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Performance is crucial to the all-new Mustang GTD’s mission, but its craftsmanship is also on display along with a cabin that serves as a showcase for the state-of-the-art, racing suspension.
“The rear suspension is designed for purpose, but it’s also just a beautiful thing to look at,” said the Mustang GTD marketing manager. “It would have been a shame for us to hide it away, never to be seen. With the suspension window, owners can admire the blue and gold accents on the dampers without removing the tech panel, and the passenger can literally watch the suspension in action.”
Race-Verified Technology
With the active aerodynamics, carbon-fiber body, magnesium wheels, and a rear transaxle, the new 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is considered a showcase for race-proven road-going vehicles.
The highlight of that race-to-road path is the semi-active suspension which underpins the most track-competent production Mustang ever.
“We’ve never done a suspension like this on Mustang,” said the Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer. “To meet the aggressive lap time targets we set, we looked to motorsports for that inspiration to do something really advanced. This cutting-edge suspension and advanced dampers are key to turning a Mustang into a Mustang GTD."
The Mustang GTD’s inboard rear suspension is yet another example of Ford bringing the learnings from the track to the road. Combined with a strong and weight-efficient motorsport-style tubular subframe, the track-derived DNA on display in the Mustang GTD's rear end is impossible to overlook. Multimatic’s proprietary Adaptive Spool Valve dampers, meanwhile, go beyond the limits of what is permitted in the racing world.
Capable of going from the softest to firmest setting in just 15 milliseconds, which is six times quicker than the human eye can blink, the ASV dampers continuously adapt based on the drive mode, surface of the road, and driver inputs in order to maximize the Michelin tires’ contact with the road.
“Adaptive damping allows more flexibility in absolute ride performance compared to a passive damper,” said the vice president, Multimatic engineering, “It lets you decouple the ride versus handling compromise that you would normally make in damper tuning. Our system is a double win in that adjustments feel very analog, very natural in terms of motion control.”
Each damper has two springs, so when driving on the street, they work together to allow for a comfortable ride. Activating the driver-selectable Track mode hydraulically compresses one of the springs, nearly doubling the spring rate overall while lowering the vehicle approximately 40 millimeters to maximize capability on the track.
The stiffer spring rate benefits the mechanical grip, however just like on a race car, firmer springs improve aerodynamic grip as well. As the Mustang GTD’s active aerodynamics press down on the car at high speeds, the firmer spring rates of Track mode counter aerodynamic squat and help keep the tires’ contact patch as large as possible while accelerating, braking, and cornering.
The Mustang GTD will make an appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, before heading to the 24 Hours of Spa, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’ll also spend the summer testing in Europe, before trying the officially timed sub-seven-minute lap of Germany's legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife later on this year.
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