Whatever the truth behind the legend, it's generally accepted the GT40 was Ford's riposte to Enzo Ferrari refusing to sell out and give the blue oval a first class ticket to Le Mans success. The GT40's 1-2-3 victory in 1966 made that point in suitably emphatic terms and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that achievement Ford will unleash this - the all new GT. And, like the GT40, it sets out to prove blue collar Ford can take on the supercar elite at their own game. While being able to justify itself by saying the technology the GT promotes will trickle down to everyday Fords further down the line.
GTish at the front, bit bonkers at the back
Just look at it for starters. And then digest the spec, which includes seats integrated into the carbon fibre passenger cell like LaFerrari, active aerodynamics, pushrod suspension and styling that both references the GT40 heritage while very much looking forward with an aggressively modern, aero-led design. Timid it is not.
News is currently a little scant, the GT having just blown the doors off the Detroit show and pretty much overshadowed everything else due to be unveiled. So much for the build-up - Ford has just gone all-in from the moment the show opened.
Certain bits stick out from the press release, not least the assertive, er, assertion that it will go into production in 2016. No messing about with feasibility studies, design concepts or other procrastination - by the language of the press release it will be built.
Afterburners included? Possibly...
For all the talk of Ecoboost engines - all relative, it's a 600hp 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 - there's one striking thing missing from the new GT. Electric motors. Yup, for all the modernity this is a good old-fashioned petrol powered rear-wheel drive supercar. No batteries. No EV mode. No nonsense. And a very real emphasis on weight saving, this being the key technology Ford wants to see transferred to its mainstream cars. Other technical features so far confirmed include "active racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension", carbon ceramic brakes, a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle mounted transmission, 20-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tyres. The engine, a "next-generation" Ecoboost, has both port and direct injection and "features a wide powerband with impressive time-to-torque characteristics" according to Ford.
Sitting atop a promised 12-car range of global Ford Performance vehicles created by a US-led development team the new GT joins cars as diverse as the F-150 Raptor, Mustang (more on this shortly) and Focus RS. So from hot hatches to supercars there'll be fast Ford to suit your needs.
The view from our man at the show to follow. For now enjoy the pictures and short promo vid...
Ford vid
