2025 Ford Mustang: Nürburgring Record, Retro Pack, Enhanced GTD

The Ford Mustang is making news on three fronts this week: an enhanced GTD version is said to have posted a Nürburgring lap of 6 minutes 41.74 seconds — potentially faster than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X — while the EcoBoost gets a retro kit from Troy Lee Designs limited to 550 units. And in Florida, a Mustang driver literally crashed through an airport fence.

"Game On." — Ford, in response to the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X after losing the title of fastest American car at the Nürburgring

Is the GTD Reclaiming the Nürburgring Record?

A video published on the YouTube channel Statesidesupercars claims a Nordschleife lap of 6 minutes 41.74 seconds for the Mustang GTD. If the figure is confirmed, it changes quite a few things: the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X had posted 6 minutes 49.275 seconds, and the GTD's previous benchmark was 6 minutes 52.072 seconds — achieved after an initial run of 6 minutes 57.685 seconds. That's a gain of over ten seconds in one go.

The video footage suggests Ford may have fielded an evolved version of the GTD, perhaps called the GTD Evo, with enhanced aerodynamics. The filming conditions don't allow for absolute precision on the displayed time — Motor1 estimates there could be a margin of error of about one second — but even with that caveat, the Mustang would seem to remain ahead. Ford has not officially confirmed this time yet.

What the GTD Hides Under Its Skin

The GTD is technically the road-going version of Ford's GT3 race car. Under the bodywork lies a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 developing 814 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted in a transaxle layout. Weight distribution reaches the near-perfect 50/50 ratio, thanks in part to a carbon fiber driveshaft and a semi-active pushrod rear suspension visible through the rear bulkhead — a detail few production cars indulge in.

The listed price — over $300,000 — places the GTD in a category where it crosses paths with Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Ferrari 296 GT3 models. Ford is embracing this unapologetic high-end positioning for a brand that sells F-150 pickups by the truckload. It's a bit like Timberland launching a Patek Philippe watch: the origin surprises, but the mechanics don't lie.

The EcoBoost Plays the Style Card with Troy Lee Designs

While the GTD plays in the supercar league, the EcoBoost — the four-cylinder entry-level Mustang — receives an original aesthetic treatment. Ford collaborated with Troy Lee Designs, a renowned maker of motorcycle and bicycle helmets, to develop the TLD Signature Edition pack. The car is offered exclusively in Shadow Black, with 19-inch Satin Bronze tinted wheels, a Satin Bronze pony badge, and hood vents. On the sides, red, orange, purple, and yellow graphics incorporate a galloping horse — a deliberate retro look with a calibrated touch of psychedelia.

Inside, the interior switches to Carmine Red with a numbered dashboard plaque. Production is deliberately limited to 550 units.

How Much Does the TLD Signature Edition Pack Cost?

The pack itself is priced at $3,000. But the reality is a bit different, as it also requires the 201A equipment package for an additional $3,000, applied to a base EcoBoost Premium priced at $38,340. Total with all options and delivery fees: $44,340. Ford has also opened orders for the RTR pack — a more performance-oriented variant launched last October — and for the entire Mustang range. Orders for the Dark Horse SC are now open.