It’s been over 18 months since the debut of the Ford Mustang GTD. Now, it’s officially in production.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley recently told the “Spike’s Car Radio” podcast that the first 10 carbon-bodied Mustang GTDs are expected to be delivered to customers soon. They’re being produced at the same facility responsible for the GT supercar.
The new GTDs will outperform the Roush Mustang, a previous holder of the title of the most powerful-ever pony car. Find out what to expect from the impressive new Mustang production vehicles and decide if it’s time to place an order.
Road-Ready but Built for the Track
The production Mustang GTDs are engineered for the roads, but they’ll be just as happy on the tracks. According to Farley, the street-legal Mustang has several features best reserved for racetracks.
The new Mustang GTD has active aerodynamics and a drag reduction system intended to activate only at high speeds above those allowed on public roads. Farley acknowledges that everyone is excited to see that rear wing adjust but recommends against it on the streets.
What You Need to Know About the New Mustang
The new Mustang GTD features a 5.2L supercharged V8 engine that’s impressively powerful even by Mustang standards. The engine is good for 815 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, allowing the impressive muscle car to make it from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
The Mustang GTD has a top-recorded speed of 202 mph. Needless to say, its designers intend all that power and speed to be put to good use on the track, not on public roads.
Even Farley Surprised By Some Details
Even Ford’s CEO, who played a key role in developing the GTD, got some pleasant surprises when the final version of the production car was released. He cites the rear pushrod suspension as one source of excitement in addition to the active height control.
The active height control was carried over from the GT supercar. However, Farley states it’s more enjoyable to use in the Mustang.
Overall, the Mustang GTD completely differs from the other vehicles that share its badging. In addition to its dynamic spool valve pushrod suspension, the GTD receives carbon-fiber bodywork, advanced active aerodynamics, and a rear-mounted eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle.
A Supercar With a Mustang Badge
Ford and Multimatic have partnered well with each other to produce the Mustang GTD, but it’s not the first time they’ve joined forces to create an extraordinary sports car. Ford built the 2017 GT supercar at the same facility as the new Mustang GTD.
There’s a second thing the new Mustang has in common with its supercar counterpart. Ford requires owners of the new Mustangs to sign a contract committing them to owning the cars for at least two years, just as the automaker took action against GT customers who purchased supercars and flipped them for a profit.
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