Famed hearth survivor and not-a-Ferrari proprietor Jay Leno simply took custody of his brand-new Ford Mustang GTD, the American carmaker’s try and muscle in on the European unique market. And I do imply model new. The automobile solely simply began rolling off the meeting strains of the corporate that invented meeting strains, and Leno’s GTD is serial quantity 12, matching his Ford GTs. The Mustang was delivered straight to him by at least Ford CEO Jim Farley himself.
As seen on the newest episode of Jay Leno’s StorageFarley walks the one-time discuss present host via the Mustang GTD and what makes it particular. Farley says that that is the “final Mustang ever constructed,” and it isn’t arduous to see why: This front-engined American machine lapped the Nurburgring in simply 6:52.072. It managed that utilizing the elective Efficiency Pack, which provides a entrance splitter, underbody flaps, and a System 1-style DRS spoiler that grants it 2,000 kilos of downforce at 180 mph.
The Mustang GTD is the street-legal model of the race-spec Mustang GT3 that took a podium end at Le Mans in 2024. As Farley retains on declaring to Leno, although, the GTD comes with a bunch of options the race automobile did not even get. And but, as Leno takes it for a spin on the streets of LA, he notes, “You can drive this day by day… In a complimentary means, it is like a Miata. It is extraordinarily gentle and nimble on its toes.” It is calm sufficient, while you need it to be, to behave like a traditional automobile.
Finer particulars
On the rear of the GTD there’s an etching of each technology of Mustang, a proud lineage that the GTD is now on the apex of. The paddle shifters, gear knob, and serial plate are 3D printed out of titanium, as a result of as Farley says, each final element of the automobile is targeted on “weight and efficiency.” He did not point out that the titanium actually comes from decommissioned F-22 fighter jets, however, simply so , it comes from decommissioned F-22 fighter jets.
Contained in the cabin itself, there’s just a little rear window simply to see the suspension dampers in motion. Farley factors this out throughout the precise drive, although Leno jokes that he cannot look with out crashing. I do not know that any manufacturing automobile has ever let me have a look at the suspension, uh, suspending, however that is actually a approach to sign that that is no regular automobile.
Most touching of all: Everybody who truly constructed the automobile signed it beneath the hood, a testomony to the truth that it is a low-volume mannequin with solely a small group engaged on it. Only one,000 GTDs will ever be made. Leno has different Fords that have been signed this fashion, and he says that he is at all times open to signatories or their family members swinging by the storage to see it.
Unique, but additionally homegrown American
Farley says that the Mustang GTD is a “high-performance unique automobile,” slightly than a extra conventional muscle automobile. That stated, it was necessary to Ford that the Mustang remained recognizably a Mustang. So the place, say, the Chevrolet Corvette has gone mid-engined, the GTD nonetheless has an excellent large stonking V8 proper on the entrance of the automobile. It is a supercharged 5.2-liter engine primarily based on the corporate’s Predator line, making 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That is good for a prime velocity of 202 mph. Stopping all that energy are ceramic brakes with 17-inch rotors.
The GTS additionally boasts $4,000 price of microchips onboard for the computer systems to carry out all their wizardry, a lithium-ion battery instead of a paltry previous 12-volt, and also you even get a concierge service, which means a specialist flies in to do any work the automobile wants.
If you would like a signed Ford Mustang GTD your self, it is easy! You simply should apply for one (so Ford can choose whether or not you are particular sufficient, I assume) and fork over $327,960at minimal, earlier than you set any extras on it. That costs it just a little bit above a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, one of many European exotics the GTD is supposed to instantly problem. Value it? Whichever aspect of that reply you fall on, you need one.
