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All-new Ford Mustang GTD gets Carbon Series, Performance pack

[All images courtesy of Ford]

 

 

Interested parties willing to splurge out 300 grand plus on the new Mustang GTD have a new, upgraded option to consider even before the super car has hit dealerships. The Carbon Series with Performance pack elevates the mega-muscle car in substance and style.

The Mustang GTD is a street-legal supercar meant to thrill with an 800-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V8 and a price tag as high as its incredible wing. Designed and engineered as a collaboration between Ford and Multimatic and inspired by the Mustang GT3 that raced in Le Mans in June of this year, it's the first-ever Mustang GTD and will be a limited edition. It has a targeted top track speed of 190+ mph.

Mustang GTD utilizes a purpose-developed 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 demanding cornering. The engine's more than 7,500 rpm redline generates exceptional notes through the available titanium active valve exhaust system. It's the highest-horsepower street-legal Mustang ever developed by Ford.  

The new Performance pack enhances the car's agility and provides the driver-focused interior with exposed carbon-fiber elements that showcase its cutting-edge construction. Ford says a key component in the development of the Performance pack involved the quest for a sub-7-minute lap of the fabled Nürburgring Nordschleife. It adds dive planes and a larger splitter to the front fascia, underbody flaps, and a drag-reduction system to the rear wing. The active aerodynamic elements reduce drag in a straight line without sacrificing aerodynamic grip while cornering.

The Performance pack also includes a Lightweight package, which removes some sound-deadening material and adds ultra-cool 20-in. magnesium wheels, in addition to a unique front fascia.

"Many sports cars excel at one thing. But for a car to set a quick lap at the Nürburgring, it needs to be great at everything. Cornering, grip, braking, acceleration, there's not a single area where it can't shine," said Mustang GTD Chief Engineer Greg Goodall. "From the lightweight carbon fiber body on every GTD to the active aerodynamics of the Performance package, we've learned from motorsport how to make the Mustang GTD excel everywhere, all in the quest for a sub-seven-minute lap of the Nürburgring."

The Mustang GTD's exceptional performance is enhanced by a state-of-the-art 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 that enhance on-road and on-track performance independently. The suspension settings allow for a nearly 40-mm lower ride height in Track Mode, and overall the car has a nearly 4-in. wider track than the Mustang GT.

A short-long arm front suspension provides enhanced lateral stiffness and improved kinematics especially in high-G cornering. The rear suspension features 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, stiff, and 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. 

Mustang GTD features technology new to Ford with Variable Traction Control in track mode. This allows the driver to push the limits of the car by modulating engine output and traction control intrusiveness. Adjustments can be made without taking hands off the wheel, allowing the driver to match track conditions to their driving ability. 

The Mustang GTD also uses an advanced electrical architecture leveraged from the new seventh-generation Mustang, helping to offer seamless connectivity, a myriad of personalized driving modes, and over-the-air software updates.   

Recaro seats are standard. LeMans marked the first-ever showing of the GTD interior, including the new steering wheel. The flat-bottom steering wheel features a thick, well-padded rim with premium Dinamica inserts and a leather wrap, along with carbon-fiber inserts. Exclusive to the Mustang GTD are buttons on the steering wheel for adjusting the suspension firmness and exhaust mode, letting drivers keep their eyes on the road while adjusting how their Mustang GTD performs in corners and sounds when accelerating.

Two new buttons also join the hero panel ahead of the rotary gear selector to access the Track Apps page and activate a front-axle lift function to help avoid parking lot and driveway obstacles.

This b-roll footage is the first to show the new Mustang GTD's interior. [Credit: Ford]

Drivers also have greater control over how the standard eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle manages the supercharged 5.2-liter V8's targeted 800-plus-horsepower, thanks to impossible-to-miss 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters. Oversized and featuring a hexagonal pattern that's both light and gives the driver's fingers something to grip, it's yet another example of Ford using motorsports to improve the driving experience. Titanium trimming is also available on the rotary gear selector on the center console.

This Le Mans debut car looked great in eye-catching Chroma Flame paint, which paired well with the Carbon Series trim. Chroma Flame is one of six standard colors for Mustang GTD. Other options are Polymimetic Gray, Race Red, Shadow Black, Frozen White, and Lightning Blue.

Highlighting the carbon-fiber body, the Carbon Series leaves the hood, roof, and rear Tech Deck unpainted, while finishing the wheels (aluminum or magnesium) in Magnetite. Body color or contrasting painted stripes are available, as are Grabber Blue, Race Red, or Black painted brake calipers for the Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.

Mustang GTD also elevates Mustang's cutting-edge software suite. The Unreal Gaming technology that powers the Sync 4 infotainment system now has Mustang GTD-specific welcome and farewell graphics on the 13.2-in. touchscreen and 12.4-in. reconfigurable digital gauge cluster. Each of the six drive modes features a Mustang GTD, while a new Performance gauge cluster is exclusive to the pinnacle of Mustang performance. It puts the gear indicator and tachometer front and center, while stripping away all superfluous information.

Ford says Mustang GTD will be available in late 2024 to early 2025. Base price should upwards of $325,000. With the new Carbon Series and Performance package, that figure will quickly balloon. Learn more at ford.com/performance/mustang-gtd/.

Source: Ford

Published August 2024

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