- Ford’s Mustang GTD has clocked a Nürburgring lap time of 6:57.685
- The time makes the Mustang GTD the first American production car to slip under the magic 7-minute mark
- The hardcore Mustang benefits from 815 hp, Multimatic suspension, and F1-inspired aerodynamics
- Pricing is expected to start at about $325,000
Ford has achieved its mission of lapping the 12.9-mile Nürburgring racetrack in Germany in under seven minutes using the Mustang GTD, a feat only a handful of high-end exotics have accomplished and one that no American production car had previously managed.
Mustang GTDs have been testing at the ‘Ring over the past year, and on Tuesday, Ford confirmed an official time of 6:57.685, set by racing driver Dirk Müller. To celebrate the achievement, Ford released a 13-minute film detailing the story behind the attempt.
The time is only two seconds quicker than the lap delivered by the current Porsche 911 GT3, a car that packs just 502 hp compared to the Mustang’s 815 hp. Ford is confident the Mustang GTD can go even faster and is expected 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,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. “We know there’s much more time to find with Mustang GTD. We’ll be back.”
Dirk Müller
The Mustang GTD has been developed as the ultimate track-focused Mustang, using knowledge honed over decades of racing by Ford and its engineers. However, the car will still be legal on the street. Advanced suspension that includes Multimatic’s proven Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers will ensure the car will be stiff enough for the track while still pliable enough for the road.
Delivering blistering track times has also required the development of advanced aerodynamic features. The car is confirmed to feature active aerodynamics complete with a Drag Reduction System, similar to what’s found in Formula 1.
2025 Ford Mustang GTD drag reduction system
Serious power is also a must, and the Mustang GTD gets all of its 815 horses from a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8. The engine is derived from the unit in the previous-generation Mustang Shelby GT500, and features new elements like dry-sump lubrication (a first for a Mustang), a maximum engine speed of 7,650 rpm (up 100 rpm on the Shelby), a smaller supercharger pulley, and a titanium exhaust.
The engine powers the rear wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission mounted at the rear for better weight distribution. According to Ford, the top speed is 202 mph.
2025 Ford Mustang GTD
Ford is currently offering the Mustang GTD for the 2025 and 2026 model years. The automaker hasn’t confirmed whether production will be expanded beyond those years. Interested buyers have to go through an application process, with an initial North American application process ending last spring with more than 7,500 applications.
Multimatic, which built the latest Ford GT supercar and also some of Ford’s Mustang race cars, will start production of the Mustang GTD later this year. Ford hasn’t said how many build slots will be offered.
2025 Ford Mustang GTD
Final pricing also hasn’t been announced but Ford said to expect a starting price of about $325,000 for the standard Mustang GTD. Buyers looking to extract maximum performance will have to opt for Performance and Lightweight packages.
Even if the Mustang GTD sets a quicker time next year, the new time will likely be surpassed by Chevrolet’s C8 Corvette ZR1 which also arrives for the 2025 model year. The ZR1 has a hypercar-rivaling 1,064 hp on tap, and was recently clocked reaching a top speed of 233 mph.
