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Explore the second modern Ford GT: its twin-turbo V6, carbon-fibre construction, 2020 power upgrade, special editions and connection to Le Mans.
The second modern Ford GT approached the same historical brief with a different answer. Instead of building its character around a large supercharged V8 and a manual gearbox, Ford used a compact twin-turbo V6, extensive carbon fibre and an aerodynamic body shaped around racing priorities.
Debut and the road to Le Mans
Revealed in 2015, the new GT reached customers for the 2017 model year after road and race versions were developed in parallel. Ford’s documentary series, The Return, follows that decision and the engineering effort. The racing GT won the GTE Pro class at Le Mans in 2016, fifty years after Ford’s famous podium sweep. That was a class victory; the 1966 result was an overall victory.
Specifications: model year and market matter
| Field | Second modern Ford GT |
|---|---|
| Road-car model years | 2017–2022; first customer production began in late 2016 |
| Body and layout | Two-seat coupe; mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 |
| U.S. launch output | 647 hp |
| 2020 U.S. update | 660 hp, with cooling and engine revisions |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Factory maximum speed | 216 mph / approximately 347 km/h |
| Construction | Carbon-fibre body and passenger structure, with aluminium subframes |
| Brakes | Brembo carbon-ceramic discs |
| Status | Road-car production completed; track-only derivatives form separate programmes |
Power ratings must be attached to the relevant year and market. In particular, a 2017 road car should not automatically be advertised with the later U.S. 660 hp figure. Nor should a race car’s regulated output be presented as the road car’s specification.
Why the shape looks different
The narrow centre section and rear buttresses make the GT instantly recognisable. Ford describes the shape as the result of extensive wind-tunnel development. Lightweight construction, inboard damper packaging and carbon-ceramic brakes support the same objective: delivering a focused performance car, rather than simply increasing engine size.
For readers comparing generations, this is the important change. The earlier GT recreates much of the original’s visual mood; the later car uses the Le Mans connection as a reason to rethink the package. Its drama comes from seeing how the body manages space and airflow.
Special editions and the final chapter
Heritage editions recalled different moments in Ford racing history. The Carbon Series is a specific derivative, rather than a name for every carbon-fibre GT. The final road-car special edition, the 2022 GT LM, was announced as a 20-car run. Track-only GT Mk II and Mk IV derivatives should not be confused with street-legal Heritage or LM editions.
Ownership perspective
For a UAE-based owner, a sensible inspection should include underbody damage, suspension function, cooling-system health, wheel condition and documented servicing. Confirm the car’s original market, individual specification and service arrangements before relying on figures from a U.S. press release. This is an editorial model guide, not a road test or a current UAE price quotation.
Editorial verdict: the EcoBoost GT is the technical counterpoint to its V8 predecessor. Read the two together to see how Ford expressed the same racing heritage through very different engineering choices.
Sources
- Ford: GT design, construction and 660 hp engine
- Ford: 2017 performance announcement (archived original release)
- Ford: The Return documentary release and official video link
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