Ford extends GT supercar build 19 | 08 | 2016
FORD HAS COMMITTED to another two years’ production of its stunning supercar, the Ford GT. Today’s decision means there’s greater hope for many of the 500 UK customers whose initial bid to buy the car failed.
A new application list will open in 2018 for Ford GTs — boasting 600bhp, stunning aero-inspired looks and a £300,000 price tag — built in the fourth year of production.
The announcement that the production run will extend from two to four years comes on the back of a commitment by Ford Performance to race the GT in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) Series — in which Scot Marino Franchitti drivers the #67 car — and IMSA for four years.
Originally only 500 examples of the latest-gem Ford GT were set to be built, which meant a lot of interested customers would miss out. With the production length now doubled, it's expected another 500 lucky punters (meticulously selected by Ford, of course) will be able to update their applications to buy one.
“While we can’t build enough Ford GTs for everyone who has applied, we are going to produce additional vehicles in an effort to satisfy more of our most loyal Ford ambassadors,” Dave Pericak, global director of Ford Performance, said.
Year three of production will support those who were already sat on the existing waiting list, while applications will open for year four's allowance in early 2018.
And following its win in the GTE Pro class at Le Mans this year, Ford will be offering the first year’s production with an optional Le Mans heritage colour scheme (main picture). Not the new 2016 racing colours though, but the black and silver striped paint job from the awesome Ford GT40 which won Le Mans in 1966.
Carbon fibre will feature heavily both inside and out – serving as a 'visual anchor' of the car's lightwight construction. Buyers will be able to spec gloss, matt or Shadow Black paint for the exposed carbon fibre parts dotted around the cabin.
The order books for the Ford GT were originally opened and closed in just a few weeks earlier this year, when Ford received more than 6500 applications from would-be owners.
There's no official word on when UK deliveries will begin, but it’s expected first owners will receive their cars in mid-2017.
“Ford GT has racing in its blood,” Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, product development, and chief technical officer, said. “The road car and race car will live on, side-by-side, for the next four years – providing ample opportunity to test and prove innovative new technologies both on and off the track.”
Related: Le Mans frustration for Marino Franchitti
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Jim McGill