Ford GT Drops in Detroit Along With All the Jaws

Ford is making a glorious return to the supercar segment with the GT, a twin-turbo V6-powered exotic aimed squarely at the best from Italy.

The EcoBoost V6 cranks out more than 600 HP in this application and an undisclosed amount of torque, cementing it as the most powerful EcoBoost engine from Ford to date. That engine also uses a combination of port and direct injection, which should help to negate carbon buildup, a common problem on early direct injection engines that requires expensive and time consuming cleaning. The potent six-pot is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle.

The car uses both carbon fiber and aluminum to save weight. The specific curb weight wasn’t announced today, but the company said it will boast “one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car.” Its cell is made of carbon fiber while the front and rear sub-frames are crafted from aluminum.

That structure sits on top of a racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension that offer variable ride height. Ford is using Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires made of a compound designed specifically for the car. Of course there are carbon ceramic brakes sitting behind the 20-inch wheels.

The debut is part of Ford’s overall announcement that it plans to launch 12 new performance cars by 2020 including the Focus RS, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R.

2015 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Active aerodynamics – including an adjustable rear spoiler – will play a major role in how the new GT performs, although once again Ford came in light on further details about the car. Of course, it will also come with the latest in Ford’s connected driving technology: Sync 3.

“The GT is the ultimate execution of an enthusiast supercar,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio – another proof point that Ford continues raising the performance bar while ultimately improving vehicles for all of our customers.”

Seats in the GT are integrated directly into the carbon fiber passenger cell to save weight in a design trait Ford’s newest ultra performer shares with the LaFerrari. Like that car, the steering wheel and pedal box are adjustable to fit different drivers.

Ferrari also like to use steering wheels that are directly inspired by what you would find in an F1 race car and that’s exactly what Ford is using for the GT. In fact, the wheel is rich enough in controls to eliminate the need for stalks on the steering column.

There are still plenty of details left for Ford to release, but the company did confirm the most essential piece of information: this isn’t a concept and it will enter production in late 2016.

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