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January 15, 2015
The Ford GT Returns to Detroit. Detroit Auto Show 2015 | Ford
Ford GT
Detroit Motor Show 2015
Ford GT Revives in Detroit
A new generation of the supercar has arrived from Ford at the ongoing Detroit Show in North America. The "Ford GT," inheriting its historic name and reborn as an entirely new car, will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo gasoline engine and is scheduled for commercial release in 2016.
Text by OGAWA Fumio
Launch Scheduled for 2016
The legendary American supercar is back. At the 2015 North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show), the "GT" brought by Ford was undoubtedly the center of attention. Featuring a carbon fiber body and a V6 engine, it is said to produce over 600 horsepower.
"Looking back at our history, we were able to build great products not by staying in the lab, but by actively participating in racing," said Mark Fields, CEO of Ford Motor Company.
The Ford sports car, introduced in 1964 and named GT40 due to its 40-inch (1,016 cm) height, was developed to compete with Ferrari in endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It achieved a remarkable feat by winning Le Mans for four consecutive years from 1966, and its styling, with elegantly simple lines, has made it an automotive icon that has lost none of its luster to this day.
Ford announced that it will put a supercar, imbued with that image, into production in 2016.
Ford GT
Detroit Motor Show 2015
Ford GT Revives in Detroit (2)
The New Generation Ford GT: A Sports Car That Will Tantalize Enthusiasts
The engine for the new generation Ford GT is a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit. Ford claims it will feature twin turbochargers, producing over 600 horsepower and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in under three seconds.
It appears to be rear-wheel drive and will not use electric motors. The suspension is a pushrod type, reminiscent of F1 cars, and the ride height is adjustable. It could be defined as a new generation supercar with traditional values.
"The Ford GT is proof of Ford's ability to deliver sporty value to customers," says Raj Nair, Ford's group vice president for global product development. At the same show, Ford also unveiled the Shelby GT350R Mustang, underscoring its commitment to expanding its sporty model lineup by 2020.
It features upward-swinging dihedral doors between large 20-inch wheels. The seating position is low, and the cockpit is equipped with a steering wheel akin to an F1 machine, filled with details that, while not excessive, will surely excite sports car enthusiasts.
Its rivals are considered to be cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Pricing and plans for introduction to Japan remain undecided.