Over the last 20 years, when Ford has pushed the boundaries of its performance and the associated pricing, there has been at least one person who has shown the company it’s on the right track: Jay Leno. He’s put money down on the first-gen, 550-horsepower GT of the mid-2000s, the EcoBoost-powered second-gen model and, most recently, the $300,000-plus Mustang GTD. Jay discusses the latter with Ford CEO Jim Farley in the below video.
Leno is not alone in his support of the super-Mustang because his car is #12 in the production run (just like both of his GTs). In its standard form, the Mustang GTD is a purpose-built machine. The body is made out of carbon fiber and pushed closer to the road with a massive rear wing that’s mounted to the C-pillars. The supercharged “Predator” 5.2-liter V8 pumps out 815 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, which an eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle shuttles to the street or track. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes help reign in all that raw power.
Leno went beyond that already impressive configuration by spec’ing his GTD with the optional Performance Package’s front splitter and dive planes, lightweight magnesium 20-inch wheels, and drag reduction system for the rear wing.
The Mustang GTD is a direct attack on European exotics, which was successful on perhaps the world’s most difficult battlefield. At Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife, a demanding 12.9-mile course full of elevation changes, different weather zones, and dozens of turns and corners, the Mustang GTD beat its previous time of 6:57.685 with a 6:52.072 lap, securing the #4 spot on the list of fastest sports cars.
So was Leno’s Mustang GTD worth going through the application process and waiting a year and a half for delivery? Is it too harsh and focused to be an enjoyable road car? Watch and find out.
