Ford Motor Company's Detroit Proud event on Thursday night offered a sneak peek at the Detroit Auto Show and a new factory-customized drift-friendly Mustang trim.

Detroit — Ford Motor Co. used its kickoff Thursday evening of the Detroit Auto Show to express its commitment to the event that for decades has made Detroit a destination, unveiling two special-edition Mustangs.

Developed with racer Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang tuning firm RTR, the factory-tuned pony car is expected to offer more power and performance than the stock model.

Ford will have this camouflaged Mustang RTR on the show floor at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford is offering the first special edition Mustang GTD to mark the achievements of American ingenuity in what it's calling the Spirit of America.

The four-cylinder Ford Mustang has never received the same love as the V8-powered models, but that’s changing with the launch of the new Mustang RTR. Built in partnership with Vaugh Gittin Jr’s RTR, it’ll be offered directly from Ford and sold alongside the Mustang GT, Mustang Dark Horse, and the all-conquering Mustang GTD.

Ford Motor Company kicked off the Detroit Auto Show one day before the Media Day and Charity Preview with an event inside Huntington Place.

Here comes the 2025 Ford Mustang RTR with the EcoBoost engine, rear-wheel drive, and Electronic Drift Brake for some four-cylinder fun at the track

Set to make its formal debut on Friday at the 2025 Detroit auto show, the new performance Mustang is based on the latest Mustang EcoBoost and will be built by Ford on the same line as the regular Mustang. RTR has its own series of tuned Mustangs which it builds at its own facilities.

The Detroit Auto Show is back and we're live from the show on Friday morning in January. Brittany Toolis is live from Ford to see what they're showing off.