Ford unveils new GT at Detroit Auto Show

The all-new, carbon-fiber, mid-engined Ford GT supercar is expected to go into production in 2016.

Ford have unveiled a new GT supercar at the Detroit Auto Show this week which is set to bring the iconic name and silhouette back to life, but this time there is one big difference... there will be no stonking big V8 powering this Ford GT.

That's right, for the new Ford GT which should go into production in 2016, there won't be the traditional large capacity V8 putting power to the road. This time round Ford have opted to place a new twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 producing nearly 450kW under the hood.

Unlike previous incarnations of the Ford GT, the EcoBoost powerplant should bring down the legendary thirst of the previous model to an acceptable level. With the engine being based on Ford's TUDOR endurance racing unit which notched three wins last year including the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring, the new power unit has its own racing prestige to give the 2016 model the credentials it needs to be called a Ford GT.

The GT is one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020. It joins Focus RS, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R in the growing Ford Performance line-up.

Set to begin production late next year, the GT will hit the road in select global markets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. We can only hope that the New Zealand market will be on that list.

"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 CEO, 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."

The next generation Ford GT makes extensive use of lightweight materials with carbon-fibre, as expected, being responsible for the passenger compartment like most high-end supercars on the market today.

The new state-of-the-art chassis is suspended by an active racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension, with adjustable ride height for maximum tenability should owners opt to put the GT's legacy to the test. The 20-inch wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires featuring a unique compound and structure designed specifically for the Ford GT. The Multi-spoke wheels encircle carbon-ceramic brake discs at all four corners.

The narrow-profile canopy reduces frontal area and caps a purposeful interior that provides state-of-the-art technology to ensure control, comfort and safety. The two-seat cockpit is accessed by upward-swinging doors, and features driver and passenger seats integrated directly into the carbon-fibre passenger cell.

This configuration significantly reduces seating hardware and weight, and provides a consistent and direct sensory connection to the chassis. The fixed seating is combined with adjustable pedals and steering column to accommodate a very wide range of driver statures.

An F1-style steering wheel integrates all necessary driver controls, creating a stalkless steering column that allows uncluttered access to the transmission paddle-shift controls. A fully digital and configurable instrument cluster provides a wealth of driver-focused data.