The new Ford GT is a 600-horsepower, twin-turbo, carbon-fiber monster
Ford is rebooting the GT again, this time putting a twin-turbo V-6 in the back of a carbon-fiber chassis to create what will certainly be one of the most desirable sports cars on the road.
DETROIT -- 2005's Ford GT was a radical reboot of a '60s racing icon, the GT40, so named because it was only 40 inches tall. Ten years on, the company is at it again with yet another spiritual successor to the classic, a reboot riddled with more modern technology than ever.
The biggest change is at the heart of the machine: a new, twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine said to offer north of 600 horsepower. (That compares quite favorably to the 550 horsepower supercharged V-8 found in the last GT.) The engine is, of course, mounted in the middle, behind the seats to offer an ideal weight balance. However, it does not offer any of the trendy electric assist hybrid systems we've seen in other recent supercars such as the Porsche 918 or McLaren P1.
Construction will be a mixture of aluminum and carbon fiber, with the former making up the front and rear subframes, the latter comprising the bulk of the rest of the car, including the body panels. More important than their construction is their styling, which is frankly stunning. The new GT is radically more dramatically cut than its predecessor, including massive gaps in the rear fenders showing just how tightly that EcoBoost V-6 is packaged.
Up front, a bold fascia shows plenty of raw, unpainted carbon fiber, punctuated by modern LED headlights. The iconic twin air outlets in the hood remain. The rear spoiler, meanwhile, is said to be fully active, changing its pitch and profile based on vehicle speed and driver input.
The interior of the Ford GT.
Ford didn't show much of the interior, but it's said to feature an "F1-style" steering wheel that offers buttons for all necessary controls. The instrument cluster similarly eschews any retro leanings, instead favoring a fully configurable and digital display.
The Ford GT enters production in 2016, and while the company didn't give any hint at pricing, it's safe to say the thing won't be cheap. The previous GT hit dealers with a $140,000 price tag and often sold with a much higher premium, so don't be surprised if this one comes in even higher.
For more on the Ford GT, check out our interview with designer Moray Callum.
Read all CNET's coverage of the Detroit auto show here.
