$410,000 — that’s roughly the difference between the base version of the Ford Mustang and the GTD version. It features a massive wing, plenty of carbon fiber, and a powerful V8 engine, but is that really enough to justify such a huge price gap? The answer is quite simply yes.
Unlike the regular Ford Mustang, the GTD version is a true race car adapted for the road. It’s a track beast that already holds several records, including an official lap time of 6:52.072 on the legendary Nürburgring circuit. That makes it officially the fastest American production car of all time on this track.
Power Under the Hood
The Ford Mustang GTD is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 815 horsepower. This engine is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.
Nearly the entire body of the Mustang GTD is made of carbon fiber — a material as strong as steel but as light as aluminum, and extremely expensive to produce. Absolutely everything has been reworked in the GTD to offer the best possible track performance, from the suspension to the steering to the brakes. You simply can’t buy all these parts and bolt them onto a regular Mustang.
More Expensive Than Expected
At launch, Ford estimated the Mustang GTD would be priced around $300,000 USD. In the end, its official starting price has just been announced at $327,960 USD — roughly $450,000 CAD at the current exchange rate. That’s a massive sum, even for a car of this caliber. For context, the GTD’s main rival, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, starts at $301,549. Of course, you can quickly drive that total over $400,000 with a few options, but Ford has clearly aimed high with the Mustang GTD’s pricing.
Still, I believe it’s not out of greed, but because every dollar invested in developing this car is reflected in the final product. In other words, Ford’s wild creation will undoubtedly give you your money’s worth.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
