► New Ford Mustang GTD revealed
► Supercharged V8 targets 800bhp
► Active aero, race-spec engineering
Ford’s feeling fighty. This is the Blue Oval’s new Mustang GTD – a hardcore (but road legal) high performance Mustang variant that’s designed to take on the best from Europe.
That’s not just us saying that either. Ford CEO, Jim Farley, says the GTD ‘is the Mustang I always dreamed of building. I want to see Porsche, Aston Martin and Mercedes sweat.’
The new Mustang GTD is designed to be a road-legal version of the brand’s new Mustang GT3 car. Larry Holt, founder of Multimatic, says ‘we got 15 per cent into the GT3 project and Jim Farley said we ‘we need a road version of that.’’ But, it seems, the Ford performance team went one better, designing the GTD using engineering that’s actually illegal in certain racing series.
GTD? Sounds like a diesel…
If you’re from Europe, those three letters might mean something else entirely. But, in the case of the Mustang, GTD is an entirely motorsport-derived title. As well as links to the Mustang GT3 and GT4, the name refers to the IMSA GTD racing class.
And it’s no diesel under the bonnet, either. Here, the Mustang GTD uses a bespoke 5.2-litre supercharged V8 with a dry sump engine oil system, a 7500rpm redline and an active titanium exhaust so you hear every single bit of it roar. While performance numbers aren’t nailed down, Ford is chasing a circa-800bhp power figure.
All of that power is sent to the rears via an eight-speed transaxle gearbox that also deploys a carbonfibre driveshaft to maintain a 50/50 front/rear weight balance. The GTD uses 20-inch forged aluminium wheels (magnesium ones are available) and huge Brembo carbon ceramic brakes are standard.
Race-illegal engineering? Like what?
Some elements of the active aerodynamics, for a start. Chief engineer, Greg Goodall, says: ‘an available aero package includes features pioneered in motorsports, as well as technology that would be illegal in certain series, such as hydraulically-controlled front flaps to manage air flow for aerodynamic balance and coordination with the active rear wing.’
And active, it seems, is the word of the day. As well as active aerodynamics, the GTD uses active suspension with variable spring rates and ride height – again, according to Holt, not allowed in racing. ‘We did some radical things,’ he says, ‘it’s got in-board suspension like a lot of prototype race cars – you press a button and 10 seconds later you’ve got a completely different characteristic on the car. The GTD showcases our state-of-the-art DSSV spool valve suspension technology, with features not even allowed in racing.’ For example, when in Track mode, the ride height can lower by 40mm.
Elsewhere, Ford says it uses some clever bits in the GTD’s interior including Miko suede in the seat upholstery and 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters that are recycled from retired F22 Raptors.
I want one!
You better have deep pockets, and already be a friend of Ford. Jim Owens, the Mustang’s consumer marketing manager, says that the Mustang GTD will be a limited-run model, and the brand will use an application process ‘similar to that of the Ford GT’ to discern who gets one.
GTD prices start from $300,000 in the US.