The “sold out” Ford GT road car is back, and this time it’s all carboned-up and lighter of weight for more track focus than ever. The Ford GT Carbon Series, announced today (October 30), gives Ford fans another last chance to buy the Le Mans class-winning supercar by extending production for another two years.
Think the Ford GT's a bit lardy? This is for you
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The GT Carbon Series for 2019 weighs in at 18kg less thanks to a diet of carbon-fibre that extends to new carbon wheels for the first time. The wheel nuts are lightweight titanium as is the exhaust system, while the engine cover is a new polycarbonate design. Air-conditioning and radio are kept inside but other features like the cupholders have been ditched.
A saving of 18kg on a dry weight of 1,400kg will improve the GT’s power-weight ratio – which even in standard form is close to that of rival McLaren and Ferrari supercars. Ford says the model’s extra track focus is all down to this weight saving, and in other ways – the 647PS (638bhp) V6 engine and 216mph top speed – it is unchanged.
The looks are sharper though, with more visible carbon-fibre on show than with any previous GT model. The A-pillars, lower body panels and signature bonnet stripes are now exposed carbon. There’s an optional accent package of four colour-coded choices for the mirror caps, centre stripe and brake callipers. A McLaren-esque orange is among the accent colours available.
Inside there are matte carbon-fibre sills and centre console. Other tweaks include a new seat pattern, anodised paddle shifters and a special badge for the instrument panel.
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Arrival of the Carbon Series means there is now a three-model GT family. As well as the GT Competition, a GT Heritage model, complete with Gulf Oil tribute racing livery, was announced just two weeks ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT40 winning the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans.
The GT programme was first announced in 2015 with a single model and a limited production run of 500 cars. But when applications to buy the fastest street legal Ford ever made closed in May 2016 the GT offer was oversubscribed six times. Interest in the car only increased when the GT won the LM GTE Pro class at Le Mans in 2016.
Ford doubled production to 1,000 cars but now with the Carbon Series and GT Heritage is boosting that again to 1,350 cars, extending production by two years to 2022. Ford says it can make one special model a week.
“The Ford GT Carbon Series is yet another example of how we can bring to life our Le Mans-winning supercar in new and exciting ways so our customers can share in that magical legacy,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance.
What Ford says will be the final owner application process for the GT opens for 30 days on November 8 2018, with prospective owners able to submit their purchase requests online at www.FordGT.com
Since Ford started delivering the car to customers in January 2017 it is thought that 80 cars have gone to European owners.
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