The born-again Ford supercar, to be built in small numbers in Canada; could be headed for Le Mans.
The Blue Oval’s new-generation Ford GT will be built in smaller numbers than expected in Canada by the company’s long-standing motor racing partner Multimatic Motorsports.
The announcement was made at the Toronto motor show, where Ford said the new GT will enter low-volume production at Multimatic in Ontario next year, increasing speculation the company intends to return to the Le Mans 24 Hour in 2016.
New Ford GT.
Ford said it reinvented the GT to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its 1966 LeMans win. Those cars were known as Ford GT 40, but at some stage Ford let the GT 40 name go, and was unwilling to buy it back at the high price asked for it. Boardroom decision was then to call the new iteration, the Ford GT. Multimatic has worked with Ford since 1992 and was part of the team that won the LMP675 class in the 2000 LeMans race.
US reports say only a few hundred examples of the Ford GT, a ‘liquid silver’ version of which was also shown overnight at the Chicago show, will be built annually in Canada, priced well over $US200,000 apiece.
Multimatic has 12 manufacturing facilities in five countries, including the US, UK, China, Mexico and Canada.
Based around a carbon-fibre tub and wrapped in carbon-fiber bodywork, the new Ford GT made its surprise world debut at the Detroit motor show last month.
Powered by a circa 450 kW twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6, it was designed by Ford Australia design chief Todd Willing and features aluminium pushrod suspension, active aerodynamics and dihedral doors.
The new GT super-coupe is one of 12 Ford Performance models the Blue Oval has promised to deliver, starting with the new Focus RS, F-150 Raptor and Mustang GT 350R.
I spoke with a senior Ford executive last week, who has seen the new GT and who said it was just stunning. It certainly looks fantastic in the photographs, but is even better in the flesh.
Ford produced just over 4000 examples of its last GT between 2005 and 2006.
