Ford is the only remaining American automaker with plans to continue building a gasoline-powered muscle car after 2024, and the company isn’t wasting the opportunity. The 2024 Mustang comes in a new Dark Horse variant that outpowers its GT counterpart. Ford also recently announced the Mustang GTD, a race-ready road car with stunning bodywork, the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Mustang, and loads of lightweight carbon fiber.
Pebble Beach Car Week was the platform Ford chose to show off its newest creation, and the car sports some serious race-inspired tech not found in a street-legal Mustang before. Its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 gets dual air inlets and 800 horsepower, and a dry-sump oil delivery system keeps the engine lubricated when handling forces are strong. With a 7,500-rpm redline and an active exhaust system, the V8 should provide quite a nice howl at full throttle.
Ford pairs that engine with an 8-speed transaxle and rear-wheel drive, giving the car a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Ford used short-long arm suspension in the front for better handling and stiffness. Ford placed the rear suspension inboard like a legitimate race car. It has adaptive dampers and uses 325-mm front tires and 345-mm rear tires mounted on forged aluminum or magnesium wheels. The suspension can raise and lower the car by up to 40 mm depending on the drive mode, and Ford notes a nearly 4-inch wider track than the standard Mustang GT. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes help manage heat during hard driving sessions, and the car has brake cooling ducts underneath the suspension. The traction control system also features steering wheel controls that allow the driver to adjust settings without taking hands off the wheel.
The GTD looks like a Mustang, just a completely over-the-top version of the car. The front end is familiar but features aggressive aerodynamics and large hood vents. The sides have large cooling vents on the front quarter panel and rear fender bulge, and the rear spoiler is a dead giveaway that we’re not looking at an ordinary Mustang. Dual exhausts with rectangular finishers and a prominent rear diffuser complete the look.
There aren’t many details on the interior, but Ford has said the car does not have a rear seat. The automaker also gave the car Miko suede, carbon fiber, and leather interior materials. Ford also optimized the Recaro seats for track driving. The automaker borrowed parts from the Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter jet and offers shift paddles, a rotary dial shifter, and a serial number plate made of titanium from the aircraft. Ford Sync infotainment will provide over-the-air updates and connected services.
Multimatic, the same company that builds the Ford GT and other high-performance models, will make the Mustang GTD. Ford will build the car at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant near Detroit, Michigan, and transport it to Canada for final handcrafting. The 2025 Mustang GTD sports a staggering $300,000 starting price, and buyers can add to that total with custom color choices, interior and exterior upgrades, and other option packages. The car goes on sale in late 2024 or early 2025.
Ford is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of August 18, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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