2026 Ford Mustang RTR is a Factory-Built Drift Pony

The 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.

The Mustang GT donates more goodies in the form of its Performance Package Brembo brakes, with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear pieces. Even the top-pony Dark Horse parts bin gets raided, specifically the anti-roll bars front and back along with the more robust rear sub-frame. Ford and Gittin Jr. have also tuned the Track driving mode specifically for the RTR. The entire model rolls on unique 19-inch alloy wheels with a 30-millimeter offset. A standard electronic (hand-operated) e-brake and optional adaptive dampers round out the chassis tweaks.

Like the exterior, the interior can be had with various Hyper Lime accents, including the stitching, seatbelts, and handbrake. The bright hue is optional: buyers can stick to a low-key black if preferred. RTR buyers will also get a unique start-up sequence on the digital instrument cluster, illuminated sill plates, and a serialized dashboard plaque.

How much will the 2026 Ford Mustang RTR cost? That we don't quite know. The RTR package will be available on the EcoBoost coupe only, in either standard form with the High package ($36,510 / $43,220 CAD) or the EcoBoost Premium trim ($38,340 / $47,425 CAD, all prices including destination). We suspect it will add roughly $5,000 (or $6,000 CAD) to the bottom line, but we should find out for sure ahead of the summer 2026 launch.

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