Ford showcases Mustang GTD, new EV models and MS-RT vehicles at the Essen Motor Show

Ford presents the Mustang GTD alongside new electric models and MS-RT vehicles at the Essen Motor Show, highlighting performance, innovation and community engagement.

At the 2025 Essen Motor Show, Ford appeared in several roles at once — as a guardian of high-performance traditions, as a manufacturer of a new wave of electric vehicles, and as a participant in a social initiative. The main spotlight was on the German premiere of the Ford Mustang GTD, a model that had already made history with its 6:52.072 lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This achievement positioned the GTD as Ford’s fastest production car and placed it among the quickest road-legal sports cars officially recorded on the legendary circuit.

The GTD’s public appearance was accompanied by a figure inseparable from Germany’s tuning culture: Jean Pierre “JP” Kraemer hosted the premiere and presented not only the supercar but also his own project — a radically modified Ford Bronco in a Dune Buggy style. Stripped of excess weight, lifted, and prepared for demanding off-road use, the vehicle emphasized Ford’s broader message: technology built for pure emotion.

Electric vehicles also claimed their space under the spotlights. The stand featured the battery-electric Puma Gen-E, the new version of Ford’s popular crossover. The model offers a WLTP range of up to 376 km, extending to 523 km in urban conditions, and supports fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in about 23 minutes. Its debut comes amid a major shift in Ford’s European production landscape: Puma Gen-E is manufactured in Craiova, while the Explorer EV and Capri EV are produced at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, Ford’s first carbon-neutral plant, rebuilt through a 2-billion-dollar investment.

Explorer EV and Capri EV represent Ford’s next generation of European electric vehicles, built on the Volkswagen MEB platform and designed to cover a wide set of mobility needs — from family-oriented travel to more expressive coupe-inspired formats. Capri EV, for example, offers battery configurations up to 79 kWh and a range of up to 627 km WLTP, while Explorer EV became the first electric Ford to roll off the modernized Cologne assembly line.

A separate part of the Ford display focused on MS-RT — models developed together with the M-Sport team, well-known for its presence in the World Rally Championship. Ranger Plug-in Hybrid MS-RT, Transit Custom MS-RT, and Tourneo Custom MS-RT stood out with their aggressive aerodynamic elements, larger wheels, and sporty interior details. The appearance of the Tourneo Custom MS-RT at the show coincided with the start of customer orders in Germany.

Outside the halls, Ford organized the Ford Experience area — an off-road course and test-drive zone where visitors could feel what a 24-degree incline in a Bronco feels like or try out Ford’s electric models in real-world conditions. This part of the program also carried a social dimension: several activities were integrated into the Drive 4 UR Community initiative. For every completed test drive, Ford donated 30 euros to Essener Elterninitiative, an organization that has supported families of children with cancer since 1983 and operates the “Elternhaus” residential facility near Essen University Hospital.

Combining new models, motorsport-driven energy, and community involvement, Ford’s participation in the 2025 Essen Motor Show demonstrated how an automaker can advance its technology, stay close to its enthusiast audience, and meaningfully support the region at the same time.