Ford’s been building Mustangs since 1964, and in that time, there’s only been one other third-party collaboration for a factory-built performance variant: Shelby. Now, for only the second time in six decades, Ford’s partnering with another tuner — Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles — to create a factory-spec performance Mustang that’s aimed squarely at the drift crowd. The 2026 Mustang EcoBoost RTR Package isn’t trying to out-muscle the GT or Dark Horse. Instead, it’s leaning into what the turbocharged four-cylinder does best with lighter weight, sharper handling, and now, some serious sideways capability.
Racing DNA with Street Hardware
RTR Vehicles has been in the Mustang game since 2009, when Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. started building custom packages that reflected his racing background. The brand’s motto — “Available to All, Not for Everyone” — speaks to a specific type of driver, and this factory collaboration brings that ethos directly into Ford showrooms.
It’s a drift-focused package that borrows heavily from the brand’s motorsport heritage, including anti-lag technology developed for the Le Mans-winning GT race car. This system keeps the turbo spooled even when you’re off throttle, eliminating lag and maintaining boost pressure during hard driving. The 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four still makes 315hp and 350lb.ft of torque, but the anti-lag tech changes how that power delivers. Paired with a 10-speed automatic (the only transmission option), the RTR gets an active exhaust system that routes sound through quad tips.
Dark Horse Bones, GT Brakes, RTR Attitude
Where the RTR really separates itself is in the chassis work. Ford pulled components from both the GT and Dark Horse to transform the EcoBoost into something more capable. Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rears come straight from the GT’s Performance Pack, while the Dark Horse donates its front and rear anti-roll bars and reinforced rear subframe. The steering rack gets 72.5mm of additional travel for increased lock angle, and the stability control system has been retuned specifically for Track mode. If you opt for the MagneRide adaptive dampers, those get a custom RTR calibration too. Everything here is designed to make the car easier to control when you’re hanging the rear end out. There’s also a standard electronic drift brake — hand-operated, naturally.
Visually, the RTR wears the GT’s front fascia but adds RTR’s signature lit-up nostrils and blacked-out grille badging. Tarnished Dark Anodized graphics run across the hood, rockers, and rear quarters, while 19-inch wheels with a 30mm offset sit behind optional Hyper Lime brake calipers. That lime green extends inside too, with accent stitching on the steering wheel, seats, and center console, plus a powder-coated drift brake lever and serialized dash plaque. If neon isn’t your thing, there’s a no-cost Black Interior Package with more subdued Metal Gray stitching.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost RTR Package
Engine: 2.3L Turbocharged Inline-Four
Power: 315 hp, 350 lb.ft torque
Transmission: 10-Speed Automatic
Brakes: Brembo (Six-Piston Front / Four-Piston Rear)
Wheels: 19×9.5-inch Tarnished Dark Anodized
Special Features: Anti-Lag System, Active Valve Exhaust, Electronic Drift Brake, MagneRide Dampers (Optional)
Pricing & Availability
Ford hasn’t announced pricing yet, but the base EcoBoost coupe starts at $34,315 for 2026, with the required High Package adding $2,195. The RTR Package will be available on fastback models only — no convertibles — and deliveries are expected to begin summer 2026.
Recap
2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost RTR
Ford teamed up with drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles to build a factory EcoBoost Mustang that’s actually designed to go sideways, complete with Le Mans-derived anti-lag tech, Dark Horse chassis bits, and Brembo brakes from the GT. It’s only the second third-party collaboration in Mustang’s 60-year history (the first being Shelby) and it arrives summer 2026 with pricing yet to be announced.
