Ford Unveils Cutting Edge Mustang GTD at Monterey Car Week

From beloved pony car to a futuristic supercar, the Ford Mustang GTD is truly a 21st century marvel. (Photo: Aaron Brink | The Podium Finish)

MONTEREY, Calif. – For the past 59 years, the Ford Mustang has been a staple pony car around the world. As the longest-produced nameplate for the Blue Oval, this beloved vehicle has been through seven distinct generations as a pony car with another reimagining in 2019 with the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

No matter the era, the Mustang has been a trendsetter and part of American pop culture. From Wilson Pickett’s R&B 1966 hit, “Mustang Sally,” to to its famous appearance in the 1968 Steve McQueen film, “Bullitt,” it is one of the most distinct cars to cross its way over beyond the automobile enthusiasts’ hearts and souls.

Throughout its existence, the Mustang has been an integral part of motorsports. Initially making its debut public appearance as the pace car of the 1964 Indianapolis 500, it has competed at the Bonneville Salt Flats, drag racing, sports car racing and stock car competition.

Names like Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Mark Martin, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards have enjoyed successful moments with this ageless automobile. Today, it has expanded its footprint to the Australian V8 Supercars, Trans Am and TA2 Series while making its presence known in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series.

Although its past triumphs and accolades may garner accolades and evoke sentimental feelings from celebrated moments on the track or the streets, nothing may compare to the nameplate’s big reveal at last week’s Monterey Car Week.

Last Friday, a completely re-envisioned version of the car, the Ford Mustang GTD, was revealed to the public. Initially born from the return of the Ford Mustang GT3 racer to compete in the 2025 Le Mans 24, the GTD, a supercar incarnation of Ford’s pony car, promises to pack quite the punch.

As Jim Farley, Ford President and CEO and part-time racer can attest, the Mustang GTD is truly a vehicle that brings the racecar experience to drivers ready to appreciate the tribulations of those weekend warriors at the racetrack.

The Ford Mustang GTD puts the super in supercar. (Photo: Aaron Brink | The Podium Finish)

“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” Farley said per a Ford Media Center press release. “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.”

With an estimated 800 horsepower thanks to a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine and 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle mounted toward the rear of the car, this iteration of the Mustang screams speed while keeping safety in mind. Carbon ceramic brakes ensures that this vehicle can slow down with ease.

If the GTD screams racecar with its appearance, it ought to with carbon fiber body panels utilized to provide responsiveness and reduced weight. Accentuated by its distinct hood scoop, smooth aerodynamic lines, distinct front splitter and rear wing, one may feel the need for speed from its pleasing aesthetics.

Aside from a completely revolutionized body, the Mustang GTD showcases a unique mesh rear covering with the trademark taillights synonymous with Ford’s pride and joy. For those that want to punch it on their local quarter mile drag strip, the competition will be left in the dust, nary putting its driver in danger of receiving that not so pleasant pink slip.

If anything, the Mustang GTD embodies one of the longtime principles of Ford in going beyond limitations. Rather than its early 2000s motto of “No Boundaries” with its SUV line, this time, this supercar is truly exemplifying what it means to break the mold.

“Mustang GTD represents the very best of Ford Motor Company and what our team needs to do every day,” he said. “This is what happens when we take what we’re good at and push the boundaries to see where the bubble stops. It represents the essence of the transformation we’re going through at Ford, from software to special edition cars.”

While the Mustang GTD will not be available to the public until late 2024 or early 2025, this supercar will likely be all the rage for speed enthusiasts and Mustang lovers. At the Monterey Car Week unveil, the Mustang GTD was featured in a fresh, silver color that would make a couple of time travelers from 1985 envious with this futuristic ride.

This is most likely view of the Ford Mustang GTD that drivers on American roadways will see in late 2024 or early 2025. (Photo: Aaron Brink | The Podium Finish)

Projected with an MSRP of $300,000, the Mustang GTD intends to balance handling, pleasing aesthetics and power while continuing the proud tradition of Ford Motor Company’s dedication with high quality vehicles for the road. If there is ever a time for “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” to hold true, this upcoming supercar may deliver in literal and figurative fashion.

Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, marveled over the realization that this OEM’s pursuit for a winning Rolex 24 experience in 2024, in conjunction with this vehicle’s staying power, culminated with this upcoming edition of the beloved Mustang.

“We obsessed about the racing technology under its skin,” Rushbrook said. “What makes it go is even more compelling than what you can see when it passes you by. When you look at the engineering, the aerodynamics, how the powertrain works, the Mustang GTD is a rocket ship for the road.”

Like Elton John once sang, for future Mustang GTD drivers, they may just be burning out their fuse out there alone, which is just fine in this case, thank you.

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Stay tuned for more features about Monterey Car Week and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion here on The Podium Finish!