Next Z06 better do 210MPH
Ford GT breaks 200-mph barrier during testing
In 1966, a GT40 reached a trap speed of 201 mph on the Mulsanne Straight during the 24 Hours of LeMans endurance race, and now the new Ford GT has joined that legend in the 200-plus club.
The GT has become the first production road car wearing the Ford badge to achieve a top speed in excess of 200 mph. During engineering testing for high-speed stability and powertrain durability at Italy's Nardo test facility, the Ford GT reached a certified top speed of 205 mph.
The Ford GT engineering team took two cars to the Nardo test facility to conduct high-speed stability evaluations and run a 500-mile powertrain durability test. Aerodynamics and high-speed stability have been a major focus of the engineering program from the beginning, when the team first tested an original GT40 in the wind tunnel.
The GT40 exhibited major lift at high speeds, and the team determined that the Ford GT would also have the same issue if care was not taken to attend to the problem. In order to not disturb the exterior design, the engineering team limited aerodynamic changes primarily to the underside of the vehicle. As a result, a subtle rear spoiler extension, front and side splitters and venturi tunnels wrapped under the rear clip are the only visible changes.
"Driving the Ford GT at speeds above 200 mph was remarkably uneventful, which is a very positive outcome," said Mark McGowan, Ford GT vehicle dynamics supervisor and driver during the Nardo testing. "I was able to drive the around the track with my foot to the floor with complete confidence in the stability and control of the car at 200-mph plus. My only limitation was the amount of fuel in the tank!"
Full Story HERE
The GT has become the first production road car wearing the Ford badge to achieve a top speed in excess of 200 mph. During engineering testing for high-speed stability and powertrain durability at Italy's Nardo test facility, the Ford GT reached a certified top speed of 205 mph.
The Ford GT engineering team took two cars to the Nardo test facility to conduct high-speed stability evaluations and run a 500-mile powertrain durability test. Aerodynamics and high-speed stability have been a major focus of the engineering program from the beginning, when the team first tested an original GT40 in the wind tunnel.
The GT40 exhibited major lift at high speeds, and the team determined that the Ford GT would also have the same issue if care was not taken to attend to the problem. In order to not disturb the exterior design, the engineering team limited aerodynamic changes primarily to the underside of the vehicle. As a result, a subtle rear spoiler extension, front and side splitters and venturi tunnels wrapped under the rear clip are the only visible changes.
"Driving the Ford GT at speeds above 200 mph was remarkably uneventful, which is a very positive outcome," said Mark McGowan, Ford GT vehicle dynamics supervisor and driver during the Nardo testing. "I was able to drive the around the track with my foot to the floor with complete confidence in the stability and control of the car at 200-mph plus. My only limitation was the amount of fuel in the tank!"
Full Story HERE
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
Tired of Ford getting all the glory over that car, it's overpriced and ugly. The next Z06 needs to embarrass the GT at half the price
Overpriced? Yeah, I guess a car that hands Ferrari its *** on a blue oval platter for a fraction of the price is too expensive.... what are you smoking again? As for ugly, you must not have eyeballs... or maybe just no soul?Originally posted by chadbarb99@Jun 7 2004, 11:52 AM
Tired of Ford getting all the glory over that car, it's overpriced and ugly. The next Z06 needs to embarrass the GT at half the price
WOOO HOOO awhsome but not too practicle for the masses, I still think Ford should concentrate on cars for the masses. Look at the success of the Mazda 3 and then look at the 05 Focus why ? Ford needs the larger european Focus like the 3
In may in Canada car sales were down 16% for Ford but up 20%+ for Mazda Ford needs cars now.
In may in Canada car sales were down 16% for Ford but up 20%+ for Mazda Ford needs cars now.
Ugly? Hell no. One of the best looking cars ever!
Overpriced? Absolutely. But I bet they'll sell.
Overpriced? Absolutely. But I bet they'll sell.
I don't think it's ugly. It is a very good looking car. It is over priced though. Most people who car afford that kind of car would want to go something with more reputation. Ford is a high volume company that has never built anything close to this before. Most rich people would get a ferrari because of the history and heritage that goes with a ferrari. Ford should have priced this between 75,000 and 100,000.
That top speed is impressive when you consider the overall design was aerodynamically comprised to make it look like the original GT.
Good for Ford. I love it when Ford or GM come out with a car that for a fraction of the cost of the imports like Porsche or Ferarri and kicks their butt. I hope GM learns the value of this type of PR and makes a Cadillac or Corvette super car like they have rumored.
Mark
Good for Ford. I love it when Ford or GM come out with a car that for a fraction of the cost of the imports like Porsche or Ferarri and kicks their butt. I hope GM learns the value of this type of PR and makes a Cadillac or Corvette super car like they have rumored.
Mark
Overpriced? Yeah, I guess a car that hands Ferrari its *** on a blue oval platter for a fraction of the price is too expensive.... what are you smoking again? As for ugly, you must not have eyeballs... or maybe just no soul? [/b][/quote]Originally posted by awalbert88+Jun 7 2004, 12:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (awalbert88 @ Jun 7 2004, 12:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-chadbarb99@Jun 7 2004, 11:52 AM
Tired of Ford getting all the glory over that car, it's overpriced and ugly. The next Z06 needs to embarrass the GT at half the price
It's too retro IMHO. Ferrari and Porsche at least their cars look modern despite their higher price and the new Corvette looks better at HALF the price. Ford should follow suit. No wait I remember, Ford has ran out of ideas at least according to Automobile mag
its not retro, its self design plagarism.
I don't consider it retro. I think the design was ahead of its time in the 60s and has since caught up. I think it looks great.
Then if it's such a bad *** car then why doesn't Ford put as much emphasis on their other car lines like they did on the GT and the 05 Mustang. They do well on their trucks and SUV's but some of their cars?? Don't need to go there
some manufacturers should stick to what they're doing not start building ferrari's and lamborhini's
the vw also has that w supercar, but who cares?
they should have spent all the $$$$$ into volume produced cars, like they do with the f-150 truck...
"as for the top speed limited by the original design" remark, the original car WAS a racecar, so the areodynamic shape was as good as any.
If in '38 a (race) car had a speed record of more than 250mph, why would you believe in the 60's they couldn't make aerodynamic cars??-I'm talking about the Auto Union Type C-
the vw also has that w supercar, but who cares?
they should have spent all the $$$$$ into volume produced cars, like they do with the f-150 truck...
"as for the top speed limited by the original design" remark, the original car WAS a racecar, so the areodynamic shape was as good as any.
If in '38 a (race) car had a speed record of more than 250mph, why would you believe in the 60's they couldn't make aerodynamic cars??-I'm talking about the Auto Union Type C-
200 mph in a modern road car isn't terribly surprising, the first Lamborghini Diablos were doing 202mph back in the late 1980's...
The GT is ugly? I must have slipped into some sort of Bizzaro world where everything is backwards. That is one car that gets the heart pumping just sitting there. If worked any better on humans, they could cure the sick by merely sitting them sit in the car.
139,000 is about 1/4 the price (maybe less) of lesser performing European classics.
Oh well, to each his own.
139,000 is about 1/4 the price (maybe less) of lesser performing European classics.
Oh well, to each his own.
Why?Originally posted by chadbarb99@Jun 7 2004, 12:37 PM
Next Z06 better do 210MPH
I totally agree. I don't find it ugly at all. I find it to be one of the best performing and best looking sports cars to roll out of Detroit. I could spend hours watching the "It's the One" commercial. This car has soul and exhibits the very nature of a pure race car. It may be retro to some, but I feel it draws upon one of the great race cars of the past, while creating a modern classic that nobody else has.Originally posted by 69nova@Jun 8 2004, 02:44 AM
The GT is ugly? I must have slipped into some sort of Bizzaro world where everything is backwards. That is one car that gets the heart pumping just sitting there. If worked any better on humans, they could cure the sick by merely sitting them sit in the car.
139,000 is about 1/4 the price (maybe less) of lesser performing European classics.
Oh well, to each his own.
If the money was available, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
Well this will give the next generation Z06 (or maybe SS??) a target to shoot for. The age of the muscle car returns!
Why? [/b][/quote]Originally posted by PontiacJ8+Jun 7 2004, 08:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PontiacJ8 @ Jun 7 2004, 08:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-chadbarb99@Jun 7 2004, 12:37 PM
Next Z06 better do 210MPH
Yes I too would like to no why. The Z06 is DEFINATELY not meant to compete with a GT40.
The Ford GT is a project that is breaking even for the company. With all the units they will sell (around 5000 in total), it will earn back all the development money spent on it. The Corvette isn't built to be a high-volume money maker for GM - it's built to be a halo car. Do you understand the concept?Originally posted by johnd89@Jun 7 2004, 04:05 PM
some manufacturers should stick to what they're doing not start building ferrari's and lamborhini's
the vw also has that w supercar, but who cares?
they should have spent all the $$$$$ into volume produced cars, like they do with the f-150 truck...
"as for the top speed limited by the original design" remark, the original car WAS a racecar, so the areodynamic shape was as good as any.
If in '38 a (race) car had a speed record of more than 250mph, why would you believe in the 60's they couldn't make aerodynamic cars??-I'm talking about the Auto Union Type C-
As for aerodynamics... did you even read about how the original Ford GT40 exhibited significant body lift at 200mph? Just because a car can go 200mph it doesn't mean it can do it with any degree of safety (excluding driver stupidity or external object interaction issues). The Ford GT obviously has been designed to handle those speeds without lifting. Hell, the 2000 Cobra R and 2003 Cobra have the balls and gearing to go well over 170mph, but they will exhibit body lift at that speed, even with the large wing on the R.
Also, about the Auto Union Type C... its top speed is 195mph, not 250mph. I don't know which car you're referring to there...
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
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