The Mustang GTD Is Revving Up To Be Ford’s Crown Jewel

The Mustang has been a popular car for Ford since its first-generation. With such an impressive legacy, there are high expectations for the upcoming Mustang GTD. However, based on what Ford has revealed about the supercar thus far, the automaker aims for the vehicle to be a crowning achievement. Their latest tease shows off the GTD’s advanced Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve rear shock absorbers like they are prize jewels. Ford’s letting everyone know they are about to unleash something special.  

Automotive Jewelry

A press release from Ford highlights the state-of-the-art semi-active suspension of the Mustang GTD. Notable is how the car’s in-cabin suspension window, which is also visible from outside the GTD, shows off its rear suspension like it’s “jewelry.” According to Ford, this cutting-edge semi-active suspension system is at all four corners of the vehicle. This system features a race-proven tubular subframe with a pushrod-actuated rear end. 

Ford states that the engineering company Multimatic created the GTD’s Adaptive Spool Valve dampers. This creation aimed to “bring race car technology to the road” so that GTD drivers could have enhanced “agility and confidence” in challenging track driving circumstances. According to Ford, these Adaptive Spool Valve dampers can go from their softest to firmest setting in 15 milliseconds.

Ford Is Proud Of The GTD’s Rear Suspension

Jim Owens, the marketing manager for the Mustang GTD, said of the rear suspension’s aesthetic appeal, “The rear suspension is designed for purpose, but it’s also just a beautiful thing to look at.” 

Owens added that the window framing the GTD’s suspension system is necessary, allowing anyone who sees the car to admire the rear suspension’s beauty and performance, “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.”

Seeing Suspension In Motion 

Ford’s decision to display the GTD’s rear suspension system is a novel idea. The automaker equates the display window to a Skeleton dial, allowing people to observe and admire the inner workings of a “finely crafted precision timepiece.”

Owens added that the display window and what it reveals about the GTD’s inner workings is “just plain cool.” It’s also a stylistic touch, which he believes GTD “owners will appreciate.” Ford states that the GTD’s picturesque display window measures about 24 inches wide and 10 inches tall and has a scratch-resistant coating on both sides. The automaker also specifies that they made the window out of polycarbonate. 

A First For A Mustang 

More than simply adding an aesthetic flourish to the latest edition of an iconic vehicle, the GTD’s suspension system breaks new ground for a Mustang. According to the Mustang GTD’s Chief Program Engineer, Greg Goodall, “We’ve never done a suspension like this on a Mustang.”

Goodall added that with Ford setting high expectations for the Mustang GTD’s debut in Europe in the coming weeks, the vehicle’s suspension needed to do things it has never done before, “To meet the aggressive lap time targets we set, we looked to motorsports for that inspiration to do something advanced. This cutting-edge suspension and advanced dampers are key to turning a Mustang into a Mustang GTD.”

The Mustang GTD will compete in June at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Later this year, it will attempt an officially timed sub-seven-minute lap at Germany’s iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife track.

Lessons From The Track 

Ford stated that racing technology heavily inspired it when developing this innovative suspension system. For example, the GTD’s inboard rear suspension has shocks and springs that sit low and between the rear wheels instead of in line and above them. Multimatic’s proprietary Adaptive Spool Valve dampers push the system into new territory.

Ford states those dampers can transition from their softest to firmest setting in only 15 milliseconds. That’s six times faster than human eyes can blink! The dampers have two springs each. The GTD’s Track mode can hydraulically compress one of the springs, which lowers the car by around 40 millimeters while doubling its spring rate, optimizing its abilities on the track.    

Ford states that, like a race car, this stiffer spring rate enhances mechanical and aerodynamic grip. The vehicle’s active aerodynamics can also press the car down at high speeds. In these instances, Track mode’s firmer spring rates counter the GTD’s aerodynamic squat to give the tires as broad of a contact patch as possible during cornering, braking, and accelerating.