This is a hugely significant release for the Mustang family and a race-bred engineering philosophy that now finds its way into a road-legal performance car. Official pricing for the GTD begins at $327,960 making it the most expensive and most powerful factory Mustang to ever be built. Customers may opt for the optional Performance package priced at $40,000 pushing the as-tested price to $367,960. Such high pricing is indicative of the vast amount of engineering and specialist hardware that Ford has developed for grueling race circuits.
Supported by its long nose, the Mustang GTD is also equipped with advanced aerodynamics, carbon-ceramic brakes, a specific suspension and a rear transaxle with a dual-clutch gearbox. Its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque is the most powerful street-legal Mustang. Instrumented tests also measured how fast it accelerates, how well it brakes and how fast it corners. Ford has brought the car to the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, where both the new GTD and its Competition version have shown excellent lap times. It will only be produced in limited numbers and purchased through a special process.
1. Mustang GTD Official Pricing
The Mustang GTD has an official sticker price of $327,960 more than every other common model Mustang before it. The Performance package is priced at an additional $40,000, which would bring the delivery price to $367,960 for the car we tested. This makes the GTD one of the most expensive factory-built performance cars on the road today, a price point that is often used for European supercars and is over 300 percent more than the previous Shelby GT500, which had just 55 less horsepower. But Ford designed the GTD for road course performance, not just high-speed rolls down a track.
Pricing And Positioning:
- Starting price of $327,960
- Performance package costs $40,000
- Tested price reaches $367,960
- More than 300% above the former Shelby GT500
- Designed for demanding road circuits
The Mustang GTD is not a modified street Mustang or a standard drag-strip car. Ford designed it for road-course racing, given its extensive set of high-performance aerodynamic and mechanical parts. Buyers who are after down-the-stretch speed might prefer the standard Dark Horse, which can be unlocked to 810 hp for $10,500 with the optional supercharger. The GTD, however, has much more hardware designed for the track, and the additional cost is partially a reflection of the high-performance engineering that goes into getting that combo of power, aero and handling.
2. Supercharged V8 Engine
Power for the new Mustang GTD comes from a supercharged and intercooled 5.2-liter double overhead-cam V8 that displaces 5,163 cc and is equipped with 32 valves. Ford provides a rating of 815 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 664 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm, and the GTD is claimed to be the most powerful street-legal Mustang ever produced. It also is more horsepower per liter than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, chief program engineer Greg Goodall said. That horsepower is a reflection of the development the powertrain has undergone.
Engine Performance Details:
- Supercharged 5.2-liter V8
- 32-valve DOHC configuration
- 815 horsepower at 7,400 rpm
- 664 lb-ft torque at 4,800 rpm
- 5,163 cc engine displacement
The Ford V8 in the new GTD features a number of unique parts that ensure it can do its job over extended periods in aggressive driving scenarios. A modified intake and a more aggressive supercharger pulley assist in providing ample boost levels across the entire rev band. The dry-sump lubrication system maintains oil volume in the sump during high-g corners. All of these elements can be integrated into the GTD’s mission and enable the big V8 to rev higher. The supercharger, revised intake and dry-sump system will form the core of the GTD V8.
3. Advanced Chassis Engineering
The Mustang GTD has a unique chassis which is reminiscent of the race track. It features an inboard rear suspension with semi-active dampers which offers race car technology while being able to have a street legal car. Ford equips a Drag Reduction System with an active rear wing and underbody flaps depending on the application from high speed straight line acceleration to high speed corners that require downforce. These aerodynamic features combined with the suspension set-up take care of the aggressive track performance.
Track-Focused Hardware:
- Inboard rear suspension design
- Semi-active damping system
- Adjustable rear wing
- Active underbody aerodynamic flaps
- Carbon-ceramic braking system
That braking equipment is yet another benefit of the GTD on the motor circuit, where we will be running it for hours at speeds far higher than the legal limit. The GTD’s carbon-ceramic discs are 16.5 inches in diameter at the front and 14.6 inches at the rear. The big brakes are crafted to give a predictable braking experience during grueling track sessions. That combination of active suspension, active aerodynamics and potent braking hardware makes the GTD significantly different from your average Mustang. Ford engineers designed it to do more than make power.
4. Transmission And Dimensions
This power travels to the road via an eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle at the rear of the Mustang GTD. That transaxle pairs with the Mustang’s weight-saving overall design to help give the car excellent handling characteristics. The Mustang GTD is equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires (325/30ZR-20, front; 345/30ZR-20, rear), weighs 4,404 pounds (2,000 kilograms), and has a 107.1-inch wheelbase. Their dimensions speak to the fact that GTD is a large, serious-looking car that also is equipped with special heavy-duty tires.
Vehicle Specifications:
- Eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle
- Rear-mounted transmission
- 4,404-pound curb weight
- 107.1-inch wheelbase
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires
The 2.3-liter twin-Turbo four-cylinder engine set a record for highest horsepower, and a 6-speed manual transmission is standard. Dimensions: 193.6 inches x 81.7 inches A performance-driven exterior has wide tires in the rear, which are necessary to move all of the horsepower to the road, but they aren’t so great for fuel efficiency. Fuel economy 10 mpg city/17 mpg highway/12 mpg combined The Mustang GTD’s high-powered nature is evident in its low fuel economy numbers.
5. Acceleration And Braking Performance
Accelerometer testing revealed how efficiently the GTD’s massive powertrain transforms an engine power output into a seemingly-apocalyptic acceleration performance. Our example was fitted with the optional ($40,000) Performance pack which gained you magnesium wheels as well as active aero gear and was able to sprint from 0-60 mph in a mind-blowing 2.8 seconds, from 0-100mph in 6.1 seconds, and from 0-130 mph in 10 seconds flat.
Tested Performance Figures:
- 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds
- 0-100 mph in 6.1 seconds
- 0-130 mph in 10.0 seconds
- Quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds
- Quarter-mile trap speed of 133 mph
Acceleration testing exceeded the quarter-mile, with GTD accelerating to 150 mph in 14.4 seconds, and a 170-mph 21 seconds. It completed the 5-to-60-mph rolling acceleration test in 2.9 seconds. The braking test was equally snappy, with the GTD stopping from 70 mph in 132 feet, and 100 mph in 262 feet. Lateral grip measured out to 1.17 g on a 300-ft skidpad, thanks to the Michelin Cup 2R tires. Ford estimates a top speed of 202 mph, making the total package for this track rat Mustang a complete story.
6. Nürburgring Lap Records
The Nürburgring Nordschleife, of course, was a crucial testing bed for the Mustang GTD program. According to Ford, the GTD set an official production sports car class lap time of 6:52.072 around the massive and technical 12.9-mile course, at that time being the fourth-fastest production car to have ever reported a time, and besting the previous best by 5.5 seconds thanks to an abundance of chassis and aerodynamic refinement, according to program chief engineer Greg Goodall.
Standard GTD Record:
- Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit
- 12.9-mile track distance
- Official lap time of 6:52.072
- Fourth-fastest production vehicle at the time
- Improved previous runs by 5.5 seconds
Included in the Ford racing team’s modifications were new suspension alignment, Active Spool Valve damping and aerodynamic adjustments. All of which led the GTD to set the production-car lap record at one of the world’s most demanding race circuits. It proved the car’s capabilities went far beyond acceleration trials and straight-line speeds. Its suspension, brakes and aerodynamic packages were fine-tuned to enable them to perform under the extreme conditions of a track like the Nürburgring, a major achievement for Ford’s bold performance campaign.
7. Mustang GTD Competition
Ford also produced a specialized version of the Mustang GTD Competition that set an even more blistering Nürburgring time. The Ford Racing/Multimatic factory driver Dirk Müller piloted this version around the 12.9-mile circuit in 6 minutes 40.835 seconds, while Ford Racing engineer Steve Thompson brought the same car around in 6 minutes 49.337 seconds despite less than 40 cumulative laps of circuit familiarity. That’s how much extra juice this race-ready iteration of the Mustang GTD has got.
Competition Model Features:
- Nürburgring lap time of 6:40.835
- Driven by Dirk Müller
- Secondary front dive planes
- Rear carbon aerodynamic discs
- Lightweight damper system
The Competition model gets several performance-oriented upgrades as compared to the GTD standard. This includes upgrades in the form of carbon bucket seats, updated aero, and some engine performance upgrades above and beyond the standard 815-horsepower output. Its lighter damper set up helps to bring the competition car even more in line with the track-ready performance vehicle. Ford has announced the GTD Competition will be produced in a serialized and street legal special edition.
8. Limited Production And Manufacturing
To snag a Mustang GTD, you won’t just be able to walk into a Ford dealer and order a conventional vehicle. Production for the 2025 and 2026 model year versions of the Mustang GTD is limited to a maximum of 1,700 vehicles but Ford has already received over 7,500 requests from would-be buyers. The current allocations are already spoken for and Ford has opened reservation windows for the 2027-2029 build years, which you have to apply for online and go through a unique needs assessment.
Production And Ordering:
- 1,700-unit cap for 2025 and 2026
- More than 7,500 applications submitted
- Initial allocations sold out
- Reservations opened for 2027-2029
- Two-year no-resale requirement
Thirdly, Ford’s buyers must adhere to a rigorous two-year resale ban. That is designed to prevent “an opportunistic purchase and flip”, (a practice where vehicles are quickly sold for a profit). As well as the manufacturing side of things, Ford has collaborated with a specialist on the project Multimatic, who completed the final build and precision fit for the vehicle at their Markham, Ontario facility. The building of the vehicle was started at a Ford facility in Michigan at Flat Rock Assembly.
9. Dark Horse SC And Mustang Range
Ford’s performance vehicles continue to lead with this high-performance engine. The Mustang Dark Horse SC delivers a supercharged and hand-built 5.2-liter V8 making 795 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. With a price of $108,085 and a price as tested of $175,565, the Mustang Dark Horse SC is another powerful engine in the Ford line-up. It registered a time of 3 seconds in 0-60 mph and finished the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at 134 mph. It g-accelerated at 1.06 g on the skidpad.
Dark Horse SC Details:
- Starting price of $108,085
- 795-horsepower supercharged V8
- 660 lb-ft of torque
- 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds
- 10.8-second quarter-mile
The 2027 also offers a Dark Horse SC convert with a loose cloth hatch and flexible set-up suspension. The wider Mustang family will also be available with the Eco Boost or regular GT. For example, the 2024 Eco Boost starts at $32,515 and drives a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Its naturally aspirated V8 5.0L produces 480 horses in the Mustang GT, which grows to 486 horsepower with the Active Performance exhaust system. The automatic-equipped GT hits 60 in 3.7 seconds.
10. Technology And Ownership
The current Mustang is equipped with similar technology regardless of the trim level. The cabin is equipped with a 12.4 inch customizable digital instrument cluster and a 13.2 inch infotainment display with Ford’s Sync 4 system, equipped with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It is also equipped with standard driver-assist features such as automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Higher trims can equip a 12 speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo instead of the standard 6.
Technology And Ownership:
- 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster
- 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Standard Sync 4 connectivity
- Multiple driver-assistance features
- Available 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio
You better be ready for a little extra maintenance owning a Mustang GTD due to its race-focused components. The Michelin Cup 2R tires and carbon-ceramic brakes are to be replaced as needed after aggressive track use, and the supercharged dry-sump engine needs to be warmed up and cooled down during use for engine longevity. The low ride height, wider track, and bold splitter makes the Mustang easier to drive on curbs and through parking lots without sacrificing air circulation. The all-models owner satisfaction for the Mustang family is high at 4.6-stars out of 5-stars, but be sure to check the service history.
