After the launch at the end of last year, the first units of the Ford GT continue to be delivered – even the well-known Jay Leno has already received his. More than the 647 hp of power coming from an EcoBoost 3.5 V6 bi-turbo engine, it takes a set of technologies to offer drivers the thrill of a racing car on the road.
The Ford GT uses more than 50 different sensors to monitor the car's performance and behaviour, the external environment and the driver's driving style. These sensors collect real-time information regarding the position of the pedals, steering wheel, rear wing and even humidity levels and air temperature, among other factors.
The data is generated at a rate of 100GB per hour and processed by more than 25 on-board computing systems – in all there are 10 million lines of software code, more than a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter plane , for example. Altogether, the systems can analyze 300 MB of data per second.
Dave Pericak, global director Ford PerformanceBy constantly monitoring incoming information, vehicle loads and the environment, and adjusting the car's profile and responses accordingly, the Ford GT remains as responsive and stable at 300 km/h as at 30 km/h.
These systems allow the performance of the engine, electronic stability control, active suspension damping (derived from F1) and active aerodynamics to be continuously adjusted within the parameters of each driving mode, for optimal performance in any scenario.
Performance without neglecting comfort
Another of the solutions designed to offer the best possible experience for Ford GT drivers is the fixed position of the seat. The fixed base of the driver's seat allowed Ford Performance engineers to design a body – in carbon fiber – with the smallest possible frontal area, optimizing aerodynamic performance.
Instead of moving the seat back and forth, as in a “normal” vehicle, the driver adjusts the position of the pedals and steering wheel, with multiple controls, to find the perfect driving position.
The infotainment system is the same as we already know from other models of the brand – Ford SYNC3 -, as well as the automatic climate control.
Another of the Ford GT curiosities are the retractable aluminum cup holders, hidden inside the center console, which distinguish the road Ford GT from the competition Ford GT. There is also a storage compartment located under the driver's seat, as well as pockets behind the seats.
After testing it at Le Mans, driver Ken Block got back behind the wheel of the Ford GT, this time on the road. Watch the video below: