2017 Ford GT Car: The new 2017 Ford GT is a mean hulking monster of a machine, arguably the best supercar ever launched by the company with the blue oval logo. The first time we laid eyes on the new Ford GT was when it was undergoing wind tunnel testing at Allen Park, Michigan, at an astonishing speed of 125 mph. This new supercar is the second generation apparition of the classic GT40, which won the Le Mans endurance driving test exactly 50 years ago in 1966.
For the motorsport uninitiated, the 24 hours of Le Mans, commonly known as 24 Heures du Mans is the world's oldest active sports-car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France
- The first Ford GT was launched in 2005-2006, and the new GT was first showcased at the 2015 Detroit auto show.
How the EcoBoost V6 has helped the 2017 Ford GT
The 2017 Ford GT is a monster of a Super car. With Gorilla Glass windshield and a whole host of other features, the new Ford is one to watch out for. In reality, no auto enthusiast worth his salt will argue that the Ford GT is not worth the $450,000 price tag it sports. The one big reason for such a hefty price tag is the fabled engine of the new Ford. This being an EcoBoost V6, the driving and crankshaft power is taken to a whole new level. On an average, the limited edition supercar will have around 200 cars manufactured every year. Already, resellers are selling it at no less than the original price tag, even if the specimen in question is a used vehicle.
Historically speaking, the new 2017 Ford GT is a carryover from the 1966 classic which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans challenge handsomely. The new 2017 Ford GT has the same engine block which powers the Ford Fusion. In a world filled with V8s and V12s, the Project Silver, which was then turned into the GT project, has managed to find its own niche. The powerful 3.5-Liter EcoBoost V-6 which has been developed by Ganassi Racing in their Daytona Prototype program, achieves the same performance by keeping the car's weight down to 3,000 pounds only. Besides, a charged air anti-lag system also helps compensate for the V6 in this model.
- It turned heads and set people’s imagination alight. Upon the review of what little we know of this upcoming supercar, one word stood in bold: Aerodynamics. The 2017 Ford GT is a masterpiece of aerodynamic design and will tear through the wind like a hot knife through butter. The design is reminiscent of the classic racing cars harking back to the 1960s. 50 years later, Ford may finally be coming back to its racing roots, and we are here to guide you as the car makes its way to the consumer market.
2017 Ford GT Specs and Price
2017 Ford GT Design and Engine
The Ford GT features an RMR layout, which translates into non-auto jargon as Rear-Mid Engine-Rear-Wheel-Drive. The mid-engine design enables the car to have a low centre of gravity, leading to a more comfortable, better and safer ride. Like its predecessor 50 years ago, it is a 2-door coupe with dihedral doors or doors which swing open upwards. That’s classy. On the exterior, at first glance, it seems as if a racing car has been enveloped in a coupe body, with a low growl coming from the V6 twin-turbocharged 3.5 litre EcoBoost engine.
- This 2017 Ford GT engine will have the power of 600 prancing horses. We know that 600 HP transfers to around 450 KW of power.
- Remember this is the engine which had the IMSA Daytona Prototype Endurance Racer’s Ford as the prototype. How does Ford manage to put out so much power from such a small engine, considering that it’s not even a V8?
- The upcoming Ford GT super car features a Combo-port Direct-Injection Fuel system, coupled with a dual clutch, seven-speed transaxle.
- The GT has no manual transmission and is available only as a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. We enjoy this aspect of the new supercar, because the rear-wheel drive, coupled with auto transmission ensures that the GT’s racing genes come through nice and easy. This is a true driver’s car
Featuring an adjustable steering wheel and pedals, Ford seemingly has picked a leaf from Enzo Ferrari’s legendary racing cars by putting all controls on the steering wheel itself, making the driving an immersive experience. .
- The signature sloped GT nose, coupled with dual air-intake ducts in front, a carbon-fibre based body with sloped windscreens which are rounded off to minimise air friction or drag, and an active rear spoiler enhances the aerodynamic design, allowing the car to push the barriers when it comes to speed.
- The 2017 Ford GT can do 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, 3.2 seconds if experts are to be believed. A maximum speed of 200 mph is to be expected
The 2017 Ford GT is the Safest Super Car
Many people who are new to the 2017 Ford GT also know that the new super car is also the safest super car available. This new super car is also said to be the one any enthusiast should drive before moving on to more powerful cars kike the McLaren Mercedes. While many users have often complained about the price tag which accompanies the new 2017 Ford GT, it is also interestingly similar to the cars that we have only read about in science fiction.
The one hallmark of any new car, and definitely that of any super car, is the safety. In the case of the new 2017 Ford GT, the safety is taken a tad further than most. This is the first super car to have an FIA-sanctioned roll cage. This is the one big advantage that the new Ford has over such potent rivals like the Lamborghini Aventador SV. Such features are essential in bridging the gap between the race car and the passenger vehicle as well. Interestingly, the new 2017 Ford GT is one huge leap over the racing counterparts.
A roll cage, simply put, is a framework of reinforcements put inside the chassis of any vehicle in order to protect the passenger cabin should the vehicle roll over on its head. This single factor will also ensure that the new 2017 Ford GT is ahead of its supercar competitors in all respects, be it design, safety, or engines
2017 Ford GT Hot Wheels and Tires
The 2017 Ford GT wheels also aid in maximum acceleration. It sports 20-inch one-piece forged aluminium wheels with 20-inch Carbon fibre rollers. These next generation Carbon Fibre wheels are only making a second appearance after the Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350R.
- Remember the movie ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’? That’s the car. Michelin Pilot Super Port Cup 2, with multi-spoke wheels and Carbon Ceramic brake discs are featured.
- The brake callipers come in 5 colour variants, including grey and black. The wheels themselves have three colour options: Graphite with black nuts, matte black with black nuts and silver with chrome nuts.
2017 Ford GT Body and Interior
The body is almost entirely composed of lightweight Carbon fibre, with a carbon fibre monocoque shell bolted to the aluminium front and rear sub-frames covered in carbon fibre body panels.
- The windshields are made of Corning Gorilla Glass Hybrid, the same material used in mobile phones nowadays.
- The hybrid Gorilla glass is thinner than laminated glass and weighs 30% less. The GT will thus be 12 pounds lighter and will aid better handling and improve fuel efficiency.
- Seating is fixed; the instrument cluster is multifaceted and can be user-adjusted in accordance with the passenger’s wishes.
- The display is fully configurable for multiple driving environments and different driving modes as well.
- This low weight, combined with the Michelin rubber-clad 20-inch alloy wheels will ensure that the upcoming 2017 Ford GT is a monster in every sense of the word.
Ford GT 2017 Headlamps & Taillamps
The 2017 Ford GT is a supercar, and if there is one thing that makes a supercars stand out from the rest (apart from the speed, grace and serious engineering specs), it is the attention to detail. The 01 Ford GT is not an exception; indeed, it might turn into a trendsetter. The slit-like front lamps are not mere eye candy and a means to an end, which is illumination: they are intelligent headlamps and tail-lamps, which belong more to an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet and less on a car. Put blandly, high-intensity discharge or halogen lamps are relics now.
- The new LED lamps, which almost all automakers use, including Ford, are brighter, smaller and easier to fit in the chassis, itself made of light-weight carbon fibre.
- The aerodynamic advantages apart, these high-power LEDs produce less heat and gobble less energy, thereby increasing the vehicle efficiency.
- Ford has made additional breakthroughs: they have linked human psychology and the effects that colour, brightness, gradient and saturation of exterior and interior lighting has on mood.
The result is the Crystal Diamond Light. The new tech first debuted in the Ford F-150. Arun Kumar, Ford optics expert and design engineer stated that since one’s eyes tend to focus more on gradients and saturation of oncoming lights, poor lighting quality affects people’s moods.
- This new technology will provide clear light, based on tests on light perception by men and women alike, with a cooler temperature to stabilise the rider’s psyche.
- This new breakthrough will save fuel, time and other costs incurred.
- Besides, the LED lams are 62% more energy efficient and provide more radiant luminance. People with colour blindness too will have better lighting inside the car, although we are yet to see one in action.
The tail-lamps have been tweaked too . Taking a cue from drag racers, the 2017 Ford GT will have hot air exit channels hollowed out inside them, besides leaving through the intercoolers in the fenders. This neat trick will allow the V8 monster to breathe, like a resting dragon. The front headlamps may have ram-air intake abilities, like a lung, but that is confirmable at this time. Installing two large air outlets in the middle of the GT's rear-lamps will let for a symmetrical and aerodynamic four-exit-hole design across the supercar's rear end. Experts have welcomed the move.
Ford GT (2017) Production and Competition
The 2017 Ford GT will arrive in varying colour options, which include Frozen White, Shadow Black, Liquid Grey and variants like Liquid Blue, Liquid Red and Triple Yellow. The GT will go up against the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette Zora ZR 1, the Lamborghini Zuracan and the new generation Audi R8. The Zuracan is the Bologna-based carmakers' supercar offering after the Gallardo broke sales records the world over. The Zuracan, incidentally, will have a V10 engine, making it possibly more powerful than the 2017 Ford GT. That being said, the GT will be the fastest production car Ford has ever made.
Ford stated that the 2017 GT would be a low-volume supercar, launching only around 28 cars per year. Roughly one car per day will be manufactured till 2020. Units sold for 2017-2018 will be reserved for selected buyers, 2019 for new buyers not considered previously and 2020 will be dedicated to that customer already passed over. The car is expected to be priced around $400,000. Manufactured and assembled at a Multimatic unit of Ford in Markham, Ontario, Canada, Garen Nicoghosian is the chief automotive designer for the 2017 Ford GT. Ford Performance Boss Dave Pericak did not confirm an official launch date in 2017
The new EcoBoost engine that powers the 2017 Ford GT will be not as much a gas guzzler as other supercars, although it will be the most powerful EcoBoost to date. `On June 19, 2016, the number 68 racing model of the Ford GT racing team, the Ford Ganassi Racing came in first at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, confirming that even after 50 years, Ford still has it. The GT costs around $125,000 more than a hand built Lamborghini Aventador with a V12 that goes 0-60 in 2.89seconds and hits 219mph easily.
5 Things We learned From The 2017 Ford GT’s Test Drive
Before we begin, we must acknowledge one thing: the new 2017 Ford GT is, without doubt, one of the best supercars to have ever been manufactured. We say this with great emopuasis and with all the expertise available with us. Even some of the world’s foremost auto publications, including the experts from the likes of BBC’s Topgear and the popular auto magazine Car and Driver have come to the same conclusion. So, we list here 5 0f the top things that we got to know from the test drive we had with the new GT. The list is not arranged in any order or manner whatsoever.
- Its a rather tight fit: If there is one pet gripe among the drivers and the test riders, it is the lack of apparent headroom. A reviewer, who was 6’2” said that the height was too tight to fit into.
- Anti-lag in a road car takes your breath away: The anti-lag feature makes for a very pleasant drive, even if it means that the massively powerful V6 engine growls like a feline confined. It may be a tiger, but it is a domesticated one.
- The 7-speed dual-clutch Getrag transmission: This is one of the best features of the new 2017 Ford GT. Although the seven gears might seem like overkill, it is very important when you reach the top speed of 216 mph.
- Hydraulic steering: The GT boasts hydraulic steering, which we still believe is better than electric steering. And it caresses your driving experience even better.
- Finally, the Corning Gorilla Glass factor: This is the one factor which reduces the weight of the car down significantly. It also drives down the centre of gravity as well, which in essence makes the car even safer than its competitors.
Expert's Say....
Two disadvantages also stand out: the chassis mounted seating may not be the most comfortable ride, and the lack of a manual transmission may turn off certain customers. The chassis and seat being together can cause bigger risks in case of a crash as well. With Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development, quoted as saying “Ford GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio”, we hope that the 2017 Ford GT will appeal to a wide array of supercar enthusiasts. The war of the supercars has just begun.