Ford has successfully met its goal of completing a lap of the 12.9-mile Nürburgring racetrack in Germany in under seven minutes with the Mustang GTD. This accomplishment puts it in a select group of high-performance supercars, marking a first for any American production vehicle.
The Mustang GTD has undergone extensive testing at the Nürburgring over the past year, and on Tuesday, Ford announced an official lap time of 6:57.685, achieved by racing driver Dirk Müller. To commemorate this milestone, Ford has released a 13-minute documentary on its official YouTube channel, along with a separate video showcasing the timed lap from a cockpit perspective.
This time is just two seconds faster than the current lap record held by the Porsche 911 GT3, which features a mere 502 hp compared to the Mustang’s impressive 815 hp. Ford is optimistic about the Mustang GTD’s potential to improve this time, with plans to return in 2025 for another attempt.
“We’re proud to be the first American automaker with a car that can lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, but we aren’t satisfied,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley. “We know there’s much more time to find with Mustang GTD. We’ll be back.”
The Mustang GTD is designed as the ultimate track-oriented Mustang, leveraging decades of racing expertise from Ford and its engineering team. Notably, it will remain street legal. Its advanced suspension system, which includes Multimatic’s acclaimed Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, ensures the vehicle maintains stiffness for track performance while being flexible enough for everyday driving.
To achieve remarkable track times, the Mustang GTD also benefits from cutting-edge aerodynamic enhancements. It is equipped with active aerodynamics featuring a Drag Reduction System, akin to those utilized in Formula 1.
Power is another crucial aspect, and the Mustang GTD delivers its impressive 815 horsepower from a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8. This engine is based on the one found in the previous-generation Mustang Shelby GT500 but incorporates new features such as dry-sump lubrication (a first for the Mustang), a maximum engine speed of 7,650 rpm (an increase of 100 rpm compared to the Shelby), a smaller supercharger pulley, and a titanium exhaust system.
The engine transmits power to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission positioned at the rear for optimal weight distribution. Ford claims the top speed of the Mustang GTD is 202 mph.
Ford is currently offering the Mustang GTD for the 2025 and 2026 model years, although it has not confirmed plans for production beyond that period. Interested customers must go through an application process, with an initial North American application phase closing last spring, during which more than 7,500 applications were submitted.
Production of the Mustang GTD will commence later this year under Multimatic, which has previously manufactured the latest Ford GT supercar and some Mustang race variants. However, Ford has not disclosed how many production slots will be available.
Pricing details are yet to be finalized, but Ford anticipates a starting price of around $325,000 for the base Mustang GTD. Customers seeking to maximize performance will need to consider the optional Performance and Lightweight packages.
Even if the Mustang GTD achieves faster lap times next year, it may soon face competition from Chevrolet’s C8 Corvette ZR1, which is set to debut in the 2025 model year and boasts an astounding 1,064 hp, along with a recently recorded top speed of 233 mph.
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