Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his crew at RTR Vehicles have cooked up this halo beast, blending Formula Drift flair with street-legal savagery, and it’s got more ponies than Ford’s own track monster, the Mustang GTD, all while costing about half as much. Starting at $159,999 and capped at just 50 units a year, this isn’t your average pony car mod; it’s a serialized thrill machine built to drift, carve, or cruise with equal abandon. I’ve been geeking out over the reveals since they dropped last week, and trust me, this Spec 5 is RTR’s boldest swing yet – let’s break down why it’s got me itching for a track day.

RTR’s Wild Ride: From Drift King to Halo Mustang Master

Vaughn Gittin Jr. isn’t just a two-time Formula Drift champ; he’s the guy who’s turned Mustangs into sideways legends, and the RTR brand is his playground for pushing Ford’s icons to absurd limits. The Spec series has always been their crown jewel – think of past gens as rolling labs for widebody wizardry and supercharger sorcery – but the 2026 Spec 5 takes it nuclear. Starting life as a Mustang GT with the Performance Pack and Recaro seats, it gets the full RTR treatment: a gamma-ray glow-up that morphs it into a cyberpunk predator ready to humble supercars.

What sets it apart? This isn’t some bolt-on bash job; it’s a factory-fresh S650 chassis reimagined with RTR’s “Ready to Rock” ethos, blending track precision with everyday usability. Gittin’s influence shines through – he’s all about that “professional fun-haver” vibe, so expect a ride that’s as happy whipping donuts as it is nailing apexes. With production kicking off for 2026 and orders open now, snagging one means joining an exclusive club of 50 annually, each etched with Gittin’s signature plaque.

Looks That Kill: Carbon-Clad Widebody and Aggressive Stance

Eyeball the 2026 Mustang RTR Spec 5, and it’s clear this pony’s gone full feral – a fully integrated widebody kit that’s mostly exposed carbon fiber, stretching the arches for a planted, predatory crouch. No cheap flares here; RTR’s aero suite includes a front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser that channel air like a GT3 racer, all while shaving weight for sharper responses. The hood vents scream intent, and that massive wing out back isn’t just show – it’s functional downforce for high-speed stability.

Roll it on 20-inch RTR forged wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber (305/30 front, 315/30 rear), and it sits aggressive yet adjustable, thanks to the tunable stance. Customization? Dive into RTR’s extended palette for standard hues or go paint-to-sample for that one-of-one flex – think Shift Red or Vapor Blue with carbon accents. It’s the kind of look that pulls up next to a Lamborghini and doesn’t blink, all while screaming Mustang soul.

Heart-Pounding Power: 870+ HP Supercharged V8 Madness

Pop the hood, and the Spec 5’s secret sauce stares back: Ford’s legendary 5.0-liter Coyote V8, force-fed by a 3.0-liter Whipple Stage 2 supercharger, HD race intercooler, and RTR-tuned Borla catback exhaust. The result? Over 870 horsepower and 660 lb-ft of torque – yeah, that’s enough to eclipse the GTD’s 815 hp, turning this street ‘Stang into a drag-strip demon that hooks hard and pulls like a freight train.

Transmission options keep it versatile: row your own with a Tremec six-speed manual for that raw, connected feel, or let the 10-speed auto handle shifts with paddle logic. Either way, 0-60 vanishes in the low threes, and quarter-mile runs flirt with sub-10s. It’s not just brute force – the supercharger’s whine builds like a sci-fi siren, and with no turbo lag, every throttle stab is instant apocalypse. For a car born from drift DNA, this powerplant’s as tunable as it is terrifying.

Handling Havoc: Drift Brake, Brembos, and Track-Tuned Ride

RTR didn’t stop at straight-line shove – the 2026 Mustang RTR Spec 5’s chassis is a playground for physics. The Tactical Performance suspension packs 30-way adjustable coilovers, dampers, and sway bars, preset for a street/track hybrid but tweakable for your flavor – soft for canyon cruises or stiff for circuit assaults. It maintains Mustang articulation without the punishing ride, so you can daily it without drama.

The star? Gittin’s electronic drift brake – a factory Ford collab that lets you initiate slides with a button, perfect for smoky donuts or controlled oversteer without lifting. Haul it down with Brembo six-piston fronts and four-piston rears clamping two-piece rotors, and you’ve got stopping power that matches the speed. It’s built for “the fast way or the fun way,” as Gittin puts it – a track tool that rewards mischief.

Inside the Beast: Recaros, Simplicity, and Signature Swagger

Slide into the Spec 5, and it’s all business wrapped in luxury – RTR Leather Recaros in cool grey bolsters with black suede inners and ribbed inserts nodding to the Ford GT’s heritage. The cockpit keeps it driver-focused: serialized plaque on the dash, RTR shift knob, and floor mats, all etched with that Gittin Jr. flair. No over-the-top gadgets – just the Mustang’s digital cluster, Apple CarPlay, and enough bolstering to keep you planted mid-drift.

It’s cozy for two (or four in a pinch), with the Performance Pack’s accents adding just enough premium without fluff. Think of it as a cockpit for chaos – simple, supportive, and screaming “go play.”

Price and Exclusivity: $159,999 for 50 Slots – Act Fast

At $159,999 (including the base GT Performance Pack), the 2026 Mustang RTR Spec 5 undercuts the GTD’s $325K tag while packing more punch – a steal for this level of bespoke brutality. Limited to 50 builds yearly, each one’s a collector’s gem with endless personalization – from wheel finishes to that paint-to-sample pop. Orders are live for 2026 delivery; if you’re not first in line, you might wait years.

Spec 5 vs. GTD: The Power Play Showdown

The Spec 5 trades ultimate lap times for drift-ready fun and value – your call on the vibe.

Final Lap: Why the RTR Spec 5 is Mustang Magic

The 2026 Mustang RTR Spec 5 isn’t just a car; it’s a manifesto from Gittin and RTR on what a pony should be – wildly capable, unapologetically fun, and accessible enough to tempt mortals. With 870 hp eclipsing the GTD at half the dough, carbon swagger, and that drift button begging for abuse, it’s the halo ‘Stang that proves Ford’s icon still rules the streets (and strips). If you’re chasing thrills without the seven-figure regret, this is your sign – hit up RTR before the 50 sell out. Dream build: manual, Shift Red, max track tune. What’s yours? Drop it below; let’s plot some smoke shows!

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Source- rtrvehicles