Ford Mustang GTD: 815 horsepower–more per liter than a 911 GTS RS

J.A.
By J.A. Ackley
Sep 16, 2024 | Ford, Nurburgring, Ford Mustang, Ford Mustang GTD

Photography Courtesy Ford

What does 815 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque from a 5.2-liter V8 in the Ford Mustang GTD compare to? Per liter, that’s better than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which has a 4.0 liter putting out 518 horsepower. Oh yeah, and the GTD has a top speed of 202 mph. (To continue the comparison, the 911 maxes out at 184 mph.)

The GTD delivers those numbers from a supercharged power plant that uses a dry sump system, a first for a production Mustang. The V8 also features a revised intake, titanium exhaust and a smaller supercharger pulley.

Now, Ford looks to deliver a sub-7-minute lap at the Nürburgring. What would that put the GTD in company with? Better than a Ferrari 488 Pista, Porsche Cayman GT4 RS and a Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro. (For reference, that Porsche 911 GT3 RS clicked off a 6:44.848 time.)

Besides the power, the GTD also has a Drag Reduction System, which changes the angle of the rear wing and activated flaps under the front of the car to achieve a balance between airflow for speed and downforce for grip. In addition to the active aero, the GTD comes with carbon-ceramic brakes and an in-board rear suspension with semi-active dampers.

We’ve been laser focused since day 1 to make Mustang GTD the first-ever supercar with world-class performance and the soul of a Mustang,” said Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall in a press release. “We can’t wait to deliver on our sub-7-minute promise to GTD customers.”

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Comments
wspohn
wspohn UltraDork
9/16/24 11:46 a.m.

Not that impressed with the output per liter.    That's 156 bhp/l.

My street sports car has a 2.0 engine putting out 187 bhp/l and gets 28 mpg if you keep your foot out of it.

81cpcamaro
81cpcamaro SuperDork
9/16/24 11:55 a.m.

So, supercharged V8 vs NA Flat 6, comparing HP/Liter?  Not a great comparison, and usually HP/Liter comparos are like inductions at least.

Coniglio Rampante
Coniglio Rampante Reader
9/16/24 12:07 p.m.

A sub-7 minute time at the 'ring would be an impressive engineering feat.

However, and more of an authentic concern for many prospective owners, what is the "Mustang Leaving Cars & Coffee-To Impacting a Curb, Guard Rail, Telephone Pole, and Pedestrians" time?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

wink

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/16/24 12:24 p.m.
wspohn said:

Not that impressed with the output per liter.    That's 156 bhp/l.

My street sports car has a 2.0 engine putting out 187 bhp/l and gets 28 mpg if you keep your foot out of it.

Specific output usually falls off with engine size. It's easier to get 187 bhp/l out of a small 2.0 than an engine more than 2.5x that size. 

Also, note that your car actually made 145 hp/l when delivered, assuming you got the optional power bump - and only met 2009 emissions standards. Then, I assume, you turned up the boost and now you wouldn't meet OE durability requirements, have no warranty and may no longer meet those old emissions targets. Were your higher power numbers measured using the SAE standards, or are you extrapolating from a chassis dyno test?

This is a car that meets 2025 emissions, measures power at the flywheel using the strict SAE test regimen and comes with a warranty. So yeah, "only" 156 bhp/l. 

It's not fair to compare specific output to the naturally aspirated 4.0 in the GT3 RS, though. 

Tig
Tig New Reader
9/16/24 1:25 p.m.

shouldn't this be shooting to best a GT2RS lap time?

...and then here comes the C8 ZR1, then Zora...undercutting both

cyow5
cyow5 Reader
9/16/24 1:44 p.m.

It *can* still be fair to compare specific outputs when crossing different induction types because the piston doesn't know where the air came from. However it makes the horsepower, 160 bhp/l is a LOT of stress. NA specific output is impressive because it is tells you how well-engineered the flow tracts are, and boosted specific output is impressive because the engine carries a warranty and didn't explode. Different things, both impressive in their own ways. 

RacerBoy75
RacerBoy75 Reader
9/16/24 1:51 p.m.

The engine is probably the least radical thing about that car!

rlyons13
rlyons13 None
9/16/24 2:03 p.m.

Yeah but, how much is it going to cost?  And will any of us "Grassroots Motorsports" types, if we could buy it, actually risk it in competition?

STM317
STM317 PowerDork
9/16/24 2:37 p.m.

In reply to rlyons13 :

Supposed to start around $325k. And you're looking at huge consumables bills each time you take it out.

brandonsmash
brandonsmash GRM+ Memberand Reader
9/16/24 2:42 p.m.

In reply to Tig :

The ZR1, sure. It sounds like the Zora will be the ZR1 with the E-ray hybrid pack. I'm not entirely convinced that will reduce lap times significantly (if at all), however, due to the weight penalty (though the AWD nature might mask that). 

 

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