Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Spec 5 Mustang delivers 870 hp, making it the tuner’s most powerful pony car ever.
The Mustang GTD may be Ford’s new flagship performance car, but another contender has arrived—this time from within the Mustang stable itself.
RTR Vehicles, led by Ford Racing driver Vaughn Gittin Jr., has unveiled the 2026 Mustang RTR Spec 5. It’s the most powerful car the performance outfit has ever produced, boasting a massive 870 horsepower from a heavily modified version of Ford’s familiar 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
The build starts with a Mustang GT equipped with the factory performance pack. From there, RTR adds a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger, intercooler, and a custom Borla cat-back exhaust system designed in-house. The upgrades push output from the stock 480 hp well into supercar territory, while maintaining the street-focused drivability enthusiasts expect from the Mustang.
Beyond raw power, the Spec 5 features suspension and aerodynamic refinements intended to balance track-ready handling with everyday usability. RTR’s package includes aggressive styling cues, a distinctive stance, and functional components that set it apart from a factory GT while staying true to the Mustang’s design language.
Gittin Jr., known for his Formula Drift success and passion for Mustangs, has long positioned RTR as a bridge between factory engineering and enthusiast-level performance. The Spec 5 builds on that reputation, offering buyers an alternative to the factory-built Mustang GTD at a likely lower price point—though official pricing has yet to be announced.
While Ford’s GTD aims to rival Europe’s elite sports cars with track-focused precision, the RTR Spec 5 caters to muscle car purists who crave horsepower and individuality. With nearly double the output of a standard GT, this latest RTR creation underscores the Mustang’s enduring role as both a cultural icon and a performance benchmark.
Would you take this 870-horsepower pony over the factory-built GTD?
