You may have seen rumors on Facebook and elsewhere about a mid-engine Mustang. Sounds somewhat preposterous, no? What business does Ford have building a Mustang — a secretary’s car, mind you — that competes with the C8 Corvette? Except with the Mustang GTD, its sights are higher.
Suspend any thoughts Ford is bringing you a modern-day Pantera with a galloping horse stuck on the front. As a proper pony car, Ford is introducing the Mustang GTD as something more than just a step up from the Dark Horse — it’s a Mustang reinvented. First shown to a small group in Las Vegas this past Monday (including our cohorts across the street at Barrett-Jackson), the Mustang GTD will be a flagship, a supercar wrapped in a carbon fiber Mustang body inspired by the GT3 vehicle that will take on the Europeans at Le Mans in 2024.
The Mustang GTD will be built in partnership with Multimatic, the same folks behind the Ford GT and other Mustang race cars. In fact, Multimatic was working on the Mustang GT3 race car when Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, proclaimed, “We need a street version of that.”
So, what are some of the major features of this track monster?
- Supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with 7,500-rpm redline
- 800-plus horsepower
- Dry sump oil system
- Eight-speed, dual-clutch rear-mounted transaxle
- Inboard, active suspension
- Magnesium wheels
- Carbon ceramic brakes
- Titanium exhaust system
- Carbon fiber all over, including the giant wing
- 50/50 weight distribution
The Mustang GTD is all about power, braking, and balance. It’s a well-rounded machine that’s strong in all areas.
“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” says Farley. “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.”
So, no, the rumor about a mid-engine Mustang was not quite true, but they were onto something. Yes, you will be able to buy a copy of this homologation special starting at the end of 2024 or early 2025. No, we don’t know the cost to you (UPDATE: will start at $300,000), nor do we know anything else about the engine (UPDATE: Go HERE!). However, we do know Ford will offer several option packages to allow you to personalize your GTD and, if you wish to take it to another level, you have the opportunity to select any color of your choosing matched to a sample you provide.
If you’re a Mustang fan and have always dreamed of a road-going Mustang race car, then the Mustang GTD is your ticket.
Ho-hum. Why waste all that on a Mustang? The style looks old fashioned no matter how many face-lifts they give it. It started out as a cheap car, and it’s still got that cheap car look – just a half-step above Pinto. We want the Ford Stallion, not this. If you want people to resurrect a high-end car, bring the Thunderbird back and make it plush like a caddy.
Are they saying the entire engine is aft of the front axles? That seems a bit tough to believe. I also don’t believe it’s that unique.
Not blown away.
It will always be..”still just a Ford”
So Ford is following GM’s lead with the Corvette? Why? Why not fight the epa and put a Boss back in it?
That’s not what the article says.
But will it still spin out uncontrollably into onlookers when it’s showing off?
New drinking game. Do a shot every time they say TECHNOLOGY.
Technology: Making unsuitable drivers feel better about the money they spent.
Good luck getting parts or knowledge service on the road going Unicorn.
No, it’s not mid-engine. Yes, the transaxle has been repositioned to the rear. The est. price will be between $300-350k.
They should convert it to clean, renewable leg power. Like the car Fred Flintstone drove.
Street racer. Hell yeah. They could lose the gawdy wing and give it to some fart pipe driver.
It’s just a Ford…..that Vettes get only a rear view of.
Put an electric motor in it and build it. Ford keeps screwing around and they won’t be in business much longer.
How about an engine? Is it going to be a flat plane engine?
I was a diehard Chevy man, but I had to admit the new Corvette is a bad joke I no longer support government motors (GM) This Mustang is a killer, very impressive not a weak Walmart Ferrari like the new C8
Been a chevy owner all my life still am, but I would own one of these instead of weak built C8 candy licking vette