The modern performance car ecosystem has never been so varied, or frankly so good, as it is right now. From insanely quick EVs to suave-handling sports machines, we are indeed living in a golden age for go-fast vehicles. And even in this landscape of excellence, the truly bonkers Ford Mustang GTD stands out.
Ford has a rich history of both racing and racing-derived cars for the road, including six decades of the Mustang nameplate and game changers like the Ford GT. Even in that historical context, the GTD feels special, however. A limited-edition supercar in pony car clothes, this Mustang is the love child of one of the world’s best race shops (Multimatic) and a wish to beat the hell out of Porsche. Throw in a sub-seven-minute Nürburgring time and the world’s wing-iest rear wing, and you start to understand why we had to name GTD as the winner of the Buzz Awards Best Performance Car for 2026.
Costs Over A Quarter-Million, But Worth The Moolah
Being an exclusive model, Ford hasn’t disclosed pricing to the public, but window stickers of models sitting on dealership floors indicate that it boasts a $318,760 base MSRP. This is admittedly a tall price to pay, but we can easily argue that the track-oriented performance and exclusivity you get to enjoy in return justifies this.
The GTD doesn’t necessarily prioritize overall practicality, but Ford was able to integrate a lot of key creature comforts into the cabin, including hand-tailored Recaro performance seats upholstered in laser-etched Miko suede and a full 13.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connected to the brand’s 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system.
On-track capability is where this road-going GT3 truly shines, with key features including a Multimatic adaptive spool valve suspension, carbon fiber aerodynamics, and forged carbon ceramic brakes. Oh, don’t forget the supercharged 5.2-liter “Predator” V-8, sending 815 horsepower to the fat rear tires via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The result is a sub-3.0-second 0-to-60 time, a 202 MPH top speed, and a 6 minute and 52.072-second official Nürburgring lap time.
Why We Picked The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD
The correct question to ask here is: Why wouldn’t we pick the Mustang GTD as the performance car champ? From a visual standpoint, there’s currently nothing that stands out quite like this – expect people you’ve never met before to offer up excited high-fives wherever you go.
Beyond that, the GTD is really special on the racetrack, where its ultra-high limits are augmented by a not-at-all-intimidating driving character. Having a wing car with this much power and this much grip seems like it would be daunting, but the reality is a vehicle that complements drivers across skill levels.
The GTD is also a celebration of Ford’s considerable contributions to motorsport, spanning decades and multiple disciplines. Its exclusivity and outstanding performance abilities are key factors that build on the Mustang’s legacy, while taking the fight to established supercars. It does so at a time when some of its rivals are embracing electrification and, in many cases, abandoning the combustion engine altogether.
The GTD is special. It’s the paragon of one of the most important sports cars in the world, for one of our longest-lasting brands. The price and availability will be too high a hurdle for most, but anyone lucky enough to turn a lap in this ultra pony car isn’t likely to forget it.
– Seyth Miersma, Valnet Director of Communications
What Almost Made The Cut
The Porsche 911 Carrera T represents a more approachable take on performance, which focuses on pure driving enjoyment thanks to a manual transmission and the exclusion of some unnecessary trimmings and creature comforts. In doing so, it also makes for a relatively affordable 911 experience for those who only care about the thrill of the drive. An exceptional sports car, but not quite as needle-moving as our winner.
The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is all about enjoying the elements at the same time you’re attacking apexes – who doesn’t love a sexy open-top supercar? The Aston is also one of the most tastefully designed cars of the year, boasting a high-performance twin-turbo V-8 and stunning handling. Our team of editors was filled with Vantage lovers, as you’d expect, but alas, it wasn’t the British brand’s year to win.
A Mustang To Remember
In the end, we couldn’t have asked for a better field of fun machines to populate our first-ever Buzz Awards Performance Car showdown, nor a more worthy winner than the epic Ford Mustang GTD. The Mustang nameplate has withstood the test of time, but never has it looked, or felt, quite so ferocious, either on paper or in person. In another 60 years, regardless of what cars look like in that distant era, the GTD will certainly remain a point of pride — and inspiration — for the Mustang designers and engineers of Ford’s future.