Ford is finally rolling out its latest road and track monster, the 2017 Ford Gt supercar. The road-legal homage to the Le Mans-winning GT40 is now available to the masses, or at least to those who can afford its bank-breaking Sticker Price. Aside from being a reimagining of the classic racer, the vehicle is also a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Ford's various victories in the prestigious race.
From prototype to production
The all-new Ford GT first came out as a prototype at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle gave fans a glimpse at what would be the final product that would make it into production. The prototype even got so much attention that it apparently upstaged even the unveiling of the new Acura NS-X.
Power and Handling
Being an homage to an iconic racer, the new 2017 Ford GT is a symphony of raw power working together with spectacular handling characteristics. The vehicle sports a reworked Ford EcoBoost 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that is completely road legal.
The engine generates a massive 647 horsepower and 550 pounds-feet of torque. While that might not really sound like much to some gear heads, the Ford GT does weight in at around 3,000 pounds. This means that the vehicle weighs slightly more than a Porsche Cayman, but with double the horsepower.
Razor sharp design
The new model actually looks like someone went at it with a hacksaw and removed all the body panels that weren't essential. However, Ford explains that every curve and component is fully functional and adds to the overall aerodynamic profile of the vehicle. The shape of the vehicle was created using countless hours inside a wind tunnel, which means that every cut was made to minimize drag and optimize downforce.
Exclusive and expensive
The base price for the 2017 Ford GT starts at $450,000 plus $2,500 destination. There will be two distinct trim levels to choose from, namely a 66 Heritage Edition and a Competition Series variant. The Competition Series basically saves more weight by removing things like the radio and A/C and adding in a titanium exhaust and all carbon fiber wheels.
Ford also revealed that they will be rolling out 750 units for the first batch. Unfortunately, Ford also revealed that there are actually already 6,500 applicants from around the world who had already reserved a unit. According to the company, several criteria for applicants must be met, including brand loyalty, planned usage of the vehicle, and a contract not to sell the vehicle in the next two years.