Mustang GT | When Ford engineers have a blast

“I want to see Porsche, I want to see Aston Martin, I want to see Mercedes sweat. This warlike phrase could no doubt have been uttered during the 1960s by Zora Arkus-Duntov when he supervised the development of a Chevrolet Corvette near a race track. It was nevertheless pronounced by the current big boss of Ford, Jim Farley, just a few weeks ago to announce the major mission of an all-new Mustang, the GTD.

No, it’s not a Mustang Boss, Mach 1 or Shelby that the blue oval brand unveiled to cap the range of the original “pony car”. The GTD, whose name is directly borrowed from a category of the American motor racing championship IMSA, marks the birth of a variation that does not seek to take root in tradition. Its body entirely made of carbon fiber bears witness to this.

Cut to generate the most downforce possible, it is composed of an infinite amount of details from the world of racing. To reduce drag, its rear spoiler fixed to the pillars of the vehicle can be adjusted continuously and in accordance with hydraulically controlled front flaps.

To be taped to the ground

The chassis of this Mustang has also been extensively redesigned. One of the most spectacular modifications is probably at the rear. Lifting the trunk lid reveals the horizontally recumbent pushrod shock absorbers, a configuration necessary to integrate the transmission which has been placed on the rear axle to properly distribute the masses, a first for a Mustang. Without advancing the total weight of the object, Ford estimates that it is almost perfectly distributed between the front and the rear. Huge Michelin Cup 2 R running shoes, 325 mm wide at the front and 345 mm wide at the rear, take care of traction, a complex task given the immense brute force of its engine.

Because, you see, this Mustang GTD is powered by the most powerful heart ever made by Ford. Its 5.2L V8 supercharged by supercharger and dry sump – another first for a Mustang – targets a cavalry of more than 800 hp. It is supported by an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The two mechanical parts are linked by a carbon fiber transmission shaft.

Ford Canada could not tell us how many copies of this Mustang GTD would be offered in the country, but did specify that its circulation would be limited. Its starting price of US$300,000 will obviously make it the most expensive Mustang ever produced when the first hand-assembled examples – by Multimatic in Ontario – leave the workshops at the end of 2024.