When the latest generation of the Ford Mustang debuts in early 2023, you could say it's dripping with race car perfume. However, as soon as the pungent smell of racing fuel emanating from the Mustang GT4 competition models and GT3 race cars—destined for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024—entered our lungs, the new Mustang GTD entered our hearts. A GTD is a race car that has been stripped of body restrictions that limited horsepower, weight, and aerodynamic devices during its transformation into street-legal driving. It's the most expensive 'Stang ever, starting at $300,000, and its extremely limited availability and racing origins make it the Ford GT of the Mustang. The only sad part of this story is how long we had to wait to hear the thunder. The GTD and its supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 won't be available until late 2024 or early 2025.
The 2025 Ford Mustang will likely continue with slight changes to its new design for 2024. The next-generation Mustang debuted this year with more refined styling, a modernized interior, and a 500-hp Dark Horse model. In keeping with Mustang tradition, buyers will have a wide choice of performance levels and interiors. A convertible body remains available for the base trim.
The current Mustang maintains similarities to the previous model while incorporating fresh design cues such as sharp body creases, a wide three-piece grille, three-piece headlights, and quad exhaust outlets. The interior seats four people and the trunk holds 13.3 cubic feet. We expect most of the standard features to remain, including the 13.2-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, six-speaker sound system, and 17-inch aluminum wheels.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Mustang GTD gets its name from IMSA's GTD (Grand Touring Daytona) racing class, which competes in full-fledged GT3 race cars. That's the essence of the most powerful Mustang Ford has ever built. With what we expect to be more than 800 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 engine, this street car has far more power than the GT3 race car, which uses a 5.4-liter V-8 engine with around 500 horsepower. horsepower. Ford says the GTD's redline is over 7500 rpm. The exhaust trumpet that plays this symphony of combustion is a titanium pipe with active valves. Without the constraints of technical regulations from a sanctioning body, the GTD's road legal status has allowed Ford to go wild. Gear shifts are handled by a rear-mounted eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle that receives power via a carbon fiber driveshaft. Ford says every panel on the GTD is made from carbon fiber, except for the door skins. His body was made to keep his anger on the surface. That's why it sports an aggressive front splitter, a vented hood complemented by ventilated fenders, and is available with a C-pillar-mounted, hydraulically controlled whale-tail wing.
An available aerodynamic equipment package adds a carbon fiber underbody tray and a hydraulically controlled front cowl to help balance airflow and downforce from front to rear. Ford says such technology is not allowed in sanctioned GT3 class racing. The trunk is now a treasure box of suspension and cooling components, so forget about bringing luggage to track events. Two giant air scoops direct air from the rear window area into a heat exchanger that used to be the trunk to help cool the transaxle. A Multimatic adaptive suspension crowns the transaxle, using a racing-type pushrod suspension and the latest adaptive spool valve shock to allow as much control as possible for the driver. In Track Mode, hydraulically actuated springs lower the ride height by about 1.5 inches. The Mustang GTD uses wide 325mm tires at the front with 345mm rubber at the rear. The standard wheels are 20-inch forged aluminum, but the optional magnesium wheels help reduce weight while helping maintain the GT3 race car look with their design. Unlike the race cars, these wheels have 5 lugs, not center-locking, but the racing spirit lives on as the wheels are wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. We'll update this space once we've ridden and tested one of these spirited beasts. uses a racing-type pushrod suspension and the latest adaptive spool valve shocks to provide maximum control for the driver. In Track Mode, hydraulically actuated springs lower the ride height by about 1.5 inches.
The Mustang GTD uses wide 325mm tires at the front with 345mm rubber at the rear. The standard wheels are 20-inch forged aluminum, but the optional magnesium wheels help reduce weight while helping maintain the GT3 race car look with their design. Unlike the race cars, these wheels have 5 lugs, not center-locking, but the racing spirit lives on as the wheels are wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. We'll update this space once we've ridden and tested one of these spirited beasts. uses a racing-type pushrod suspension and the latest adaptive spool valve shocks to provide maximum control for the driver. In Track Mode, hydraulically actuated springs lower the ride height by about 1.5 inches. The Mustang GTD uses wide 325mm tires at the front with 345mm rubber at the rear. The standard wheels are 20-inch forged aluminum, but the optional magnesium wheels help reduce weight while helping maintain the GT3 race car look with their design. Unlike the race cars, these wheels have 5 lugs, not center-locking, but the racing spirit lives on as the wheels are wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. We'll update this space once we've ridden and tested one of these spirited beasts.
There has never been a Mustang like the Ford Mustang GTD. Using a dry-sump version of the 760 hp Mustang Shelby GT500 engine, the GTD has more power, Ford says, and a price tag that rivals some home property values.
We expect the 2025 Mustang to continue the trim levels created last year: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark House, and Dark Horse Premium. The EcoBoost trim features a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
GT models use a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 450 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The Dark Horse version gets a specially tuned 5.0-liter engine that produces 500 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque. The EcoBoost uses a 10-speed automatic transmission, while a six-speed manual will likely remain standard on the GT and Dark House, with an automatic option.
When equipped with the standard engine, the Mustang is EPA-rated at 22 miles per gallon city, 33 mpg highway, and 26 combined. The GT returns an estimated 15/24/18 mpg (city/highway/combined). The Dark Horse is rated at 14/22/17 mpg.
By the end of 2024 or early 2025, Ford will only produce around 1,000 Ford Mustang GTD cars in limited numbers. Similar to the Le Mans-winning GT hypercar program, owners will have to have more leverage than cash to take home this prize.
When choosing the Premium version, buyers get upgrades like heated and cooled front seats, ambient interior lighting, a nine-speaker sound system, and special wheel coverings. The GT and Dark Horse also get leather upholstery, which remains optional on the EcoBoost Premium.
The Mustang debuted last year with an impressive array of standard driver assistance equipment, which is sure to continue through 2025. Features include lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and wipers automatic. Adaptive cruise control with speed limit recognition will likely remain optional.
Real World Fuel Economy and MPG
The Ford Mustang GTD prioritizes lap times over fuel economy, as the roar of its supercharged V-8 engine quickly becomes apparent. The EPA hasn't published its estimates for this limited-production, street-legal race car, but we expect it to be equal to or worse than the previously offered 760-hp Shelby GT500, which used a similar but less powerful engine. power plants. The car sips fuel at a rate of 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway per EPA estimates.
interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Even though it looks like a race car from the outside, the GTD's cabin will have some street car touches. Suede, leather, and carbon fiber are the main materials for the interior of the Ford Mustang GTD. The front seats use Recaro buckets, but sacrifice rear bolsters for reduced weight and less cargo space. The paddle shifters are 3D printed from titanium, the same for the rotary gear selector and serial placards, and Ford says the material sourced for the components was cut from retired Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter jets. There are several interior color and fixture options, which will likely result in some interesting bespoke patterns that will vary greatly between customers.
