New GT is fastest-ever production Ford 26 | 01 | 2017

    THE NEW FORD GT is the fastest-ever production car from he company, with a confirmed top speed of 216mph from its 647bhp turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine.

    Capable of generating 550lb/ft of torque, the Ford GT — which has a dry weight less than 1400kg —  delivers 90% of its peak torque from 3500rpm. It also weighs 1361kg, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 475bhp/ton, which is 20bhp/ton more than a Ferrari 488 GTB.

    Ford has also tested the new supercar on Canada’s Calabogie Motorsports Park race track, where it clocked a lap time of 2min 9.8secs. That means it’s 1sec and 3.1sec, faster, respectively, than the 510bhp/ton McLaren 675LT and 435bhp/ton Ferrari 458 Speciale.

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    According to Ford, the extra performance is the result of the car’s active aerodynamic and suspension systems.

    “The Ford GT is all about performance,” Raj Nair, Ford’s product development boss said. “We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbonfibre architecture. We then reinvested some of that savings into where it counts most – performance, specifically the active dynamics. The result is an even faster car.”

    The Ford GT’s performance was also praised by Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance.

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    “Our expectation has always been that the EcoBoost V6 would perform exceptionally well in the Ford GT – both in terms of power as well as aerodynamic efficiency,” Pericak said.

    “We tested and developed this powertrain through the Daytona Prototype race car that ran in IMSA for two seasons, last season racing with Ford GT. We are extremely pleased with how it performs, both on the track and on the road.”

    According to Ford, the active dynamic systems – for both suspension and aerodynamics – are designed to make the car perform with optimum downforce, drag and balance at any speed, creating a faster setup regardless of driver skill.

    Related: Ford extends GT supercar build

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    Jim McGill

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