Zac Quinn 
Ford recently sent invites out to media for a Monterey Car Week event where the automaker is planning to unveil a “special project,” set to take place tomorrow, August 17, in Pebble Beach, California. The invite itself headlined a glistening Ford Mustang logo, which appears to be designed to look like it’s made of carbon fiber. In addition, the letter details that it isn’t an ordinary muscle car, as it has “the performance of a supercar.” Go figure, the lid couldn’t be kept on this radical project, and it’s leaked all over the internet. Say hello to the S650 Ford Mustang GTD. And while details aren’t official until tomorrow, we have every reason to believe that this radical “mid-engined” super muscle car is the street legal version of the new Mustang GT3 that Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted at months ago. Thus, it comes as no surprise to anybody paying attention.
Should we make a road version? https://t.co/LxaK6AjvD6
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) March 22, 2023
What Is The Ford Mustang GTD?
Thanks to images leaked on YouTube and Facebook from an alleged preview event on Monday in Las Vegas, it’s clear that the Mustang to debut tomorrow will be a track-inspired “supercar.” Moreover, it’s expected that this mega Mustang won’t use the seventh-generation S650 platform but will be manufactured by Multimatic instead. You may recognize that name as the producer of the Ford GT, V8-powered Bronco DR, and Mustang GT3 and GT4 race cars.
Below are images of both the side profiles of the new Ford Mustang GT3 and the Mustang GTD. You can see how much the design cues line up: a massively wide body (likely carbon fiber panels), a wing mounted on the sloping roofline, huge front fender extractors, dive planes, oversized splitter and diffuser, and similar rear fender cooling inlets. The same wheel design is another tell. Further, Ford has released an official teaser of the car, highlighting a pushrod suspension design, which is something typically found in race cars. What seems to make this hyper Mustang street legal are a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, and some turn signals. This thing is absolutely bonkers.
This isn’t progression, it’s reinvention. 08.17.23
Disclaimer: Preproduction computer-generated image shown. pic.twitter.com/fvKdYZ9Bkc
— Ford Mustang (@FordMustang) August 16, 2023
What Is Powering The ‘Mid-Engine’ Mustang?
Since it’s clearly based on the Mustang GT3 race car, there are some major changes to the chassis and what’s under the hood. While technically a “Mustang,” this Multimatic-built supercar is likely to have little to do with the chassis that all of the Flat Rock Assembly-built Mustangs are based on. This means that the engine —likely the M-Sport-built 5.4L Coyote V8—is placed further behind the front wheels, just like the race car. This is likely due to moving the gearbox to the rear of the car, freeing up space to push the DOHC V8 rearward. This is the case with the Mustang GT3, at least.
Some quasi-truthful reports out there allege that this is a “mid-engined” Mustang. But seeing as the V8 isn’t behind the seats, most people wouldn’t describe it as such. The same can be said for other “mid-engined” cars like the C7 Corvette, Ferrari 812, Lexus LFA, and Mercedes AMG-GT. A more accurate representation of a mid-engined Mustang concept would come from Ford back in the 1960’s, known as the Mach 2.
Power output for a street-legal 5.4L Coyote V8 is under wraps until tomorrow.
A few years ago, Ford spoke of its intention to treat its bestselling models as brands, like the Bronco, which spawned the Bronco Sport. The Mustang already birthed the Mach-E, but beyond that, the company has yet to launch more options for the beloved pony car; until now, that is as this reveal could be offering a more exotic vehicle within the Mustang family. The Blue Oval stopped production of the GT at the beginning of this year, and perhaps it’s already looking to launch its replacement. It’s currently unclear how many will be built. And don’t expect it to be even kind of cheap, or even low-end six-figures. This thing is likely just as exclusive as the Ford GT before it.
Full details of the Ford Mustang GTD, such as pricing, horsepower, availability and more, are expected to be made official tomorrow, August 17th.
