Contrary to prior reports, the new flagship Mustang is not a mid-engined supercar – instead, it’s a road-going version of Ford’s GT3 race car.
Just one day after overseas reports claimed Ford would unveil a mid-engined supercar with the Mustang name, the US car giant’s new flagship performance model has leaked – though it isn’t what was first expected.
Named the Ford Mustang GTD, this hardcore muscle car is not the mid-engine supercar rumoured earlier this week – rather it is a road-ready version of the Mustang GT3 race car, which was first teased by the car-maker’s CEO, Jim Farley, earlier this year.
A leaked video of the Mustang GTD appeared on YouTube – courtesy of user ‘StangMode’ – showing off the track-focused muscle car’s wild aerodynamic parts and wide stance.
The exterior design appears to be almost identical to the Ford Mustang GT3 racer – unveiled at last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – with a large front splitter, air vents on the bonnet and wheel arches, a huge rear diffuser and a C-pillar-mounted rear wing.
However, unlike the Mustang GT3’s side-exit exhaust, it’s understood the Mustang GTD will be fitted with a more conventional rear-exit setup, as previewed by recent spy photos.
Despite earlier reports claiming the new Mustang variant would be mid-engined – like the Ford GT supercar – the GTD appears to retain the muscle car’s traditional front-engine layout.
While specifications have yet to be announced, it’s possible the GTD uses a front mid-engined format – where the engine is pushed back behind the front axle for improved weight distribution – rather than the more conventional ‘mid-engine’ set-up, where the engine is mounted behind the driver (and ahead of the rear axle), as with the Chevrolet Corvette C8.
There are no official details about what powers the Ford Mustang GTD at this stage, though it’s likely to use a modified version of the 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 under the bonnet of the Mustang GT and Dark Horse – while the GT3 uses a 5.4-litre variant of the engine.
Can’t wait to show you what we’re working on next. https://t.co/tHWCyoaWFe
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) August 16, 2023
In a post on social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – Ford CEO Jim Farley shared a teaser image of what looks like a race-car inspired pushrod suspension setup, believed to be fitted to the Mustang GTD.
Additional changes compared to the flagship Mustang Dark Horse include unique design wheels (shod in road-legal, track-ready Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres) and enormous Brembo brakes.
The full reveal of the Ford Mustang GTD is expected to take place later this week.
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