2026 Ford Mustang RTR is a Factory-Built Drift Pony
2026 Ford Mustang RTR is only the second time the Blue Oval has partnered with a third party for a factory-built Mustang; the last time was with Carroll Shelby.
Ford kicked off 2025 by announcing a new performance trim for the EcoBoost Mustang: the Mustang RTR. Tonight at a dedicated event in Los Angeles, the American brand officially debuted the 2026 Mustang RTR, a collaboration with Vaughn Gittin Jr. that blends EcoBoost performance with V8 Mustang bits and know-how from the worlds of racing and drifting.
Let's get one thing clear from the off: there is no more power lurking behind the RTR's front fascia, which it borrows from the Mustang GT and adds glowing nostrils for good measure. We're still looking at 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque through the 10-speed automatic — the manual is V8-only — but those are the sorts of numbers V8s were putting out just 15 years ago. Ordering an EcoBoost with the RTR package does add anti-lag however, keeping the turbo spooled for more consistent power delivery. At the business end, quad exhaust pipes poke out from under the rear bumper, with the active exhaust standard on RTR …
(photo credit: Ford)
