The Grand Tour

Conversation Street: There’s More to that 2017 Ford GT

The 2017 Ford GT, as Jeremy mentioned in Episode 4, is being marketed as a “racing car for the road.” Is that a good or bad thing? The boys seem to think that making a racing car for the road is something that can’t be done, or at least can’t be done right.

First off, let me make something very clear: I have not ever been in a 2017 Ford GT. I HAVE been in a 2005 Ford GT, but that’s a completely different story for another time. I haven’t, and probably never will, get to experience what it’s like to be in a new Ford GT, and chances are, neither will you. So honestly, we have no way of knowing how it is to own and drive one. But that doesn’t stop us from talking about it, right?

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First, take a look at this exquisite beauty:

That’s something else, isn’t it? Like Jeremy said in the episode, it makes you go “HHHNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!” In addition to its stunning looks, the 2017 Ford GT also has the oomph to make it a true beast of a vehicle.

The new Ford GT comes with a mid-engine, twin turbo 3.5 liter V6 (presumably similar to the one in the 2017 F-150 Raptor) that produces over 600 hp, and hand laid, carbon fiber construction and body panels. To go with the power and lightness, the Ford GT also has active aero and a seven speed dual clutch automatic (no manual).

2017-ford-gt-rear

Unlike some other hypercars out there, there isn’t any hybrid system or fancy KERS system to help things along; this Ford GT is simply powered by this truly incredible engine. Like Jeremy mentioned, while the last Ford GT was a homage to the GT40, this GT looks straight into the future, homages be damned.

Since the boys were discussing whether or not race cars can function as road cars, it bears mentioning that the Ford GT will come with a quite a few creature comforts. It comes with scissor doors (hit or miss depending on your tastes), and also comes set up touch screen Sync 3 infotainment system, which would lead to the assumption that there will some basic niceties like navigation, radio, AC/heat, etc.

Ford GT at NAIAS

On the road, the GT will have five drive modes: Wet (softest suspension, slower throttle response), Normal (same as Wet but with a sharper throttle response), Sport (suspension firms up, anti-lag system kicks in, shifts are more aggressive, traction control loosens up), Track (all aero activated, ride height dropped), and Vmax (retains all Track settings, aero changes to low drag,). It’s safe to assume that in addition to a “crazy, I’m going to kill myself” track mode, the Normal mode might actually offer some comfort.

I wonder if the boys will get to find out whether or not the 2017 Ford GT will be a race car on the road that actually “works.”

Tony Hsieh

Cars, the Buffalo Bills, video games, comics, sandwiches, jelly beans, and the shooting star press; these are the things that Tony loves (in addition to his family, of course). When he's not spending his time writing tech reviews for theslanted.com, Tony puts his lifetime love of muscle cars to use on his 2015 Mustang GT. Tony's top three favorite cars are the 1973 Mustang Mach 1, Ferrari 458, and Aston Martin DBS.

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