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by Carlos de Alzaga
Engine: 5.4L V8
Retail Price: GBP 121,000 (incl. VAT) / MSRP US$ 110,000 / EUR 130,000 (incl. MwSt.) Competing Models: "Competing Segment" on right side of "Best Autos & Cars in the World" page More information on: www.ford.com
or www.fordvehicles.com
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The
new GT is Ford's Centennial car because it touches on Ford's proud past,
while paving a path for the company's future. In the process of readying
the car for production, the company innovated technology and new ways to
do business. The Ford GT, when it goes on sale in 2004, will pave
the way for a new way of developing vehicles at Ford. The Ford GT engineering
team is employing unique technologies and processes to bring the car to
market in record-breaking time. Most notably, the team is harnessing the
latest in computer technology in the design and engineering development
phases. This computer reliance is expected to cut the team's prototype
requirements from about 100 vehicles to under 20. After official approval
in May 2002, the Ford GT has been on the fast track to break records for
product development timing. One year later, Ford will help commemorate
its Centennial by unveiling the first three production Ford GTs in June
2003. The three vehicles honour the magical first-, second-, third-place
finish by Ford GT40s at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
In
1966, Ford's 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans proved to be priceless for the company's
image. Beating Enzo Ferrari at his own game was a feat that simply could
not be quantified. In 2004, things aren't as abstract. Driving home in
a new Ford GT will run you about six figures. Ford announced it would build
a production version of its GT 40 concept car just 45 days after the car
won unprecedented public and critical acclaim at 2002 North American International
Auto Show. Since that time, dealers have been deluged with inquiries from
interested customers asking, "how much, how many and when?" Ford announced
officially at an annual dealer meeting that only three cars would be produced
in 2003 to promote the product and help celebrate Ford Motor Company's
100th Anniversary. Production started in early 2004 and is limted to 3,500
units.
For
its January 2004 cover story, "Judgement Day!" a Car and Driver magazine
test driver drove a Ford GT from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. A front splitter,
side skirts, completely enclosed underbody, small rear spoiler and massive
under-car venturi tunnel are the main components of the aerodynamic package,
which provides 300 pounds of downforce at 130 mph and one of the lowest
lift/drag ratios on a production car. A novel twin-plate clutch keeps pedal
efforts remarkably low and is smaller in diameter than a comparable single-disc
clutch. Combined with a dry-sump lubrication system, this allows the engine
to be placed very low in the car for handling and packaging purposes. Backing
the clutch is an all-new six-speed transaxle. Today's MOD 5.4-liter V-8
builds on that heritage. In the Ford GT, a supercharged version of the
largest V-8 in Ford's modular engine family produces 500 horsepower and
500 foot-pounds of torque. Both figures are comparable to those of the
7.0-liter engine that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 and 1967.