If a $325K Mustang GTD Seems Out of Reach, Ford Performance Has a $55K, 800hp Alternative

Ford sent waves through the car enthusiast community when it revealed the track-conquering Mustang GTD. The thoroughbred racer will pack a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 that improves upon the potent powerplant we loved in the GT500 and increases its output to 815 hp. Of course, a track car needs more than just power, so the GTD will come with a rear-mounted transaxle to balance the car's weight, carbon-ceramic brakes to allow it to dive into corners, and active aerodynamics to help it wring the most out of its custom suspension.

Ford is gunning for Porsche with the limited-production GTD, calling out one race-ready Zuffenhausen-built machine in particular. "GTD's heart is its supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, packing more horsepower per liter than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS," said Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall. Yeah Greg, we'd hope so, the GTD's engine is supercharged and the Porsche's engine is naturally aspirated. What would be the point otherwise?

The Mustang GTD is set to be the most powerful and most track-capable Mustang by far. Now for the bad news: the first two years of GTD production are already sold out.

Luckily for Mustang fans, Ford Performance already has an 800hp solution ready to ease the sting of the sold-out GTD. A $10,000 package uses a 3.0-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger, dual-pass water-to-air charge cooler, a larger throttle body, and a set of the GT500's port fuel injectors to increase the output of the GT and Dark Horse's 5.0-liter V-8 to 800hp and 615 lb.-ft. of torque. We wouldn't call it a sleeper, because the GT and Dark Horse are already quite potent in stock form, but an additional 300 hp would make them different machines entirely and an absolute riot on the dragstrip. Starting with a basic version of the Mustang GT, which starts at less than $45,000, and all that power comes in at around $55,000-not counting the installation fee-making it one heck of a performance bargain.

If a nice, round 800 hp isn't enough, opt for the Active Valve Performance Exhaust and the output ticks up to 810 hp. However, at more than $1200 for the active exhaust, those extra ponies come at a premium considering the first 800 only cost about $70 apiece. There are some downsides to the supercharger. First, while it was emissions tested by Ford, it's not available in California. Finally, the supercharger and its dual-pass charge cooler are a bit taller than the original intake manifold, making it incompatible with the strut tower brace found in the GT Performance Pack, should you check that box as well. That's not a bad compromise for a whole lot more power. Sure, it's not the road course ringer that the GTD certainly is, but the 810hp Mustang you can buy today is a lot cooler than the 815hp Mustang you'll never be able to get your hands on.