2025 Mustang GTD Flaunts Eye Candy Racing Bling Suspension

Flaunts the Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve rear shock absorbers through a suspension window

The all-new Mustang GTD is like a superhero - it's all about performance, but it also knows how to show off its fancy cabin with a suspension that's ready to race.

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

The suspension window is like a giant, shiny new toy, measuring about 2 feet wide and 10 inches tall. It's made of polycarbonate with scratch-resistant coating, thus basically indestructible.

“With a car as capable as Mustang GTD, we had to do something that’s just plain cool and owners will appreciate,” said Owens.

A true testament to race-proven technology influencing the development of road-ready vehicles, the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD features active aerodynamics, a carbon-fiber body, magnesium wheels, and a rear transaxle. At the heart of this high-performance vehicle lies the semi-active suspension system, setting the stage for the most track-capable production Mustang to date.

"We’ve never done a suspension like this on Mustang,” said Greg Goodall, Mustang GTD Chief Program Engineer. “To meet the aggressive lap time targets we set, we looked to motorsports for that inspiration to do something really advanced. This cutting-edge suspension and advanced dampers are key to turning a Mustang into a Mustang GTD."

The inboard rear suspension of the Mustang GTD is a prime example of Ford's track-inspired innovations. With the shocks and springs positioned low and between the rear wheels, rather than above them, combined with a robust and lightweight motorsport-style tubular subframe, the track-derived DNA on display in the Mustang GTD's rear end is truly remarkable. Additionally, Multimatic’s proprietary Adaptive Spool Valve dampers exceed the limits of what's permitted in the racing world.

The ASV dampers can adjust from their softest to firmest setting in a mere 15 milliseconds, which is six times faster than the blink of an eye. These dampers are constantly adapting to the drive mode, road conditions, and driver's actions to ensure optimal contact between the Michelin tires and the road surface.

“Adaptive damping allows more flexibility in absolute ride performance compared to a passive damper,” said Scott Keefer, vice president, Multimatic engineering, “It lets you decouple the ride versus handling compromise that you would normally make in damper tuning. Our system is a double win in that adjustments feel very analog, very natural in terms of motion control.”

Every damper is equipped with a pair of springs, which collaborate to provide a smooth ride while driving on regular roads. By engaging the driver-selectable Track mode, one of the springs is hydraulically compressed, effectively doubling the overall spring rate and reducing the vehicle's height by around 40 millimeters (equivalent to 1.6 inches) to enhance performance on the track.

The increased stiffness of the springs enhances mechanical grip, and similar to a race car, firmer springs also enhance aerodynamic grip. When the Mustang GTD's active aerodynamics push the car down at high speeds, the firmer springs in Track mode prevent aerodynamic squat, ensuring the tires maintain maximum contact patch during acceleration, braking, and cornering.

The Mustang GTD is set to make its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, then it will race at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Following that, it will undergo summer testing in Europe, gearing up for an exciting challenge of clocking a sub-seven-minute lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany later this year.