Unexpected, as has not been seen in a saloon for a long time, the heir to the legendary Ford GT40, boldly reinterpreted its predecessor, a fusion between a road supercar and the circuit machine that defined its conception — Le Mans was its destiny, just like the GT40.
The announcement of Ford Performance to the world could not have been better with the surprising revelation of the Ford GT.
The creation of this new division in the Ford universe started to gather “under one roof” other existing ones. From Ford Racing, the brand's competition department, to TeamRS (Europe), SVT (Special Vehicle Team) and SVO (Special Vehicle Operation), which have in their curriculum some of the most striking sports or sports versions of the North American brand.
Gentleman, start your engines
Ford Performance is also synonymous with competition: Nascar, WRC, Tours, GT (WEC), Drag Racing, Off-Road and even Drift. The machines are as varied as the disciplines: from the Fiesta to the Ford GT, passing through the Mustang and even the Ranger.
The unveiling of the Ford GT turned out to be the ideal rolling manifesto to define Ford Performance's purpose. A symbiosis between the high requirements of competition and how these could contribute to the evolution of Fords with a focus on performance — performance that can be translated into aerodynamic, dynamic or motorized planes.
The GT was just the beginning. Already planned were a dozen models by 2020. Some we already know…
You Ford Mustang GT350 and GT350 R — the return of a historic Mustang styling — revealed the pony car's sharper side, specially optimized for circuit driving and equipped with a raucous, flat-crankshaft, naturally-aspirated V8.
THE Ford Focus RS it would come with four-wheel drive — a first — and thanks to its unique rear differential, it would become the first car, based on a front-wheel drive architecture, to come equipped with a… Drift mode — who would have thought such a thing?
And is Performance just about asphalt? A limited definition, to say the least. also the epic Ford F-150 Raptor , entering its second generation, would become a Ford Performance creation.
Does Performance still have a reason to be?
Yes, the automotive world is undergoing its biggest change (existential, even…) since its creation, more than a century ago. Autonomous driving and electrification are regarded with trepidation by all enthusiasts, so this renewed focus on performance by Ford seems to be in reverse. But not…
Interest in performance remains as strong today as it was in the early days of the automobile. And it's easy to see: there have never been cars so fast, in straights and in curves, as in our days.
The question enthusiasts should ask is how these new developments can contribute to the evolution of high-performance cars. Not even Carrol Shelby, an unavoidable character in the history of performance at Ford, refused to embrace the new. Are you imagining him enthusiastically driving a Cobra to electrons? Yes, it happened…
Ford Performance today
The machines available couldn't be more disparate. And if we have to start with one, let's start with the pinnacle, the Ford GT, the super sports car with a rear mid-engine, two-seater, with extreme lines, the result of its aerodynamic development, capable of overwhelming performance.
THE Ford GT comes equipped with a 3.5 l EcoBoost V6 block, capable of delivering 656 hp and 746 Nm, transmitted to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, capable of catapulting the 1385 kg of weight up to 100 km/h in less than 3.0s; up to 200 km/h in 11.0s; and reach a top speed of 347 km/h.
From one extreme to the other, the acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST , a compact hot hatch, revered for its exceptional dynamics, to emerge with an unprecedented in-line three-cylinder EcoBoost block, with 1.5 l capacity, delivering 200 hp and 290 Nm (reached at a low 1750 rpm), requiring of just 6.5s to reach 100 km/h.
This new generation brought new developments such as a Quaife self-locking differential, Launch Control (start control) and even Driving Modes — Normal, Sport and Track.
Last but not least, the new Ford Ranger Raptor , inspired by the biggest F-150, a dirt and gravel eater. Equipped with a powerful twin-turbo Diesel block, the 2.0 l EcoBlue, it delivers 213 hp and 500 Nm, supported by an unprecedented 10-speed automatic transmission.
The biggest highlight will have to go, however, to its chassis, optimized to face the rigors of tough driving where asphalt does not exist. Reinforced with high-strength steel, it gained aluminum suspension arms and active-damping FOX Racing shock absorbers; and finishing off-road specific BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 tires.
And this story doesn't end here. More news is on the horizon…
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