Ford has revealed the “most audacious and advanced” version of its Mustang pony car ever, which isn’t a diesel hot hatch but rather a limited-production street-legal version of its GT3 racer.
The Ford Mustang GTD is set to be available in late 2024 or early 2025. In the US it’s expected to begin at approximately US$300,000 (~A$468,000).
A Ford Australia spokesperson has confirmed the Mustang GTD will only be available in left-hand drive. This means there are no plans for an Australian launch.
The Ford Mustang GTD has been designed to be the quickest road-going Mustang ever.
The Blue Oval is currently targeting a sub-seven-minute lap time of the Nurburgring. For reference, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS recently set a lap time of 6:49.328 minutes.
It’s powered by a “purpose-developed” front-mounted 5.2-litre supercharged V8 engine with dual air inlets and a dry-sump engine oil system. Ford is currently estimating the engine will produce around 600kW.
Power is sent to the rear wheels exclusively with a rear-mounted eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle and a carbon-fibre driveshaft. There’s also an available titanium active valve exhaust system from Akrapovic.
The Mustang GTD is claimed to have a “near” 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear.
This road-going GT3 racer has a semi-active suspension setup that can vary both spring rates and ride height. It’s 40mm wider than the regular Mustang GT and in Track mode it also has a 40mm lower ride height.
The short-long arm front suspension is claimed to provide “enhanced lateral stiffness and improved kinematics”, whereas the multi-link rear suspension features an integrated pushrod and rocker arm architecture with inboard adaptive shock absorbers and horizontal cross-pattern coil-over springs.
A highlight of the Mustang GTD’s exterior is the available C-pillar-mounted hydraulically controlled active rear wing.
The GTD’s wheel arches, bonnet, boot lid, door sills, front splitter, rear diffuser and roof are all made of carbon fibre, with the front and rear fasciae also able to be optioned in carbon fibre.
An available aero package includes a “comprehensive” underbody tray that’s made from carbon fibre too.
The Mustang GTD comes standard with 20-inch forged aluminium wheels but can be optioned with forged magnesium wheels inside. These are wrapped in 325mm-wide front and 345mm-wide rear tyres.
Providing the stopping power are a set of “massive” Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes that are optimised for harder and more consistent stopping further into the braking zone.
This road-going GT3 racer features a variable traction control function while in track mode. This allows the driver to modulate engine output and traction control.
Inside, the Mustang GTD comes with Recaro seats that are optimised for track days and finished in Miko suede, leather and carbon fibre. The rear seats have been removed to reduce weight.
There are available 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, rotary dial shifter and serial plate, which are all made from retired Lockheed Martin F-22 titanium parts.
Ford claims the Mustang GTD can be ordered in any colour, even colour-matched to a customer-provided sample.
The Ford Mustang GTD will start its life at the Blue Oval’s Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan, US, before being finished by Canadian motorsports specialist Multimatic at its Markham facility.
As previously reported, Ford Australia confirmed the regular road-gong Mustang’s launch for the first quarter of 2024.
“Production for Australia-bound Mustangs is set to begin by late this year,” a Ford Australia spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert.
“Due to significant shipping time between the plant in Flat Rock, Michigan and Australia, we expect first arrivals in Q1, 2024.”
No local pricing or specifications for the next-generation Mustang have been released yet.
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