Wednesday 25th January 2017

GT faster than Ferrari! (According to Ford)

New stats released by Ford and, wouldn't you know, it's quicker than a 675LT or a Speciale

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It won't have escaped your attention that Ford is making quite a big deal about the new GT. It's now more than two years since the car was first shown at the Detroit motor show, with customers (aka 'approved applicants') now eagerly speccing and awaiting those cars.

GT against LT sounds quite the track battle

In the latest GT release from Ford, a few performance stats have been confirmed. More exciting than looking at studio photos, right? The big number is 216mph, the claimed GT top speed thanks to 647 SAE horsepower (655hp) and 550lb ft in US spec and "fully active dynamic systems". Speedy.

Moreover, Ford boasts that its latest supercar is faster than both a McLaren 675LT and a Ferrari 458 Speciale around a track. This is due to "the most advanced active suspension system in the segment" and a very good power-to-weight ratio, says Ford. The track in question was the Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada; all three cars were said to be "track prepped with new fluids, fresh tyres and optimal suspension settings." Tested in the same conditions and with the same driver, the lap times were 2:09.8 for the GT, 2:10.9 for the McLaren and 2:12.9 for the Ferrari.

The GT's dry weight is stated to be "less than 1,400kg", against 1,370kg for a 488 (with the lightweight options and note that's a 488, not a Speciale) and 1,230kg for a Longtail. In addition, Ford says the roadgoing GT will share much with the race car (which you may have heard about) including the aerodynamics and suspension. Don't forget also that the engine was used in the Daytona Prototype before the GT - nothing like some race-proven tech to excite the customer base!

However, as for when those customers will receive their cars, we're none the wiser. Best hope for Ford and those lap times that it's before the new models from Ferrari and McLaren arrive!

[RumbleOfThunder]

Yeah they don't sound like the most impartial of tests.

[PJRBell]

I am not sure this is really going to be enough if your car is being delivered in 2019 or even later this year. The P14 will probably go even faster.....

However, the Ford GT is something a little bit more special so should hold its own.

[cypriot]

how is this heavier than the ferrari and the macca, while having a smaller engine?

[WCZ]

quicker than a 675 round any track is insane, really didn't expect this

[likesachange]

Pretty sure the last generation wasn't the cutting edge of dynamics and handling? This seems to be along side the very best... but only along side the best of the moment that are about to be replaced.... So agree with above doesn't seem enough if that's what your after.

However it has the looks of a hyper-car and lets face it, who actually needs/wants anything quicker!

[Craiglamuffin]

Feels like the GT's been around a long time already. It's a familiar sight in the WEC and has had loads of press.

It looks like an amazing car but... at some point, they actually have to build it, right?

[hondansx]

WCZ said:

quicker than a 675 round any track is insane, really didn't expect this

I thought there is was uproar because the Ford is clearly a race car, turned road car, rather than the other way round?

So i certainly did expect this!

Moreover, i saw it at Geneva last year and - in the flesh - it has more prescence than any other supercar i have seen. The proportions are ridiculous.

[Presuming Ed]

The GT threatens to be one of those cars that become far to familiar before owners even get there hands on one as the drip feed of information's being going on for 2 years. Just build it already

The states are impressive but the cost of the GT is far higher than the Speciale and given the time it takes the cars to get to European customers, apparently 2019 at the earliest, then no doubt Ferrari and McLaren will turn around the Fords advantage.

[Yipper]

Great car. But watching faces drop when you tell your posh party guests you "drive a Ford" will kill the buzz in a nanosecond.

[J4CKO]

Yipper said:

Great car. But watching faces drop when you tell your posh party guests you "drive a Ford" will kill the buzz in a nanosecond.

Yes, people always talk about their cars and exclude Ford drivers from the conversation.

I suspect the owners of these may have more than one car, just a thought.

[JohnGoodridge]

Presuming Ed said:

The GT threatens to be one of those cars that become far to familiar before owners even get there hands on one as the drip feed of information's being going on for 2 years. Just build it already

The states are impressive but the cost of the GT is far higher than the Speciale and given the time it takes the cars to get to European customers, apparently 2019 at the earliest, then no doubt Ferrari and McLaren will turn around the Fords advantage.

+1. Too slow to market. And if it's less powerful and heavier than an LT then it must be very clever active suspension to get it around a track faster. Obviously it's a sales and PR success - styling is ace, but upon arrival I fear it'll get left behind by the 488 'Speciale' which will be out by 2019? and maybe the 650s replacement which is due this year I think?

[isaldiri]

It's disappointing heavy to be honest. Fully carbon fibre and a 6 cylinder engine I'd have thought the fully fuelled weight would be below 1350kg nevermind dry.

Also per the article..."the most advanced active suspension system in the segment"... that isn't the case surely as the multimatic dampers aren't active from everything I've read?

[RumbleOfThunder]

Can we wait until one is in the hands of a magazine before taking their word that it's faster? I'm a Ford fan but calm your tits everyone, please.

[kambites]

I'd assumed they'd started customer deliveries ages ago. I didn't realise it still wasn't out.

Fabulous looking thing.

[Dr G]

Beyond some avoidance of speculators I find all this "we don't want to sell you our car" nonsense to be deeply silly.

[kambites]

isaldiri said:

Also per the article..."the most advanced active suspension system in the segment"... that isn't the case surely as the multimatic dampers aren't active from everything I've read?

Both spring and damper rates are apparently variable, along with ride-height.

I wouldn't call it a true "active suspension" in that it doesn't seem to automatically adjust itself as loads change to keep the car level and the tyres in contact with the road, but it's a fairly advanced setup in terms of driver configurability (if that's a word).

[big_rob_sydney]

Anyone know how much they cost versus the competing cars? I mean, its one thing if they all cost similar money, but quite another if the "winner" costs a lot more. That means you're not really comparing like for like.

[British Beef]

isaldiri said:

It's disappointing heavy to be honest. Fully carbon fibre and a 6 cylinder engine I'd have thought the fully fuelled weight would be below 1350kg nevermind dry.

Also per the article..."the most advanced active suspension system in the segment"... that isn't the case surely as the multimatic dampers aren't active from everything I've read?

I agree.

Bloody heavy for a "small" v6 powered full CF car.

"Most Advanced suspension" ... I would love to hear a McLaren or Ferrari's engineer stance on this opinion.

Aero and looks are fantastic I have to say.

Making claims to be better than rivals, on a car not yet available is pure biased conjecture.

[big_rob_sydney]

Just did a bit of digging, and found that:

McLaren will unveil a successor at the 2017 Geneva motor show in March, promising more power and better aero than existing models.

Lamborghini will display a hardcore Huracan in Switzerland

Ferrari is working on a stripped out 488, whereas the test spoken of here was against the previous 458 Speciale.

And finally? The Ford will only be made in left-hand drive.

So, a race car that hasn't been driven on the road yet, competing against cars that are either outdated, or soon to be. And which is rumoured to cost quite a bit more than either.

Yep, some great and relevant comparisons there...

[theholygrail]

Dr G said:

Beyond some avoidance of speculators I find all this "we don't want to sell you our car" nonsense to be deeply silly.

This. A thousand times.