Ford and RTR Team Up for New EcoBoost-Based Performance Pony

Performance-inclined buyers of the Ford Mustang typically gravitate towards one of the V8-powered models, of which the seventh-gen pony car has no shortage of thanks to the GT and its available performance package, the souped-up Dark Horse and the Nürburgring-smashing GTD; however, a new spawn from the long running collaboration between Ford and RTR will soon call the inline-four EcoBoost up to bat.

Very appropriately named, the Mustang RTR is a new performance spec for the EcoBoost Mustang, co-created by the drifting wizards over at “Ready to Rock,” including RTR Vehicles President and Founder, and two-time drift champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr. A big milestone for Ford, the RTR will be only the second time in Mustang history where a model co-created with an outside partner will be offered from the factory.

Exactly how it excites the EcoBoost lifestyle is yet to be confirmed, but we know the Mustang RTR will borrow parts from the Dark Horse and incorporate the drift brake found on seventh-gen ponies equipped with the Performance Package, which RTR helped develop prior. A quad-tip exhaust poking out from the rear diffuser provides evidence of Ford’s active valve system. Lime green Brembo brakes and a pedestal spoiler further shake up the style, but not as much as the layered LEDs lining the grille’s nostrils, a staple design motif of RTR’s Mustang catalog.

We’d love to see this RTR pack a little extra punch, but the EcoBoost’s 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, derived from a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, is plenty stout for this rear-driven platform. With the current S650 generation, the six-speed manual has been axed on EcoBoost models, making the 10-speed automatic the sole transmission. More power is more likely to be seen than a trim-exclusive manual, but one can dream.

Whether you’re an enthusiast perusing the online shops for aftermarket parts or you’re a fan of Formula Drift, RTR is likely a familiar acronym. They’ve been racing, modifying and supporting the Ford Mustang for nearly two decades. And now’s your chance to get one spec’d out straight off the assembly line.

Availability and pricing of the Ford Mustang RTR is yet to be announced. It’s on display at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show alongside the Mustang GTD “Spirit of America” special edition.