2025 Ford Mustang GTD Initial Driving Experience: The Sensation of a $325,000 Mustang

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      "I can’t believe that thing will ever run a sub-seven-minute Nürburgring lap," a journalist murmured to me in September 2023 at the Detroit unveiling of the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD. "It's a heavy beast with too much weight."

      That individual, along with many online skeptics, was mistaken.

      This discussion occurred while Larry Holt, executive vice president of Multimatic, detailed the GTD’s active aerodynamic features. Coupled with its unique suspension and powertrain, these elements transform the Ford Mustang GTD into a street-legal track machine.

      The primary takeaway from my brief encounter with Ford’s latest flagship is that this vehicle is built for victory.

      **How the Ford Mustang GTD Came to Be**

      In brief: when the GT3 prototype, designated to compete in IMSA and WEC (including Le Mans), was first presented to CEO Jim Farley and Bill Ford, they promptly instructed the team to create a road-legal variant of it, as explained by Design Manager Anthony Colard to The Drive.

      With the Ford GT no longer in production, the Ford Mustang GTD was poised to take the lead, shifting the automaker's focus from a GT supercar flagship to a track-ready Mustang.

      **A Mustang with an Edge**

      No one will mistake the GTD for anything else. It’s clearly a Mustang, albeit one that has been significantly enhanced. The GTD begins its production line at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Detroit, but the body is then sent to Multimatic’s facility for final assembly.

      Measuring 81.7 inches in width, the Mustang GTD is six inches wider than the standard Mustang. It features a large front splitter, which is prone to scraping, and, for those opting for the Performance Package, an even larger splitter with dive planes to increase downforce. The front fenders sport vents reminiscent of fighter jets and resemble shark gills. The rear fenders expand outward with ducts designed to draw in cool air for the transaxle and rear assembly. In fact, the rear may be the most conventional aspect of the GTD, though it uniquely features mesh grilles between the taillights for heat dissipation.

      Additionally, there's a drag reduction system (DRS) that adjusts the huge rear wing, mounted on swan necks off the rear C-pillars, when equipped with the Performance Package. This feature is reminiscent of race cars. The bulging fenders conceal 325/30 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R street-legal front tires that are nearly slicks, with even wider 345/30 rear tires — some of the broadest rubber available on any production vehicle.

      Beneath the surface lies a plethora of hidden aerodynamic features. The DRS includes numerous NACA ducts similar to those found on aircraft, and the car has replaceable plastic strakes that manage airflow. These are constructed from plastic specifically because they are designed to be replaced at the racetrack, as noted by Vehicle Dynamics Technical Specialist Steve Thompson. While those elements are stationary, active flaps in front of the front tires open to decrease drag, stall underbody airflow, and reduce downforce creation.

      Furthermore, the suspension is groundbreaking. The front utilizes a standard multilink design but incorporates Multimatic’s semi-active Adaptive Spool Valve Dampers, which offer dual rates and height adjustments. The rear suspension is even more advanced, incorporating integral link pushrod-activated inboard dampers that share the same components and tuning as the front. This setup embodies race car technology and is far from standard for an ordinary Mustang.

      **The GTD Interior**

      The interior of the GTD reflects its Mustang heritage, yet it exhibits some differences. The Recaro bucket seats differ from those seen in the Dark Horse, featuring larger bolsters for stability during track driving, but the leather quality is not substantially refined. The titanium column-mounted paddle shifters feel solid in hand, alongside a flat-bottom steering wheel that includes buttons for suspension and exhaust modes, as well as red toggles for drive settings. The rotary shift knob boasts a titanium bezel, and both the paddles and knob can be exchanged for magnesium versions at an unspecified cost. Controls for the front lift system and Track Apps are located on the lower dash, while the 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster, 13.2-inch touchscreen, door panels, and dashboard materials closely resemble the GTD’s lesser variant. A numbered plaque on the dashboard isn’t enough to elevate its uniqueness.

      What sets the Ford Mustang GTD's cabin apart is the rear window on the bulkhead. Crafted from Lexan, it offers a clear view of the pushrod-activated inboard dampers. The absence of a backseat means the bulkhead features two notches capable of accommodating a backpack, and