Ford has revealed the hardware being baked into the 2026 RTR Package for the Mustang EcoBoost. Boiled down, buyers will be getting a factory drift package composed largely of components borrowed from meaner versions of the pony car. But there are also plenty of bits coming directly from RTR, several of which will be wholly unique to the vehicle in question.
If you’re wondering why Ford didn’t bother to go with one of the V8-powered Mustangs, the company offered up a conversation between Ryan Shaughnessy (Mustang brand manager) and RTR founder Vaughn Gittin, Jr. to help explain things.
The gist is that the companies believed the V8 had already proven itself a capable drift machine. But the EcoBoost was lighter and had better weight distribution. Ford clearly wanted to use something that would be approachable to novice drivers. Running with the EcoBoost also helps keep the price down so that it might actually make sense for someone to buy the RTR Package, rather than going with something else that they would then convert into a drift machine.
“One of the standout features that I like over the V8 is the excellent 54/46 weight distribution,” Gittin told Shaughnessy. “The front end feels sharper and nimbler right out of the gate and the power and weight balance of the turbocharged EcoBoost engine with the 10-speed automatic transmission is enough to put a smile on any driver’s face. The base suspension characteristics were great, but we had to make the handling truly special. It needed to be stiffer, and more responsive, especially for the drift performance we wanted to ensure it had.”
While it exists primarily to help market the drift package, their conversation is enlightening. But it never addressed the elephant in the room. Mustang sales have been moving in the wrong direction for a while and Ford is likely desperate to draw attention back to the vehicle — particularly among young enthusiasts who may become life-long fans.
That’s presumably why the EcoBoost’s RTR Package exists. But the reasoning won’t matter if it performs as intended. Despite not being an expert in drifting, the pack seems to offer most of what you’d need to get sideways at an event.
Ford says the 2026 RTR Package for the Mustang EcoBoost will include the Dark Horse Mustang’s adjustable strut alignment bracket, handling pack (with front and rear stabilizer bars), and its rear subframe with even stiffer bushings. The steering rack is being lifted from the Mustang GT and features an additional 72.5 millimeters of travel to help the car hold a deeper slide. A 600-watt cooling fan has also been borrowed from the GT and the same goes for the Performance Package Brembo brakes (15.3-inch front rotors and six-piston front calipers) that have been fitted to the car.
Meanwhile, RTR has offered up a stability control tune designed for drifting along with some recalibrated MagneRide dampers.
The interior of the vehicle is rather well appointed for a drift car (which are usually gutted) and is admittedly the one area where you might want to do some work if you’re planning to drift professionally. The rampant lime-green accenting (which includes the seatbelts) is quite handsome and contrasts well with the black upholstery.
But your author would expect a lot more bolstering in the seats on a car that’s been designated for drifting. Mild concerns also surround the “Powder-coated Hyper Lime Electric Drift Brake Lever.” While one would assuredly prefer an extra-tall hydraulic brake lever specifically designed for drifting events, Ford’s Electronic Drift Brake (introduced in 2024) has at least proven itself capable of helping street cars get sideways.
The company also clearly wants to make sure this vehicle is something that could still be driven daily. With that in mind, it’s understandable why it doesn’t come with a roll cage or comically long hydraulic brake lever. But one does wish that some of the visual niceties (e.g. RTR branded numbered dash plaques, specialty door sills, and matching digital startup graphics) could have been swapped out for a more useful hardware. A manual transmission would be nice, even if we all know why the EcoBoost isn’t offered with one anymore.
It’s simply cheaper for a manufacturer to run with the equipment that’s already available. Besides, anybody who’s going to get super serious about drifting is just going to strip out the interior anyway to make room for a full cage, harness, and racing seats.
As for the rest of the RTR Package, it looks as though all EcoBoost Mustangs come with Avalanche Gray paint and dark anodized mirror caps — which matches the spoiler and exterior badging. Ford likely assumes you’ll be covering the car with your own graphics. But, you do get a few from the factory and have the option to buy the “Optional Hyper Lime Appearance Package with Hyper Lime brake calipers, unique Hyper Lime graphics.” The brakes can also be made green independently of the graphics pack.
Wheels are a set of 19×9.5-inch Tarnished Dark Anodized units with a 30-millimeter offset. The front fascia is lifted directly from the Mustang GT. However, the grille is from RTR and includes the brand’s signature lit nostrils.
All in all, it’s a decent looking package and could help set someone down the initial path of becoming the next Drift King. But it’s not so comprehensive that you couldn’t still use the car everyday and would likewise need quite a few modifications to do anything other than amateur drifting events.
The car still makes 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque from its 2.3-liter turbo. But that can be bumped up to 350 hp and 400 lb-ft via a Ford Performance tune without even having to void the warranty. Considering that the standard EcoBoost Mustang was already a lot of fun (even with the obligatory 10-speed automatic), the RTR Package really serves to make it even more lively.
Its ultimate success will likely come down to price, something Ford has to be aware of if it seriously plans on getting more people to buy the Mustang. Sadly, we have no clue on what it’s going to cost and Ford isn’t even willing to offer any hints at this juncture. Our best guess is to expect it to start in the low $40,000 range if Blue Oval is seriously committed to moving these specialty cars.
However, it could get dangerously close to the nearly $50,000 that it takes to get into a Mustang GT. Considering that the RTR Pack borders on being a parts bin special with some specialized tuning, Ford should be able to keep it on the lower end of the spectrum. That said, this looks to be one of those instances where “parts bin special” isn’t an insult because you’re getting a decent amount of upgraded hardware from more expensive Mustangs. Our guess is that the manufacturer is waiting to hear what the fans have to say before it decides on a final asking price.
[Images: Ford Motor Co.]
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