Ford recently unveiled their lineup of perfomance cars at the recent North American International Auto Show held in Detroit. Included in the lineup is the next generation 2017 F-150 Raptor, a high-performance off-road pickup that features a twin-turbo EcoBoost engine coupled with a 10-speed transmission. The new model is reported to be six-inches wider than the standard model.
Ford also introduced the Shelby GT350R Mustang: A racetrack-ready street legal version of the GT 350 that runs on a 5.2 liter flat-plane crank V8 that produces more than 500 BHP.
The most important of the lineup is the 2016 Ford GT. This is the latest incarnation of the iconic car that raced and won four consecutive podiums at the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in the 60's. The new model was kept in secret until last month when leaks of the GT spread on the interwebs.
The 2016 Ford GT will run on a twin-turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost engine based on the company's IMSA Daytona Prototype and will be coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle transmission. The chassis sits on an active racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension and will feature adjustable ride height, carbon ceramic brakes on all corners come as a standard. The car stands on 20-inch alloys that come with Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires.
The interior is built on a carbon fiber passenger cell that houses the two seats. It will no longer feature a stick shift, instead, all controls are integrated into an F1-type steering wheel allowing drivers to change gears via paddle shifts.
Official performance specs and pricing TBA.
Here's the official press release from Ford via Auto Blog:
"As we at Ford drive innovation into every part of our business, it's worth remembering that our first innovation as a company was not in a laboratory, but on the racetrack," said Mark Fields, Ford president and chief executive officer, referring to Henry Ford's win of a 1901 car race that inspired financial backers to invest in his company. "We are passionate about innovation through performance and creating vehicles that make people's hearts pound."
Stay tuned for more updates on the price, specs and other news of the 2016 Ford GT here at Franchise Herald.
