The 2025 Mustang GTD Is An 800 Horsepower, $300,000 Homologation Monster
Over the last few years, Ford and Multimatic have been secretly developing a road-going version of the new Mustang GT3 race car. Dubbed the GTD (not to be confused with the diesel VW hatchback), Ford CEO Jim Farley claims it will go head to head with the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and AMG GT Black Series.
Unhindered by racing rules, the GTD will produce around 800 horsepower and feature some trick aerodynamic additions. A more powerful version of the Shelby GT500’s 5.2-liter supercharged V8 is mated to a Tremec eight-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle. While Ford hasn’t published the official weight, a perfect 50/50 weight balance is claimed. A dry-sump oil system will allow the engine to stay lubricated on track, while a titanium exhaust system made by Akrapovic produces an undoubtedly glorious noise out the back.
Multimatic’s adaptive spool valve dampers pair with a new unequal-length control-arm front suspension, while the rear features a pushrod-style multilink setup that works with inboard-mounted ASV dampers and coil springs. With the push of a button, the whole car lowers 1.6 inches, similar to the Ford GT. Forged aluminum wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, but forged magnesium wheels will be available. Apparently, the giant C-pillar mounted rear wing will be an option, and it’s said to come with a hydraulically controlled active drag-reduction system (DRS).
The GTD will begin life as a regular S560 Mustang chassis, and as such will share most of its interior components, minus the lack of back seats and repackaged trunk due to the transaxle and cooler. From there, it will be shipped to Multimatic’s facility in Canada for final assembly.
Ford says buyers can order the car in “any color they want,” and pricing is expected to be in the neighborhood of $300,000 USD. The first built units are expected to be completed sometime in 2024, with between 1000 and 2000 total produced.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT Returns As An All-Wheel-Drive SL With A Solid Roof
Throughout history, two-door Mercedes-AMG sports cars have always done really well at mixing flamboyance and performance with a touch of practicality and comfort. In the case of the redesigned 2024 GT coupe, a larger emphasis seems to have been placed on the latter.
Longer and wider than before, the new GT shares its basic underpinnings with the recently redesigned SL convertible, embracing more of the grand touring side of the spectrum. AMG says the overriding mission of the redesign is to satisfy customers asking for greater practicality without losing performance. Even though the old GT coupe featured a liftback design with a large cargo area, the new version takes it one step further with a 2+2 seat configuration.
Up front, AMG’s familiar 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 returns, producing 469 horsepower in the base GT55 and 577 in the GT63. However, it’s now paired with a nine-speed automatic with a clutch pack; gone is the rear-mounted transaxle. As a result, the engine now sits above the front axle rather than behind it, which benefits interior space. An all-wheel-drive system is now standard, though 100 percent of the power can be sent to the rear if the driver prefers.
Adaptive dampers, rear wheel steering, an electronic rear limited-slip differential, and an optional nose-lift system round out the list of mechanical highlights. Even with the increased size and weight, the GT63 should be able to do 0-60mph in around 3 seconds. An even more powerful plug-in hybrid model will likely be available down the line.
Matthias Schmidt, the AMG GT’s lead product manager, told Motor Trend that “this is [still] the sportiest car in our lineup,” despite the focus on increased comfort. In my eyes, it’s also the prettiest. The previous GT’s long hood proportions are still somewhat present, and the whole car is curvier and more elegant. The interior design is similar to the SL, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and vertical center touchscreen.
Does the new GT have what it takes to rival the Porsche 911 Turbo? Time will tell, but paper certainly says yes.
Zenvo Has Finally Built A Good Looking Supercar With The V12 Hybrid Aurora
Since 2009, Danish company Zenvo has wowed the world with a series of wild looking and wildly performing supercars. The TSR-S, for instance, featured a rear wing that pivoted side to side as well as up and down.
Their latest creation, the Aurora, is the lightest and most powerful road car they’ve ever produced. Available in two versions, a 6.6-liter “hot-V” quad-turbocharged V12 is paired with two different hybrid systems. The road-focused Tur model is all-wheel-drive and produces a total of 1,850 horsepower and 1,254 lb-ft of torque. The more aggressive Agil variant is rear-wheel-drive by default, losing the two front electric motors and total output coming in at a measly 1,450 horsepower and 1,033 lb-ft. However, the more powerful all-wheel-drive configuration is also available on the Agil.
The Agil follows Zenvo’s crazy styling history with tons of aerodynamic upgrades including a rear wing that can flip forwards and act as an air brake. Zenvo claims the Agil’s additional aero produces 1,940 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. In its lightest configuration, the Agil weighs 2,866 pounds and will rip from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, topping out at 227 mph.
On the other hand, the Tur features a more luxurious interior and weighs just under 3,200 pounds. That said, the extra standard power and slipperier profile help it reach 60mph two tenths of a second quicker, and the top speed increases significantly to 280 mph. The sleeker lines and lack of aggressive aero make the Tur less desirable for track use, but dare I say it’s the first pretty car Zenvo has ever made.
Of course, it’s not to everyone’s taste (and certainly not to everyone’s budget), but if nothing else, they sure know how to do cool press photos.
The 2024 Acura ZDX Is A Reincarnated EV Rendition Of An SUV You Probably Forgot About
Nearly fifteen years ago, Acura debuted an upmarket, weird, coupe-SUV called the ZDX, meant to rival the BMW X6. A lack of buyers for such a thing meant that it was discontinued after just four years and a little over 6,000 units sold. Nowadays, the first-gen ZDX is available for a fifth of its original MSRP on the used market, if you can even find one.
Acura is hoping the new 2024 ZDX, an all-electric, normal-looking crossover will go down far better in history. Co-developed with the Cadillac Lyriq, the ZDX remixes the brand’s “Precision Crafted Performance” mantra as both their first ever EV and their first vehicle designed in collaboration with General Motors.
Slightly longer and taller than the Lyric, the ZDX features a 102-kWh battery pack and three available drivetrain configurations. The rear-wheel-drive A-Spec produces 340 horsepower and is expected to have a driving range of 325 miles. All-wheel-drive will be available, dropping range by 10 miles, while power output has not yet been announced. A sportier Type S model will also be on offer, featuring all-wheel-drive standard and producing 500 horsepower. Range is predicted to drop to 288 miles. All versions will feature a 190-kW peak DC charging rate.
All ZDXs will also feature fully independent suspension, but the Type S will be the only one to come with adaptive dampers and height-adjustable air bags for better ride and handling. 15.6-inch front brake rotors and six-piston calipers will also be standard on the faster variant.
On the technology front, the ZDX rebrands GM’s excellent Super Cruise active highway driving assistant as “AcuraWatch 360+.” Pricing will start around $60,000, and Acura says sales will be conducted completely digitally, whether in person at a dealership or from home.
Even Lamborghini Reveals An Electric SUV With The Lanzador Concept
It’s clear the electric car future is coming when even manufacturers like Lotus and Lamborghini are preparing to launch their own. With the 2028 Lanzador Concept, Lamborghini is unquestionably focusing on all-out performance with their take on the trend.
Styling combines elements of the existing Huracan Sterrato and Urus, while taking on a very unique low-slung SUV shape. The production version will likely be slightly more down to earth, but based on the production-ready appearance of the interior it may not be far off.
Power will be just as outrageous, with dual electric motors claimed to generate over one megawatt, equivalent to more than 1,341 horsepower. No details on battery size or driving range have been released at this time, though Lamborghini has said the Lanzador will come with radar-based adaptive driving modes known as Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (or LDVI for short). Unsurprisingly, air suspension and rear-wheel steering will also be standard.
Compared to the existing Urus SUV, the Lanzador only has two doors, while the seats are in a 2+2 configuration similar to the Ferrari Purosangue. Being an EV, it also boasts a front trunk. This unique combination has lead Lambo to classify it as an “Ultra GT.”
Production is still several years away, and pricing is expected to start around $300,000, though that will undoubtedly increase with inflation by the time it actually hits the roads.
Mega-Imposing QX Monograph Concept Previews New Infiniti QX80
At this point, the last redeeming traits of the 13-year-old Infiniti QX80 are its big, boxy, imposing appearance and robust 5.6-liter V8 engine. While it’s unlikely the V8 will stick around, Infiniti’s new QX Monograph concept certainly shows the latter will be carried on into the modern generation.
With a giant front grille and headlights, the new design follows the current trends set by the Cadillac Escalade and other large luxury SUVs. Infiniti says the grille texture is meant to resemble a bamboo forest swaying in the wind, while the shape of the LED running lights are reminiscent of “digital piano keys.” A large, lighted, 3-D Infiniti logo is prominently displayed in the center.
The concept is finished in a color called “Akane,” meaning “deep red” in Japanese. Red accents also adorn the 12-spoke wheels, which appear to be 23 or even 24 inches in diameter. Overall, the design appears significantly more production ready than the last Monograph concept we saw in 2017, so it’s likely the majority of the exterior traits will carry over to the real thing.
It’s rumored the redesigned QX80 could go on sale in the US as soon as the 2025 model year. Given how old the current generation is, it would certainly be appreciated.
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