The legendary GT moniker will once again adorn the bodywork of an American icon when a successor to the model of the same name gets the go-ahead from the Blue Oval’s bigwigs.
The original Ford GT40 captured the imaginations of motorsport enthusiasts in 1966 when it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and broke a six-year Ferrari stranglehold on the coveted title, and continued to do so till 1969 when production was discontinued.
Fast forward to the dawn of the 21st Century, and the automotive fraternity was pleased when a concept of an all-new GT (based on the original’s unmistakable profile) made its debut at the 2002 Detroit Motor Show. That concept would result in a production version that proved to be a popular homage to its ancestor, and more than retro appeal, it was quite a formidable supercar by modern standards.
Now, reports suggest that Ford is developing a new road rocket that will also carry the GT name, The new car will pack a considerable punch thanks to a supercharged V8 and also be friendlier to the environment than its predecessor courtesy of engine stop/start system and hybrid technology.
Because of the advancements in weight reduction, engineers will target a mass of just 1 400 kg for the new GT, which will be underpinned by an all-aluminium chassis. With in excess of 440 kW on the cards, the GT should catapult to 100 km/h from rest in three seconds…
It’s all a little speculative at the moment, and there aren’t even concept drawings or sketches doing the rounds, but with new mid-engined contemporaries from Ferrari (458 Italia) and McLaren (MP4-12C), can Ford resist the temptation?