On September 16, 2024, Ford unveiled additional information about the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD. While it was initially announced that the GTD would deliver “over” 800 horsepower, we now know that it will produce 815 horsepower, coupled with 664 lb-ft of torque and can reach a top speed of 202 mph. This fierce 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine revs up to 7,650 rpm. As previously mentioned, those interested in purchasing it will need to apply to buy the vehicle, which is priced at “approximately $325,000,” according to Ford.
Ford asserts that the GTD can complete a lap on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7 minutes, and they are gearing up for an official timed lap. We’ll provide an update once it’s completed.
The original article from June 13, 2024 continues below.
The reasoning behind the triangle concept is clearer now. Ford created the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse as a high-performance variant of the seventh-generation Mustang. With grand racing aspirations, engineers utilized it as a foundation to develop the Mustang GT3 for the 2024 racing season, aiming for a GT-class victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, the final piece of the production Mustang triangle is revealed: The team also developed the Mustang GT3 race car into a $300,000 street-legal track-focused model, the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD. This model is named after the GT Daytona (GT3-spec vehicles) class in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and is set to make an impression with over 800 horsepower. Ford CEO Jim Farley describes it as a “sophisticated techno badass.” The name alone is intriguing!
What is it?
Although it is fundamentally based on the 2024 Ford Mustang’s S650 platform and shares various components like the floorpan, pillars, windows, overall interior layout (albeit with stripped-down Recaro front seats and no rear seats), the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is notably distinct from the Dark Horse. The GTD is equipped with a modified engine, an eight-speed rear-transaxle transmission, and an advanced braking and suspension system. Its exterior surfaces have been altered to enhance aerodynamics and improve heat dissipation.
Featuring adjustable suspension and traction control, the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD enhances the GT3 race car experience, as per Farley’s statements. Renowned racers Joey Hand from America and Harry Tincknell from Britain, who will pilot the vehicle next year in major competitions like IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in January and Le Mans in June, also contributed to the development of both the racing and street versions of the car.
The vision was to take the essence of the race car for public use, aiming to outshine competitors like Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Aston Martin both on the racetrack and in performance. Farley boldly declared in the press release for the Mustang GTD, “This is our company, we’re throwing down the gauntlet and saying, ‘Come and get it.’ We’re ready to challenge others. I’ll race a Mustang GTD against any other car head-to-head — no matter whose name is on it.”
How much does it cost?
The starting price for the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is over $300,000, with Ford planning to produce around 2,000 units. To manage sales, they will implement a system similar to that used for the limited-edition Ford GT — including an application process that rewards loyal Ford performance customers and discourages resellers. Many potential buyers are trying to increase their chances by attending a preview event in Monterey, California, prior to the vehicle’s official release during Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance events.
While Ford is currently compiling a list of interested customers, they are not taking orders just yet. Farley expressed his intent to purchase one, placing himself behind executive chairman Bill Ford, who will receive the first vehicle. Farley holds the fourth spot for the GT model, trailing behind some members of the Ford family. He believes that future GTD owners will likely be avid Ford enthusiasts, some of whom may already possess a GT and other exotic cars, and value high-performance track days.
Powerful Engine Performance
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is equipped with a robust 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, which is a more powerful variant of the engine found in the GT500. It includes a dry-sump oil system commonly used in racing and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch rear-transaxle gearbox, which drivers can control with paddle shifters. It boasts over 800 horsepower and has a redline that exceeds 7,500 rpm, as per Ford’s specifications.
This V-8 significantly surpasses the output of the Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter Coyote V-8, which delivers 500 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, it’s much more powerful than the GT3 race car, which, while it utilizes a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V-8 for endurance, is limited by racing regulations to around 500-550 horsepower. Jim Baumbick, Ford’s VP for product development operations and quality, confirmed that the supercharged 5.2-liter is optimal for the GTD considering weight, efficiency, and performance. The choice to supercharge was made early in the development phase. Although he has not disclosed specific 0-60 mph times, he mentioned that Ford aims for a sub-7-minute Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time, setting a standard for the fastest roadgoing Mustang.
Pro driver Hand emphasized that the car’s aerodynamic drag-reduction system enhances straight-line speed by reducing downforce, similar to what’s seen in Formula 1, but this feature isn’t permitted in GT-class racing. This, coupled with its increased horsepower, gives the road GTD an edge over the Mustang GT3.
The vehicle’s engineering team relocated the transmission from the front-mounted engine to the rear, achieving a balanced 50/50 weight distribution and improved torque delivery. Larry Holt, executive vice president of Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations, described the relocation as a challenging problem to tackle, while Farley regards him as a key figure in the car’s development.
Advanced Suspension for Enhanced Handling
The Mustang GTD features an advanced semi-active Multimatic DSSV spool-valve suspension, which provides hydraulically controlled dual spring rates and offers two distinct ride-height settings, with Track mode lowering the car by 40mm. Farley mentions that this setup can increase the top speed by 15-20 mph. The adaptive suspension technology helps prevent excessive bouncing over uneven surfaces, allowing it to adjust the dampers in real-time for different cornering needs; it can transition from extremely stiff to very soft within 10 milliseconds, as stated by Ford. The dampers are configured in a horizontal alignment using pushrod actuation, a characteristic architecture found in high-performance racing vehicles.
Driver Tincknell expressed surprise at how closely the street version mirrors the race car’s performance in simulations, noting the impressive downforce and balance. The over 800-horsepower engine combined with a 50/50 weight distribution allows for superior cornering and stability. With refined electronics for traction control and ABS adjustments, the handling promises to be exceptional. “There’s some cutting-edge technology on this car we wish we had in the race equivalent,” he remarked, although the rules are a limiting factor.
The Mustang GTD rides on lightweight 20-inch magnesium wheels, equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes. It has a titanium exhaust and Michelin R-compound tires (front: 345; rear: 375) that provide the best grip available on a road-legal race tire. These performance upgrades should make the vehicle manageable for dedicated driving enthusiasts.
Inside the Mustang GTD
The interior of the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD closely resembles that of the standard Mustang GT or Dark Horse models, but there are notable distinctions. The most significant changes include special Recaro adjustable seats featuring retro-style fabrics, a unique steering wheel, and an updated center console along with a revised area behind the front seats.
The GTD’s steering wheel showcases a distinctive “thick, well-padded” flat-bottom design, crafted with Dinamica and carbon fiber accents, wrapped in leather. It includes buttons on the left side for adjusting the suspension’s firmness and the exhaust sound, similarly to other high-performance models.
The controls for Blue Oval products can be found on the left, while the infotainment features are situated on the right. Behind the infotainment system, there are two newly designed paddles made from 3D-printed titanium, which enable manual control of the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Unfortunately, unlike those on the racing version of the Mustang, these paddles are affixed to the steering wheel and turn with it. Nevertheless, they boast a hexagonal pattern for enhanced grip and reduced weight.
The center console is designed specifically for the GTD, featuring a rotary dial for shifting the transmission into gear or manual mode. The surrounding ring of this dial is crafted from titanium, and the additional trim is made from carbon fiber — which is a prominent feature throughout the GTD’s interior — so the console maintains some standard Mustang characteristics.
Behind the front seats, things get particularly intriguing: there are no rear seats present. Instead, they have been replaced by a transparent panel with carbon fiber detailing fixed to the rear bulkhead. This design allows owners to showcase the unique counter-lever rear suspension constructed by Multimatic. It also offers a view of how the Mustang GTD adjusts its stance with different height settings programmed into its driving modes.
Manufacturing the Mustang GTD
The Mustang GTD will be initially manufactured at Ford’s Mustang facility in Flat Rock, Michigan, before being sent to Multimatic’s workshop in Markham, Ontario, for handcrafted assembly. Multimatic specializes in carbon-fiber structures and also creates the new Mustang GT3 and GT4 race cars, along with the Ford GT. (Notably, Multimatic President Raj Nair previously led Ford’s product development.) Some crash testing will be conducted, though it won’t be as extensive as for new models, because this car shares a similar fundamental structure with the S650 Mustangs, which have already undergone rigorous testing. The first units are projected to be available by late 2024 or early 2025, and customers will have the freedom to choose any paint color they desire.
Additional Features of the Mustang GTD
What else is notable? The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD features a wider body, with its track being 4 inches broader than that of the Mustang GT. To enhance aerodynamics, it sports an aggressive front splitter, vented hood and fenders, along with a large active rear wing mounted on the C-pillars. Unlike the majority of GT3 cars that position their rear wing on the rear deck, Ford opted for the pillar placement to improve structural integrity, positioning it directly over the rear axle to maximize downforce on the rear suspension. There’s a small hatch for a trunk, but don’t expect much room — it primarily accommodates the semi-active suspension and cooling systems.
While Ford hasn’t officially disclosed the car’s curb weight, it incorporates a significant amount of carbon fiber to keep it as light as feasible. The Blue Oval, alongside Multimatic, employs this material for various components including the hood, front splitter, fenders, door sills, the cover in place of the trunk lid, rear diffuser, and the roof. There will also be optional carbon-fiber front and rear fascias. However, the doors will still be made from steel. In addition, Ford plans to offer an aerodynamic package that includes a carbon-fiber underbody tray, plus advanced technology for airflow management, such as hydraulically controlled front flaps for aerodynamic balance compatible with the active rear wing. If this sounds reminiscent of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS, you’re spot on — except the Mustang GTD promises to deliver significantly more horsepower.
Boldly American
While the Mustang lineup has always evolved towards enhanced performance, Farley asserts that the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD represents a distinct shift: “This is a total departure. Our aim is to compete with European elites as the underdog. As others step away from this segment, we want our brand recognized as an American company no matter where the car is sold globally. We’re proudly American.” Given what we’ve observed with the Mustang GTD, there is certainly no reason for Ford to apologize for its bold innovations.
