Click for more Ford Performance.
Ford Motor (NYSE: F) has shown the production intent Mustang GTD its new street-legal performance car. Designed in parallel with Mustang GT3 race car returning to Le Mans and endurance racing next year, the Mustang brand now includes both street-legal and track-only race cars, comprised of the recently revealed Mustang GT4, the Mustang GT3, as well as the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer. GTD refers to the IMSA “GTD” racing class for cars that are built to FIA GT3 technical regulations. (AutoInformed: Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year)
“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fiber Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
Performance aspirations are more than 800 horsepower and a sub-7-minute Nürburgring time.* Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024, early 2025. GTD has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with dual air inlets and the first dry-sump engine oil system fitted to a roadgoing Mustang to help keep the engine lubricated during sustained and cornering. The engine’s ~7500 rpm redline generates noise through the optional titanium active valve exhaust system. It’s the highest horsepower street-legal Mustang ever developed by Ford.
Power is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a carbon fiber driveshaft connected to an 8-speed rear transaxle for ~50/50 weight distribution between front and rear. Lap time drive simulations and powertrain dyno testing led to the selection of the powertrain and transaxle architecture to put power to the ground Ford said.
There is a semi-active suspension that can vary both spring rates and ride height. The adaptive spool valve damper technology with hydraulically actuated dual spring rate and height suspension provides two unique states which enhance on-road and on-track performance independently.
The suspension settings allows for ~40 mm lower ride height in Track Mode and overall has a nearly four inches wider track than the Mustang GT. A short-long arm front suspension provides lateral stiffness in high-G cornering. The rear suspension has an integral link pushrod and rocker arm architecture where the inboard Adaptive Spool Valve shock absorbers and coil over springs are arranged in a horizontal cross pattern and integrated with a strong, weight-efficient motorsport-style tubular subframe. The unique architecture creates a motion ratio from pushrod to damper of 1:1 so the car responds precisely to track conditions, Ford claimed.
Designed and engineered as a collaboration between Ford and Multimatic,** which developed the Mustang GT3, Mustang GT4, and Le Mans-winning Ford GT, the Mustang GTD is already a part of Ford’s history destined to become an iconic part of Mustang and Ford history.
“We are extremely proud of our work on the Mustang GTD,” said Larry Holt, Executive Vice President, Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations. “It showcases our state-of-the-art DSSV spool valve suspension technology, with features not even allowed in racing. The Mustang GTD sets a new benchmark for roadgoing racers, and we can’t wait for clients to experience the thrill of driving it.”
GTD production starts at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant and then be shipped to Multimatic facilities in Markham, Canada, where it will be made for “racing precision by the Ford Performance and Multimatic teams. “Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024, early 2025.Those interested in learning more about the GTD Mustang are encouraged to visit ford.com for more information.***
“We obsessed about the racing technology under its skin. What makes it go is even more compelling than what you can see when it passes you by,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “When you look at the engineering, the aerodynamics, how the powertrain works, the Mustang GTD is a rocket ship for the road.” Ford Performance will also field a two-car factory race program with Mustang GT3 in IMSA’s GTD Pro class. Multimatic Motorsports will manage the racing programs beginning at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Inevitable Footnotes
- *Horsepower ratings based on premium fuel per SAE J1349® standard. Your results may vary.
- **Very limited availability.
- ***Current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price $300,000. Taxes, title and license fees extra.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Mustang GTD – Street Legal 800 Hp Starting at $300,000
Click for more Ford Performance.
Ford Motor (NYSE: F) has shown the production intent Mustang GTD its new street-legal performance car. Designed in parallel with Mustang GT3 race car returning to Le Mans and endurance racing next year, the Mustang brand now includes both street-legal and track-only race cars, comprised of the recently revealed Mustang GT4, the Mustang GT3, as well as the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer. GTD refers to the IMSA “GTD” racing class for cars that are built to FIA GT3 technical regulations. (AutoInformed: Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year)
“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fiber Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
Performance aspirations are more than 800 horsepower and a sub-7-minute Nürburgring time.* Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024, early 2025. GTD has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with dual air inlets and the first dry-sump engine oil system fitted to a roadgoing Mustang to help keep the engine lubricated during sustained and cornering. The engine’s ~7500 rpm redline generates noise through the optional titanium active valve exhaust system. It’s the highest horsepower street-legal Mustang ever developed by Ford.
Power is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a carbon fiber driveshaft connected to an 8-speed rear transaxle for ~50/50 weight distribution between front and rear. Lap time drive simulations and powertrain dyno testing led to the selection of the powertrain and transaxle architecture to put power to the ground Ford said.
There is a semi-active suspension that can vary both spring rates and ride height. The adaptive spool valve damper technology with hydraulically actuated dual spring rate and height suspension provides two unique states which enhance on-road and on-track performance independently.
The suspension settings allows for ~40 mm lower ride height in Track Mode and overall has a nearly four inches wider track than the Mustang GT. A short-long arm front suspension provides lateral stiffness in high-G cornering. The rear suspension has an integral link pushrod and rocker arm architecture where the inboard Adaptive Spool Valve shock absorbers and coil over springs are arranged in a horizontal cross pattern and integrated with a strong, weight-efficient motorsport-style tubular subframe. The unique architecture creates a motion ratio from pushrod to damper of 1:1 so the car responds precisely to track conditions, Ford claimed.
Designed and engineered as a collaboration between Ford and Multimatic,** which developed the Mustang GT3, Mustang GT4, and Le Mans-winning Ford GT, the Mustang GTD is already a part of Ford’s history destined to become an iconic part of Mustang and Ford history.
“We are extremely proud of our work on the Mustang GTD,” said Larry Holt, Executive Vice President, Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations. “It showcases our state-of-the-art DSSV spool valve suspension technology, with features not even allowed in racing. The Mustang GTD sets a new benchmark for roadgoing racers, and we can’t wait for clients to experience the thrill of driving it.”
GTD production starts at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant and then be shipped to Multimatic facilities in Markham, Canada, where it will be made for “racing precision by the Ford Performance and Multimatic teams. “Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024, early 2025.Those interested in learning more about the GTD Mustang are encouraged to visit ford.com for more information.***
“We obsessed about the racing technology under its skin. What makes it go is even more compelling than what you can see when it passes you by,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “When you look at the engineering, the aerodynamics, how the powertrain works, the Mustang GTD is a rocket ship for the road.” Ford Performance will also field a two-car factory race program with Mustang GT3 in IMSA’s GTD Pro class. Multimatic Motorsports will manage the racing programs beginning at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Inevitable Footnotes
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.