It took a secret skunkworks project deep in the basement of Ford’s Dearborn headquarters to create the second-generation Ford GT. Ford initially planned a racing Mustang to beat Ferrari, Porsche, and Corvette at Le Mans, with a road-going version to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. The final car, launched in 2017, bore little resemblance to a road car, a design choice that prioritised track performance over everyday usability.
Performance and Powertrain
The GT is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 638bhp and 550lb ft of torque. The engine shares DNA with Ford’s truck units, offering a utilitarian, industrial soundtrack that lacks the exotic character of European rivals. Despite the utilitarian powertrain, acceleration is raw and effective. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is physically integrated into the rear suspension, a layout seen in some of the greatest racing cars in history.
Zero to 60mph takes 2.8 seconds, with a top speed of 216mph. The car uses five drive modes, including Wet, Comfort, Sport, Track, and V-max. In Sport and Track settings, an anti-lag system keeps the turbines spinning to eliminate turbo lag. The brakes feature carbon ceramic discs.
Despite its impressive numbers, the GT’s weight—around 1,450kg with fluids—keeps it lighter than many contemporary rivals from Ferrari and McLaren.
Road Experience and Flaws
Driving the GT on the road reveals its flaws. The car is intimidatingly wide, often crossing lane markers. At 50mph, conversation is difficult, and at 70-80mph, shouting is necessary. The cabin is loud, and the boot is tiny, with little usable luggage space.
On smoother roads, the GT can flow, though chippings rattle in the wheel arches. The suspension feels stiff and controlled, with immense braking power. However, the steering suffers from kickback on rough surfaces, and the brakes can be difficult to modulate under light loads. The engine noise cannot be dialled back, and the lack of refinement in the mid-range is noticeable.
Forty years ago, this rawness would have been acceptable, even appealing. Today, in the context of modern supercars, the GT feels too extreme. The car’s uncouth nature and harshness on the road contrast sharply with its precision on the track.
The GT’s carbon fibre tub contributes to these vibrations, which are barely noticed on the track but become irritating on public roads. The experience is intense and effortless, but the lack of connection and dynamic nuance leaves the driver craving more interaction with the machine.
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Track Capabilities
On the track, at maximum attack, all the fizzes, vibrations and noises that accompany your every move – most of which are down to the carbon fibre tub – simply aren’t an issue because everything is focused on going faster.
To activate this setting, the driver must stop the car completely. A switch on the steering wheel is then flicked. The suspension lowers by 50mm instantly. This reduces the ride height to just 70mm. The spring stiffness increases by 100 per cent. This change transforms the car’s stance on the tarmac.
The computer-controlled aerodynamic package further aids performance. It develops more downforce while reducing drag compared to contemporary rivals. The car also features an airbrake at the rear. Winglets at the front move to alter the centre of pressure as speed increases. These elements prevent the front end from developing too much downforce.
Legacy and Conclusion
The Ford GT feels very much like a full-blown racing car. The cockpit is pared-back with exposed carbon fibre and little sound deadening. The seat base is fixed, requiring the driver to pull on a strap to adjust the pedal box.
The EcoBoost V6 engine shares DNA with truck units. It sounds purposeful and provides immense propulsion. The torque figure is the primary focus. The engine delivers intense power delivery between 5500 and 7000rpm. Anti-lag systems minimize any turbo lag in aggressive modes.
Despite this precision, the car struggles against the stopwatch. The 1:14.2 lap time achieved at Anglesey circuit fell short of specialised machinery from Porsche and Ferrari. The GT relies on aerodynamics, which may hinder it on circuits without enough high-speed corners.
Production of the Ford GT has now ended. A flurry of special editions arrived to pay homage to its motorsport legacy. The final road-going version was the GT LM Edition. It was built in tribute to the 2016 class win at Le Mans. It featured cosmetic tweaks and a price tag above the base model.
For 67 customers, Ford produced a track-only model to pay tribute to the 2016 class win at Le Mans. It featured bespoke aero.
