Sometimes, in order to grasp the amount of progress or innovation made, it’s a good idea to go back and look at where things started. The 2018 Ford GT Supercar looks incredible, but learning more about its backstory really does give one a sense of just how much went into making it the vehicle it is today. Its roots go all the way back to the 1960’s to the Ford GT40, a racecar that not only underwent the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans but won four years in a row. While the Ford GT Supercar isn’t a new generation of the GT40, it was inspired by the car’s speed and style.
So far, there have been two generations of the Ford GT Supercar, though the generations have been separated by almost a decade. The original generation (over 4,000 units) was created in conjunction with Ford’s centennial celebration. In the beginning it was looked at as a concept car, one that on the surface resembled the GT40 but had the inner workings of a 21st century vehicle. The vehicle not only made waves in the circles of the upper class but also in entertainment, where it appeared in video games such as Gran Turismo 4 and Need For Speed:ProStreet. the GT Supercar’s first generation was made and sold between 2004-2006, and it wouldn’t be until 2017 that the second generation surfaced.
In 2016, the second generation Ford GT Supercar was introduced, making a splash in the racing world after it won the LMGTE Pro Class portion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans fifty years after the Ford GT40 did. The new generation is being produced in smaller quantities, about 250 units annually, which allows for plenty of innovation, adjustment, and hype. The lightweight carbon fiber body has ensured that the GT Supercar is one of the best production car choices when it comes to the power-to-weight ratio. It can go from 0-60 mph in under three seconds, and its Gorilla Glass windshield allows for the same safety features as regular windshields with less weight.
The 2018 Ford GT Supercar has a 647 hp EcoBoost V6 engine, an even more aerodynamic design than the last generation, and several unique elements, such as the ship-in-a-bottle gas tank, one piece door panels, and a friction stir welded center tunnel that is covered with a magnesium center console. Unfortunately, since production numbers are low by design, the vehicle is not available to the general public until 2020, after all the pre-orders and selected buyers’ orders have been filled.
If you’re at all into racing, you can get a look at the Ford GT Supercar (both generations) in action by looking up the following races: 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, 24 Hours of Daytona, 6 Hours of Fuji and 6 Hours of Shanghai. If you want to get an up close and personal look via photos and videos, you can learn all about it by visiting Ford’s GT Supercar page, which contains information on its specs as well as plenty of footage of this gorgeous car in action. Trust me, you want to see it. If you’re feeling extra lucky, you can, of course, submit your application to be considered as an owner to one of these gorgeous cars before the general public gets a chance in 2020.
