December 30, 2003

Ford GT to be priced at U.S.$139,995

2002 Ford GTconcept. Click image to enlarge

Los Angeles, California - The 2005 Ford GT, a supercar modeled on the race-winning GT40 of the 60's, will have a U.S. manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $139,995 when it goes into production in early summer 2004.

A concept version of the Ford GT was unveiled at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. That spring, Ford approved the car for production, and just over a year later, the first production-level cars were unveiled at Ford's Centennial celebration in June 2003.

That summer at the Christie's Auction of Exceptional Motor Cars at Pebble Beach (California), one of the first Ford GTs to be built was sold for U.S.$557,500 (including auction fees), with the net proceeds going to charities.

Each Ford GT will be powered by a hand-built aluminum 5.4-litre DOHC supercharged V8 producing 500 horsepower and 500 lb.- ft. of torque. That power is put to the ground through a rear-mounted Ricardo six-speed manual transaxle.

The car is built around an exceptionally stiff but lightweight aluminum space frame and the suspension is a double-wishbone design with coil-over monotube dampers. Aluminum is also used for the body panels. Other lightweight materials, including carbon fiber and magnesium, are used throughout the vehicle. The brakes are equally sophisticated, featuring four-piston Brembo calipers that grip massive 14-inch front and 13.2-inch rear cross-drilled and vented rotors.

For its January 2004 cover story, "Judgment Day!" Car & Driver magazine clocked the Ford GT's 0-60 mph acceleration at 3.3 seconds, and it crossed a quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds at 128 mph. In the same test, Ferrari's $193,000 Challenge Stradale took four seconds to reach 60 mph, and was 0.8 seconds and 13 mph slower through the quarter-mile.

"The 2005 Ford GT is the result of a dream that has existed within Ford Motor Company since the day the GT40 program ended more than 30 years ago," said John Coletti, director of Ford SVT programs.

The 2005 Ford GT will be built at Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan. Production will begin in early summer 2004 with deliveries to dealerships beginning shortly after that.

More news from the LA show
Main news page