Ford's Mustang GTD boasts such a broad width that it requires safety lights akin to the Raptor model. However, Ford discovered a legal loophole to avoid this additional equipment.
The Ford Mustang GTD, a high-performance vehicle with a price tag of $325,000 (to start), has created a stir in the automotive world due to its unique approach to visibility regulations. Despite its size, the Mustang GTD is six inches wider than a typical Mustang, measuring 81.8 inches wide, making it subject to certain regulations according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108.
However, the Mustang GTD does not have amber marker and clearance lamps, a requirement for vehicles that are 80 inches or wider according to the same standard. This apparent contradiction can be attributed to the Mustang GTD's design, which aims to avoid complying with certain visibility regulations associated with dual-purpose vehicles.
The Mustang GTD is not homologated as a dual-purpose vehicle and is considered a single-purpose vehicle. It is not designed for towing or work-related tasks, unlike other vehicles such as the Ford F-150 Raptor, Bronco Raptor, Ram TRX, and RHO, which have amber running lights front and back due to a law.
The team working on the Mustang GTD looked for a way to avoid adding the required amber marker and clearance lamps. SAE International, an organisation that sets industry standards for engineering, discovered that due to its width, the Mustang GTD legally requires amber marker lights. However, Ford circumvented this regulation by installing amber lights that do not function as marker lights, creating a loophole in the law.
This loophole allows the Mustang GTD to potentially be used for work purposes, but it is not considered a typical work vehicle. A vehicle can be classified as a dual-purpose vehicle if it has a sticker saying "not for hire." However, the Mustang GTD does not have such a sticker, further solidifying its status as a single-purpose vehicle.
It is important to note that the Mustang GTD, due to its width, should theoretically require amber marker and clearance lamps according to FMVSS 108. Driving the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD on public U.S. roads without these lamps could potentially lead to legal issues.
In conclusion, the Ford Mustang GTD, while a remarkable high-performance vehicle, has raised questions about its compliance with certain visibility regulations. Its unique design and the loophole found by Ford have allowed the Mustang GTD to avoid requiring amber marker and clearance lamps, but it remains to be seen how this will impact its legality on public roads.
