Sold Out $1.7 Mil GT Roars at First Appearance
Time passes inexorably when we note it’s been near 12 months since Ford first exposed the ultimate iteration of its mid-engine sports car. In early December 2022, the Blue Oval rocked us all with its reveal of the GT Mk IV, custom crafted for the circuit. The V6 EcoBoost monstrosity then discharged in public at the Velocity Invitational meet held at the Sonoma Raceway in California, where people had the honor of beholding the unleashed GT perform.
The revolutionary Mk II has received a steep upgrade, resulting in an astounding sticker price of $1.7 million. Despite its unbelievable expense, there have been more orders than Ford’s intended 67 units; thus, only the favored few will be getting their hands on one of these innovative vehicles. Initially launching at the mid-2019 mark for $1.2 million, this model is truly a fresh evolution.
Though its predecessor multitudinously inflicted a 730-horsepower jab, the last iteration of the GT series proffers an incredible 800 hp. Despite this impressive capability, it was not employed to its full extent during its initial presentation to society; Scott Maxwell, Multimatic Development Chauffeur, began the excursion in engine mode 1 with 500 hp and then advanced to mode 2 at 700 hp.
Scott Maxwell showed YouTuber Shmee the impressive GT Mk IV. Its lightened interior includes a full roll cage, while a set of bucket seats as well as an elongated wheelbase reminiscent to that found on its 1967 predecessor who won 24 Hours of Le Mans are other notable features. Built skillfully by hand in Canada, by Multimatic, the modified supercar boasts a carbon fiber body with a unique longtail design which unfortunately is not suitable for engine mode 3 unlocking all 800 hp potential due to the track’s twisty nature and narrow turns.
The Ford GT Mk IV is certainly a force to be reckoned with, boasting a six-speed Xtrac racing transmission for lightning-fast gear shifts. Despite its ‘eco’ moniker, the twin-turbo EcoBoost engine is surprisingly loud and powerful. To make it even more formidable, the Mk IV also features Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, Michelin racing slicks, and generates an impressive 2,400 pounds (1,088 kilograms) of downforce at 150 mph (241 km/h). In comparison, its predecessor, the Mk II, had a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission adapted from the road car.
Scott Maxwell describes the Ford GT as having so much downforce that it “feels stuck to the ground in a straight line.” He goes on to say, “it almost kills the sensation of speed” when you’re doing close to 186 mph (300 km/h) because the car feels solid and “pinned to the ground.” Shmee had the chance to experience this first-hand in the GT’s swan song, and he could tell right away that it is a true track animal.
Sources: Shmee150 / YouTube, Goodwood Road & Racing / YouTube
