The Ford Mustang is an icon of American muscle and performance but has never been a true supercar. It has plenty of power, style, and heritage but has always needed more sophistication, technology, and finesse from its European rivals. Until now.
Meet the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD, a limited-edition, street-legal performance car that is designed to take on the world’s best supercars on the track and on the road. The GTD is not just a souped-up version of the regular Mustang; it is a completely different beast that shares only a few common parts with its base model. It is the result of a secret project that started in 2021 when Ford CEO Jim Farley decided to create a Mustang that could win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GT3 class and also beat the likes of Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Aston Martin on the street.
The GTD stands for GT Daytona, which is the name of the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s competition class for GT3-spec cars. The Ford Mustang GTD is essentially a street-legal version of the Ford Mustang GT3 race car that Ford will debut in 2024, with some improvements that go beyond what’s allowed in racing.
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that produces more than 800 horsepower and has a redline of 7,500 rpm. The engine features a dry-sump oil system, dual air inlets, and a titanium active-valve exhaust system. The power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch rear-transaxle gearbox and a carbon-fiber driveshaft. The GTD also has a near 50/50 weight distribution and a carbon-fiber body that reduces weight and improves aerodynamics.
The GTD’s suspension is one of its most impressive features. It has a short-long arm setup at the front and a pushrod setup at the rear, with Multimatic adaptive spool valve dampers that can adjust the ride height and spring rate settings for track or street conditions. The rear suspension is mounted where the trunk would normally be, along with the transaxle's and other components' cooling. The GTD also has an adjustable traction control system that can be tweaked on the fly via steering wheel controls. The brakes are carbon ceramic discs with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear.
The GTD’s aerodynamics are another highlight. It has an enormous rear wing that is hydraulically controlled to change its angle according to the speed and driving mode. It also has an optional underbody tray that reduces drag and increases downforce. The front splitter and rear diffuser are also made of carbon fiber and have active flaps that adjust to optimize airflow. The GTD’s bodywork is mostly carbon fiber, except for the aluminum door skins. The hood and fenders have vents to help cool down the engine bay.
The GTD’s interior is stripped down to save weight and enhance performance. It has Recaro bucket seats up front and no rear seats at all. It has a digital instrument cluster, a 9.4-inch round OLED infotainment display, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters and various controls. It also has a Mini digital assistant that can be customized with an animated Mini or a cartoon dog named Spike as its avatar.
The new Ford Mustang GTD is not only fast but also smart. It has various driving modes that can adjust the engine, transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, exhaust, traction control, and aerodynamics settings according to the driver’s preference and road conditions. It also has advanced safety features such as blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is expected to cost around $300,000 and will be available in late 2024 or early 2025. Ford will build only about 2,000 units of this exclusive supercar, which will be sold through a concierge system that will reward loyal Ford performance customers and discourage car flippers. The GTD will also have a personalized delivery experience and access to exclusive events and track days.
The Mustang GTD is not just a car; it is a statement. It is Ford’s way of challenging the European supercar elite and proving that the Mustang can be more than just a muscle car. It is Ford’s way of honoring its racing heritage and creating its own legend. It is Ford’s way of making history with the ultimate pony car for the track and the street.
