How Fast Is The Ford GT? Plus Brief History

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Ford claims that the GT has a maximum speed of 216 MPH. This would make the Ford GT one of the fastest street-legal sports cars out there. It’s a little bit faster than many popular supercars like the Porsche 911 Turbo and Ferrari SF90 Stradale, which have top speeds of 198 MPH and 211 MPH, respectively.

Despite seeming like a luxury sports car that can take on cross-country road trips, the Ford GT is actually a race car and many car critics have said that it is best used on the race track rather than on the road. This includes The Grand Tour’s Jeremy Clarkson, who said that driving the Ford GT is hard, brutal, and unrefined compared to Ferraris, which are more comfortable. After all, the original Ford GT wasn’t made to compete against luxury sports cars in the first place, it was made to win the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2016 ford gt on display — Ford claims that the GT has a maximum speed of 216 MPH, making it one of the the fastest street-legal sports cars out there. Image source: CNET

A Brief History of the Ford GT

The Ford GT was all about dominating the track. During the ’60s, Ferrari dominated Le Mans, with its cars winning six consecutive times from 1960 to 1965. In an attempt to rival Ferrari, the Ford Motor Company commissioned the research and development for the Ford GT in 1963. By 1966, Ford won the race with the GT, and then also won the next three races until 1969.

The Ford GTs used in Le Mans were powered by a carbureted V8 engine that produced anywhere between 350 to 485 horsepower, depending on the race.

After more than three decades, Ford decided to make a Ford GT sports car for the public. It also coincided with The Ford Motor Company’s centennial anniversary. The first-generation Ford GT was made from 2005 to 2006, with a production run of around 4,500.

In 2012, Ford’s performance team decided to revive the Ford GT again. Ford wanted to beat Ferrari at Le Mans again in 2016, 50 years after the GT40 achieved the same feat. The second-generation Ford GT is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 647 horsepower. Ford didn’t opt for a traditional V8 engine like prior Ford GTs. Instead, it opted to use a turbocharged V6 engine, which is lighter.

Compared to the cars made by Porsche and Lamborghini, the GT is less luxurious, especially on the inside. However, the GT costs twice as much. Despite these drawbacks, the Ford GT remains unique. With its identity and heritage, it’s a sports car built without compromises for the track.

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Lisa Conant

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Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts and isn't afraid to get some grime under her own fingernails. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, writing numerous product round-ups and reviews, how-to-guides, and research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. When she's not writing about lift kits and paint chip solutions, you can find her hanging out in New Hampshire with her family and her car-hating cats. Lisa has written automotive reviews and features for Car Bibles and The Drive.

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