Fresh off the heels of last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015) in Las Vegas, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit is in full-swing today and is swapping in-dash computer announcements for supercar unveilings.
The first car to take the Detroit audience by storm this morning was one that has been rumored about for months and is, in some cases, long overdue: the 2016 Ford GT.
To make things even sweeter, the Le Mans GTE-class car comes 50 years after the original Ford GT40 took home the first Le Mans overall win in 1966.
The 600 HP twin-turbo V6 2016 Ford GT features a 3.5 liter EcoBoost Engine (a Ford-developed technology that improves fuel economy without sacrificing engine power) with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for rapid-fire gear switching at consistent track speeds of well-over 200 mph with 20-inch wheels housing carbon ceramic brakes for reliable braking at high speeds.
One of the most striking features of the 2016 GT is the consideration of active aerodynamics. When being driven, the rear spoiler is capable of altering its angle based on driver input in addition to speed. In essence, anything that could benefit from downforce ranging from turning to braking will be aided.
As for the interior, the entire cockpit of the 2016 GT is fabricated from carbon fiber including the built-in seats. In order to customize the driving experience from driver to driver, the pedals and steering move closer or further from the driver rather than the seat moving forward and back.
“The GT is the ultimate execution of an enthusiast supercar,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio.”
The 2016 Ford GT will be going into production for a release next year (no price announced). Find out more on the announcement over at Ford Motor Co.
