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, yes, the rumor about a mid-engine Mustang was true. No, it’s not going to have its engine relocated to the rear; rather, the engine will stay up front but behind the front axle. 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.
Source: www.classiccars.com