America finally crashes the seven-minute ‘Ring party. And it didn’t bring a knife to a gunfight.
Ford’s Mustang GTD just clocked a 6:57.685 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, making it the first American production car to break the seven-minute barrier at Germany’s infamous 12.9-mile circuit.
The Germans are probably still choking on their schnitzel.
Detroit’s Green Hell Conqueror
This isn’t your daddy’s Mustang. The GTD packs Ford’s most potent pony car powertrain ever: a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 delivering 815 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Pro driver Dirk Müller piloted the beast to its record-setting time, placing it fifth among production sports cars to officially lap the ‘Ring.
Ford didn’t stop there. By May 2025, they’d slashed another five seconds off with an improved 6:52.072 lap, catapulting the GTD to fourth fastest in its class.
Engineering That Means Business
The Mustang GTD isn’t just fast because of raw power. It’s a complete engineering overhaul:
- Semi-active suspension with pushrod front setup and rear transaxle
- Hydraulically controlled front flaps and active rear spoiler
- Side air scoops for cooling the hydraulic systems
- Extensive chassis stiffening for increased torsional rigidity
The car represents two years of development from a small team that transformed the Mustang GT3 race car into something you can actually register for the road.
America’s $300K Supercar Statement
Ford CEO Jim Farley didn’t mince words: “We’re proud to be the first American automaker with a car that can lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes.”
Translation: European supercar royalty, your exclusive club just got crashed.
Production begins Spring 2025 with pricing north of $300,000. Expensive for a Mustang? Absolutely. But this isn’t a Mustang that just went to the gym—it’s one that went to war.
The GTD proves American muscle can dance with precision, not just flex in a straight line.
And for the first time, the Germans are the ones looking in their rearview mirrors.
