Ford has unveiled its most extreme and exclusive Mustang ever: the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD. This limited-edition, ultra-high-performance street-legal car is based on the Mustang GT3 race car that competes in the IMSA GTD class. It boasts over 800 horsepower, a carbon fiber body, a rear-mounted dual-clutch transaxle, and a hydraulically controlled active rear wing. It also promises to lap the Nürburgring in less than seven minutes, making it the fastest road-going Mustang ever from Ford.
What is the Ford Mustang GTD?
The Ford Mustang GTD is the result of a secret project that started in 2021, involving a small group of engineers hiding in a metal storage garage behind a wind tunnel building in Allen Park, Michigan. Their goal was to create a race car for the road, using the technology and expertise from the Ford GT and the Mustang GT3 programs. The project was led by Greg Goodall, Ford's chief program engineer, who said: "The target for this project was clear – go much, much faster than we've ever gone before with a targeted sub-7-minute Nürburgring time. This makes it the fastest road-going Mustang ever from Ford. "
The Ford Mustang GTD is not just a modified version of the regular Mustang. It shares only a few components with the base car, such as the headlights, taillights, and door handles. Everything else is unique and optimized for performance. The body panels are made of carbon fiber, reducing weight and increasing stiffness. The front splitter, rear diffuser, and roof are also carbon fiber, while the front and rear fascias can be optionally made of carbon fiber as well. The underbody features a carbon fiber aero package with hydraulically controlled front flaps that adjust to the driving conditions. The C-pillar mounted rear wing is also hydraulically controlled and can vary its angle and height to optimize downforce and drag.
The powertrain of the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is equally impressive. It uses an improved version of the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that powered the previous generation Ford Shelby GT500. It delivers more than 800 horsepower and revs to 7,500 rpm, thanks to a revised supercharger system, a new dry-sump oil system, and unique engine tuning. The exhaust system is also new and can be optionally made of titanium by Akrapovic. The engine is connected to an eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle mounted at the rear axle, creating a near 50/50 weight distribution. A lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft transfers the power to the wheels.
The suspension of the Ford Mustang GTD is also derived from the race car. It features an integral link pushrod and rocker arm design with inboard shock absorbers and coil-over springs arranged in a horizontal cross pattern. The suspension is semi-active and can lower the ride height by 40 mm in Track Mode. The brakes are massive carbon ceramic discs with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear. The wheels are 20-inch forged aluminum with a forged magnesium option available. They are wrapped in sticky 345-millimeter tires that provide exceptional grip and traction.
The interior of the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is minimalist and functional. It features two racing seats with six-point harnesses, a roll cage, a fire extinguisher, and a digital instrument cluster. The Ford GT inspires the steering wheel and has paddle shifters, buttons, and switches to control various car functions. The center console has a rotary dial to select one of five drive modes: Normal, Sport, Track, Wet, and Drag. There is also a button to activate Launch Control and another one to adjust the exhaust sound.