2025 Ford Mustang Coupe

　　2025 Ford Mustang Review

　　byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　12/18/2023

　　Overview

　　With the discontinuation of both the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro, it's fair to say the Ford Mustang is the last muscle car standing. But in 2024, even with no direct competition left, Ford doubled down and redesigned the iconic Mustang. Available with a turbocharged four-cylinder or the traditional 5.0-liter V8, the Mustang can be had in a broad array of trim levels for a wide variety of buyers. For 2025, Ford will add a new level of Mustang to the selection: the GTD. Drawing heavy inspiration from its Mustang GT3 race car sibling, the GTD is packed with race car goodies such a pushrod-actuated suspension, adjustable dampers and a rear transaxle (this combines the transmission and rear differential into one compact unit). Oh, and it also features a racetrack-scorching supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine with upward of 800 horsepower for good measure.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: V8 power

Once the engine of choice for both enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike, the V8-powered car is now a fairly rare thing. But the Mustang continues to offer the tried-and-true powerplant and does so in three different versions. In the GT this 5.0-liter V8 makes 480 hp and in the high-performance Dark Horse it cranks out an even 500 hp. For 2025, the GTD will offer a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 (similar to the engine in the much-missed GT500) that will make a whopping 800-plus horsepower. As an added bonus, Ford still offers a six-speed manual transmission for the GT and Dark Horse versions.

　　

Competitors to consider

With the Mustang's traditional rivals, the Camaro and Challenger, now relegated to the history books, direct competitors to the Mustang are tough to find. Smaller and more nimble, the BMW 2 Series still offers a back seat and a useful trunk as well as a high-performance version to keep up with the Mustang GT. Sportier options can be found in the Toyota GR Supra and Nissan Z, though both of these cars lack back seats and as much practicality as the Mustang.

　　zzdcar says

　　With the Mustang just having undergone a redesign, we don't think there's much in store for the standard versions of this icon. But the real news is the addition of the most exotic Mustang ever, the GTD. We don't know how many takers there might be for a $300K Mustang, but we'd love to get our hands on one at the soonest opportunity. You know, for science.