Ford Heats Up Reimagined Detroit Auto Show with RTR EcoBoost Mustang and GTD ‘Spirit of America’

By Austin Atwood

January 23, 2025

DETROIT, Mich. – After a few years of experimenting with an outdoorsy summertime venue, the annual Detroit Auto Show moved back indoors in the middle of winter and reconnected with the motoring public in a big way, drawing thousands of enthusiasts from across the nation to The Motor City’s venerable Huntington Place downtown convention center. This year’s event, running from January 10 to January 20, offered a mix of new models, cutting-edge innovations, four indoor driving tracks and classic automotive attractions from famed movie cars to a display of exotics.

The venue’s main floor was dedicated to the latest releases from 22 major manufacturers, with sleek new designs, advanced EV models and tech, and sustainable initiatives taking center stage. Meanwhile, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as visitors got the chance to again sit in and experience firsthand what will be available in showrooms this year, as well as to enjoy some real-world ride-along driving opportunities.

Ford got the jump on Friday’s “Media Day” with a special invitation-only reveal on Thursday night, where the automotive world got to see and hear about the special Mustang GTD “Spirit of America” offering, as well as the results of a collaboration with Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his RTR Vehicles to produce the most iconic EcoBoost Mustang yet. Additionally, pro quarterback Jared Goff helped introduce a Detroit Lions Special Edition F-150, all while two new versions of Broncos and the latest updates for the Ford Maverick were revealed – including the much-anticipated Maverick Lobo street truck.

Beyond the extravagant display of mainstream exhibits were some hidden gems that for the first time connected Detroit Auto Show attendees with the legacy of America’s automotive car culture. In addition to a special famed movie car display (yes, it included Clark Griswold’s “Wagon Queen Family Truckster” – the exaggerated 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire from National Lampoon’s “Vacation” movie) there was a nice selection of classic cars sourced from a major local consignment company, as well as “The Gallery” display of high-end race cars and exotics.

But what truly captivated this year’s attendees – especially a surge of younger showgoers – was a new “Modded Detroit” exhibit on the River Level. This sub-feature of the auto show shined a spotlight on the creativity of young car enthusiasts who’ve pushed the limits of customization and formed a Detroit area club to showcase this new generation of car fandom. We’ll have a full report on Modded Detroit next week on FordPerfomamance.com, so don’t miss it!