Ford has revealed an extra-beefy, pumped-up variant of its iconic Mustang. A bulging-biceps version of one of the world’s most iconic muscle cars, the new, limited-edition model, dubbed the GTD, is an ultra high-performance variant boasting some big performance and power figures. Ford says it is built to be the quickest road-going Mustang ever.
Inspired by the Mustang GT3 race car, the road-legal GTD was designed and engineered as a collaboration between Ford and Canadian engineering company Multimatic – which developed the Mustang GT3 and Mustang GT4 – and it sports a mostly carbon-fibre body, underneath which is a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 delivering 597kW (800hp) of power to the rear wheels.
Active aerodynamics – including a monster, hydraulically controlled active rear wing – delivers some serious downforce, and enormous grip is offered from huge tyres mounted to a dual ride height short-long arm front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes deliver the stopping power and there’s a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle and lightweight carbon fibre driveshaft for near 50/50 weight distribution.
The 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.
The cabin features are finished in premium materials including Miko suede paired with leather and carbon fibre. Displays are digital. There are Recaro seats, 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, and rotary dial shifter.
The rear seating area has been removed to reduce weight.
Ford says the Mustang GTD will be available with multiple interior colour combinations and in several special option packages. It can also be ordered in any colour, including a colour matched to a customer-provided sample. These customisable options allow buyers to create a really unique vehicle.
One goal that Ford has set for the GTD is a sparkling sub-7-minute Nurburgring time – which would see it muscling up into hypercar-time territory.
That would be quite an achievement.
“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.”
Production of the Mustang GTD will be limited, and it is scheduled to be available toward the end of 2024 and into 2025. Ford says the price will likely be somewhere around $US300,000 ($AU468,500).
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (September 2023)
27 September 2023
