The Ford GT40 was a legend, but the Ford GT of 2005 and 2006 didn’t exactly meet Ford’s expectations, only selling 4,038 of the originally planned 4,500. Sadly, the final 11 bodies that were built got the worst fate of all, being torn apart and invoiced as service parts. But, Ford is looking to rectify the GT name and has done so with the introduction of the new Ford GT. Originally expected by the masses to have a heart of gold – more specifically, Ford’s flat-plane crank V-8 – Ford shocked us all when it announced an EcoBoost V-6 as its weapon of choice. That FPC V-8 could have been insanely powerful when coupled with some potent forced induction, but this EcoBoost isn’t exactly a slouch either. In fact, it has been SAE rated at 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, something that makes it the most powerful EcoBoost engine ever produced and the GT the fastest production car to ever sport a Ford badge.
So, how fast is it? Well, Ford took one driver and put him behind the wheel of the new GT, a McLaren 675LT, and a Ferrari 458 Speciale, then told him to give it his all around the Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada. The end result put the Ford GT at the top, lapping the track with a best time of 2:09.8 while the McLaren fell short by one second at 2:10.8. The prancing horse performed even worse, posting a lap time of 2:12.9. Ford set out to topple the main competition, and it did just that, as all three were prepped with new fluids, fresh tires, and optimal suspension settings, and raced in identical conditions. Not a bad feat to accomplish.
But, it’s important to remember that the most powerful EcoBoost powertrain wouldn’t be enough if it wasn’t for the lightweight nature of the new GT, which tips the scale at just over 3,000 pounds. That makes its power-to-weight ratio a staggering 4.72 pounds per pony. “The Ford GT is all about performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development, and chief technical officer. “We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbon fiber 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.”
Ultimately, the engine is able to deliver peak torque from 3,500 rpm onward, which isn’t bad for the car’s intended purpose, and it tops out at a respectable 216 mph. But, it leads one to wonder: will there be a more powerful version in coming years?
Keep reading for the rest of the story
from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2k52grp
No comments:
Post a Comment