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The Ford Mustang GTD will become the most expensive road-legal model to wear the iconic badge when it goes on sale in the US next year – but there’s no chance it will be sold in Australia for local roads.
US car giant Ford has unveiled the Mustang GTD – a road-legal version of its new GT3 race car, with the aim of taking on Europe’s fastest supercars on the world’s most famous circuits.
As reported yesterday – when images of the race car for the road leaked early – the Ford Mustang GTD’s aerodynamic package is largely unchanged from that seen on the Mustang GT3 racer, aside from the latter’s side-exit exhausts being removed in favour of a rear-exit setup.
A huge front splitter and rear diffuser/wing combination help the Mustang GTD remain stuck to the road at high speed, with grip coming courtesy of track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres – measuring 325/40 at the front, and 345/35 at the rear – with 20-inch wheels.
However, the Mustang GTD’s changes compared to the regular Mustang are not just skin-deep – under the all-new bodywork is an engine and gearbox package never before seen in the latest iteration of the iconic muscle car.
Under the bonnet is a supercharged “purpose-developed” 5.2-litre V8 engine – up from the Mustang GT and Dark Horse’s 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ engine – which Ford claims could produce up to 800 horsepower (597kW).
While there are not yet any details on the engine, it is expected to be the ‘Predator’ V8 which powers the current Ford F-150 Raptor R high-performance pick-up and the previous-generation Shelby GT500.
Power is sent to the rear wheels though a unique eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle, located in the rear suspension assembly to give the Mustang GTD a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, according to Ford.
Under the skin there is also manually-adjustable multi-link suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes and more aerodynamic parts to keep the coupe planted on the road.
Ford is yet to publish any images of the Mustang GTD’s interior, though it says the cockpit will be upholstered in suede, leather and carbon fibre, while drivers will be treated to track-focused Recaro seats and a digital dash.
In a media statement, Ford’s chief program engineer – Greg Goodall – said the car maker’s aim is for the Ford Mustang GTD to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife race track in less than seven minutes, a time which would rival the likes of the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT and Lamborghini Aventador.
The US car-maker has estimated the Ford Mustang GTD will be priced from $US300,000 plus on-road costs – equivalent to almost $470,000 in Australian currency.
Unfortunately for Australians, the Ford Mustang GTD has been confirmed as left-hand-drive only, meaning it will not be able to be legally registered locally as a new vehicle on regular licence plates.
Production of the Ford Mustang GTD is due to begin in late 2024, with the limited-run cars starting life at the Mustang’s home factory in Flat Rock, Michigan before Canadian firm Multimatic – which produced the Ford GT supercar for the US car giant – finalises the build in Markham, Ontario.
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