augmenting the Mustang GTD's exceptional performance is a state-of-the-art semi-active suspension system. This sophisticated setup provides the flexibility to modulate spring rates and ride height. The adaptive spool valve damper technology, combined with hydraulically actuated dual spring rates and height suspension, offers two distinct modes, independently enhancing both on-road and on-track performance. In Track Mode, the ride height can be lowered by nearly 40 mm, resulting in a track footprint almost four inches wider than the standard Mustang GT.
The front suspension adopts a short-long arm configuration to bolster lateral stiffness and enhance kinematic performance, especially during high-G cornering. The rear suspension, characterised by an integral link pushrod and rocker arm architecture, offers optimal adaptability. This setup features inboard Adaptive Spool Valve shock absorbers and coil-over springs arranged in a horizontal cross pattern, seamlessly integrated with a lightweight motorsport-style tubular subframe. This innovative architecture establishes a direct motion ratio from pushrod to damper, ensuring precise responsiveness to track conditions.
Larry Holt, the Executive Vice President of Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations, extolled, "Our involvement in the Mustang GTD fills us with immense pride. It is a testament to our cutting-edge DSSV spool valve suspension technology, introducing features hitherto forbidden in racing. The Mustang GTD sets a new benchmark for roadworthy racers, and we eagerly anticipate sharing the exhilarating driving experience with clients."
The Mustang GTD's traction and cornering stability are optimised through imposing 325-millimeter front tires, mirroring the width of the rear tires on the Ford GT. The rear tires are of prodigious proportions, measuring a colossal 345 millimetres in width, all nestled within 20-inch forged aluminium wheels, with the option of forged magnesium wheels for those seeking the perfect fusion of weight efficiency and resilience, sporting a design reminiscent of the Mustang GT3 race car.
Positioned behind these wheels are colossal BremboTM carbon ceramic brakes, meticulously engineered for superior heat dissipation, ensuring consistent and robust braking performance even deep into the heart of the braking zone. Rear brake heat is efficiently managed through strategically placed cooling ducts beneath the rear suspension.
The Mustang GTD harnesses cutting-edge technology from Ford, introducing Variable Traction Control within its track mode. This feature allows drivers to explore the vehicle's limits by modulating engine output and traction control without relinquishing control of the steering wheel. It empowers drivers to tailor their car's behaviour to the prevailing track conditions and their driving prowess.
Embracing the automotive future, the Mustang GTD adopts a state-of-the-art electrical architecture derived from the seventh-generation Mustang. This technology delivers seamless connectivity, personalised driving modes, and over-the-air software updates, all harmoniously integrated to provide unparalleled handling and mastery. Whether conquering racetracks with unwavering resolve or navigating the world's most scenic roads, the Mustang GTD promises an electrifying and dynamic driving experience.
Within the cockpit, opulence reigns supreme, with sumptuous materials like Miko suede intertwined with leather and carbon fibre. Digital displays keep the driver engaged and firmly in control. RECARO® seats, optimised for track use, are complemented by available 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, a rotary dial shifter, and a serial plate, all meticulously crafted from retired Lockheed Martin F-22 titanium components. In a quest to shed weight and prioritise performance, the rear seating area has been omitted, granting additional cargo capacity.
The Mustang GTD caters to many interior colour combinations and offers several distinct option packages to elevate its exterior aesthetics. Furthermore, customers can commission the vehicle in a bespoke colour, ensuring their Mustang GTD bears a unique and distinctive identity.
The result is an unmistakable presence—a vehicle that comes as close as humanly possible to a roadworthy embodiment of the Mustang GT3's racing prowess.
Production of the Mustang GTD is meticulously limited, with an anticipated starting price of approximately £300,000 MSRP***. Assembly will commence at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant, followed by meticulous craftsmanship at Multimatic facilities in Markham, Canada. The Ford Performance and Multimatic teams will painstakingly assemble the Mustang GTD, imbuing it with race-inspired precision. The first units are expected to roll out in late 2024 or early 2025, leaving an indelible mark on the automotive world.
