Yahoo Autos How the 2017 Ford GT Stacks up Against Its Rivals
As you can imagine, we're pretty excited to drive the upcoming Ford GT. We were huge fans of the first-generation GT when it came out back in 2005, and we'll always be fans of the original GT40. And forget the specs. Who wouldn't want to get behind the wheel of a car that looks like that?
But assuming you have the means, make it through the application process, and are approved to own a new GT, how will it compare to the competition?
First of all, anyone trying to compare the GT to the Shelby GT350R will be barking up the wrong tree. Yes, you'll be paying about $350,000 extra to only gain another 100 horsepower or so, but its about as apples-to-oranges as comparisons get.
The Shelby GT350R is an incredible driver's car, but the new GT is going to be much more track-focused than even the previous GT. Trying to compare a limited-edition, carbon-fiber "race car for the streets" to a full-production road car that's been prepped for better track performance is pretty much pointless.
The same can be said about any comparisons to the Corvette Z06. Ford hasn't settled on a specific horsepower figure but has said the new GT's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 will make more than 600 horsepower. That should match up pretty well with the Z06's 650 horsepower, but again, the GT's carbon-fiber construction and mid-engine layout make it more supercar than everyday muscle car.
Ford has said its working on giving the GT one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car. Even if Ford can't beat the Koenigsegg One:1's ratio of 2.2 lbs./hp, something in the realm of the McLaren P1's 3.5 lbs./hp would still make it devastatingly quick. Even with its aerodynamic aids, the 3500-lb. (ish) Z06 may just be too heavy to keep up.
Supposedly, the new Ford GT will be priced in line with the $400,000 Lamborghini Aventador. Knowing that, it also gives a better idea of the cars the GT will actually compete with.
The Aventador will probably have the edge in raw horsepower with 691, but with a curb weight of just over 4000 pounds, we imagine it could have a difficult time keeping up with the GT on the track. The all-wheel drive and naturally aspirated V12 will also likely deliver a significantly different driving experience in comparison to the GT's rear-wheel drive and twin-turbo V6. But with that all-wheel drive, you can expect the Aventador to be faster off the line.
The McLaren 675LT will also likely make an interesting comparison. It's about $50,000 less expensive than the Aventador but still offers 666 horsepower and a sub-three-second 0-60 time. It's also a limited-production car, with only 500 units slated to be built. The GT will probably end up weighing less, but the 675LT is also relatively light, weighing less than 3000 pounds. When we drove it, we said it was one of the few "road cars that behave like competition vehicles," so it will be fascinating to see how the Ford GT compares.
At the other end of the GT's potential price range is the Ferrari F12tdf. It starts negligibly under $500,000, and for your money you get a lot more power. Its 6.3-liter V12 makes 770 horsepower, allowing it to hit 60 mph in under three seconds, despite being rear-wheel drive. It's not just faster than the plebeian (and much-less expensive) F12berlinetta in a straight line, either. This track-focused Ferrari is a full two seconds faster around the company's test track.
How the Ford GT compares is likely going to be a factor of how much it ends up weighing. It will likely be down more than 100 horsepower, but the F12tdf isn't the lightweight Ford claims the GT will be. Part of that has to do with differing philosophies. The Ferrari is meant to be an extreme road car that's comfortable on the track, while Ford makes it sound like the GT has been designed the other way around.
Considering that Ford decided to forego any sort of hybrid-electric system in the upcoming GT, it will also be interesting to see how it holds up on the track against the new Acura NSX. The $150,000-ish NSX obviously costs significantly less than the GT, but with its hybrid technology and all-wheel drive, the NSX will make an interesting foil to the GT and its focus on light weight.
Plus, their power won't be wildly different, with the NSX making 573 horsepower. Will the NSX's technology be enough to hold its own against the lighter, more-simple Ford GT? Only time will tell, but we suspect not.
Ultimately, though, the only way to figure out how the new Ford GT stacks up against its rivals is going to be to head to the track and see what it's got. And when we finally get that chance, you better bet we'll take it. After all, who wouldn't want to be behind the wheel of an all-American, ultra-light, carbon-fiber, track-ready supercar?
