Ford Debuts Two Special Edition Mustangs in Detroit

Both ends of the Ford Mustang spectrum – the sports car spectrum, that is, as opposed to that of the Mach-E EV crossover – are getting souped-up in the form of two special models: the Mustang GTD Spirit Of America represents the ultimate of the current Mustang range, while the RTR takes the EcoBoost four-cylinder model to the edge of its capabilities.

The Spirit of America stars life as a Mustang GTD, meaning it gets a supercharged 5.2-litre supercharged V8 good for 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That may sound like a lot – and for a road car, it is – but when you consider the Spirit of America’s inspiration, well…

Those who know all about the world of land speed records will surely recognize the Spirit of America name: it was the car that driver Craig Breedlove took to over 400 miles per hour (about 645 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1963. Considering that car was basically a fighter plane without wings and generated something like 15,000 pounds of thrust, well, 815 horsepower seems somewhat pedestrian, doesn’t it?

It may, but it most definitely isn’t. It helped the Mustang GTD set the record for American cars at the daunting Nürburgring raceway in Germany, completing a lap of the 12.9-mile (21 km) course in 6:57:685. That’s not far off from times set by bona fide supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracàn LP 640-4 Performante and Porsche GT2 RS.

In celebration of both that achievement and to celebrate the Mustang’s 60th anniversary, the Spirit of America Mustang gets Performance White paint draped in red and blue stripes, said to match not the car itself, but the overalls Breedlove wore as he drove The Spirit of America to break both the 500- and 600-mile barriers in the ‘60s. Which, not coincidentally for our story, is around the same time the Mustang debuted. There’s also a carbon fibre front splitter, rear diffuser and spoiler as well as red or carbon mirror caps depending on what the owner wants.

Inside, we find faux-suede and leather seats with Victory Blue contrast colour stitching.

The conversion from standard EcoBoost to RTR spec isn’t quite as dramatic as what’s seen on the GTD Spirit of America, but the RTR’s lime green Brembo brake calipers and carbonized gray pedestal spoiler do point to something that’s just a little special.

Like the Spirit of America to a degree, the RTR’s “specialness” also stems from outside influences; here, Craig Breedlove’s rocket-powered land-speed record holder is replaced by influence from a different kind of performance driving: drifting.

Many will recognize “RTR” as professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s outfit – he is the president and founder – and the RTR Mustang marks only the second time Ford has partnered with an outside party to produce a vehicle slated for the showroom floor.

Of course, when it eventually arrives in dealers – no dates have been set, but Ford confirmed to Vicarious via email that it is coming in some form or another – it will likely be without the “camo” seen in these photos here. We bet it will still have plenty of flash, and it will definitely have the “drift brake” that debuted on the ’24 Mustang. With it, a quick tug of a spring-mounted handle will send the rear end sliding in a nice, lairy drift for all to see. Racetracks only, please.