Ford Reveals 800-HP Mustang GTD
Ford has debuted its all-new 2025 Ford Mustang GTD, a limited edition performance model inspired by the Mustang GT3 slated to race in Le Mans next year, the automaker announced.
“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 fiber Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
Developed as a collaboration between Ford and Multimatic, the same team behind Ford’s Mustang race cars and the Le Mans-winning GT, the Mustang GTD was built to be the quickest roadgoing Mustang ever, Ford said.
On-track, the Mustang GTD benefits from grip provided through available active aerodynamics and large tires mounted to an advanced dual ride height short-long arm front and multi-link rear suspension, Ford engineers said. Stopping power is provided by carbon ceramic brakes, while a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle and lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft give the car near 50/50 weight distribution. Power is supplied through a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 targeting an estimated 800 horsepower.
The design of the Mustang GTD was informed by the concept of the Mustang GT3 race car returning to Le Mans next year, Ford said, extending the brand that now includes the recently revealed Mustang GT4, the Mustang GT3, as well as the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer and more. The GTD name for this newest Mustang refers to the IMSA “GTD” racing class for cars that are built to FIA GT3 technical regulations.
Mustang GTD takes advantage of the extensive use of carbon fiber body panels to reduce weight, lower center of gravity and improve responsiveness, designers said. The fenders, hood, cover that replaces the trunk lid, door sills, front splitter, rear diffuser and roof are all carbon fiber with optional carbon fiber front and rear fascias.
An available aero package that includes a comprehensive underbody aerodynamic tray is also executed in carbon fiber and includes features pioneered in motorsports racing, as well as some technology that would be illegal in racing, such as hydraulically controlled front flaps to manage airflow for aerodynamic balance in coordination with the active rear wing, Ford said.
The trunk now houses the 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.
The combination of aerodynamic features will result in increased downforce balanced across both front and rear axles, according to Ford.
Mustang GTD is powered by a purpose-developed supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with dual air inlets and the first dry-sump engine oil system fitted to a roadgoing Mustang, Ford said. The sound from the engine’s 7,500 rpm redline is routed through an available titanium active valve exhaust system. Targeting 800-hp, it would be the highest horsepower street-legal Mustang ever developed by Ford, the automaker said.
Power is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a carbon fiber driveshaft connected to an 8-speed rear transaxle for near 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear.
The Mustang GTD is also equipped with a 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 different states which enhance on-road and on-track performance independently, Ford engineers said. 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, Ford said. 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 architecture creates a motion ratio from pushrod to damper of 1:1 so the car responds precisely to track conditions, according to designers.
Road grip for the Mustang GTD comes from 325 millimeter in width front tires – as wide as the rear tires of Ford GT – while the rear are 345 millimeters, mounted on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels or available forged magnesium wheels. The magnesium wheels offer the ideal combination of weight and durability and with a similar design to the Mustang GT3 race car.
Stopping power is provided by Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, which are optimized for heat rejection. 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, Ford said. Adjustments can be made without taking hands off the wheel. The Mustang GTD also uses an advanced electrical architecture from the new seventh-generation Mustang.
The cockpit features are finished in premium materials including Miko suede paired with leather and carbon fiber, 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 area has been removed to reduce weight and provide cargo space.
Mustang GTD will be available with multiple interior color combinations and in several special option packages. The car can also be ordered in any color, even color-matched to a customer-provided sample.
