Sport Auto Supertest: Ford GT
 

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NS:

round the ring the GT is definitely no bluff package but more a serious high-performance sports car. the GT even challenges the driver with its uncomplicated, neutral and safe handling behaviour. the lap time of 7:52 is kinda outstanding as the car wasn´t equipped with sports tires during the Supertest. the high topspeed at Döttinger Höhe also indicates a very powerful engine in combination with a proper aerodynamic package.

HHR:

after the first few corners the GT feels kinda dull due to kinda high weight (1599kg) but mainly due to the undefined steering feel, nevertheless even on a kinda narrow track like HHR the GT feels home, the suspension setup is nearly perfect here.
only the tranny won´t work on the test car, that´s why the whole lap´s been done in 3rd gear – in the end this´d been no major problem or time affective, maybe 2 or 3 tenths at Ameiskurve

acc/breaking:

due to the gnarly gearbox on the test GT it may have lost a tenth or so, but 3.9sec from 0 to 100 not only shows the performance of the engine but also the enormous traction of the Ford GT, the clutch is not very easy going and requires quite a strong foot but works perfect. de-acceleration with the steel discs is of course not up to the ceramic brakes like used in Ferraris or at Porsche but they operate at a very high and safe level.

aerodynamics:

due to the airflow layout that the escaping cooling air is flowing over the windscreen and whole car the GT generates 435N downforce at the front, the 20N lift at the back are negligible. with a good cw-value of 0.348 the GT can easily reach 330km/h top speed.

max. lateral acc.:

not only the aerodynamical but also the weight distribution are balanced very well on the GT, a plus for fast cornering, the “Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar” is a good compromise between street and sport tire but definitely more on the street side than on the racetrack, nevertheless the GT is good for 1.3g lateral acc. mainly because of its good overall setup and construction

36m slalom:

of course with 1599kg the GT is not as agile as a Carrera S, main reason for that is the “lazy” steering, nevertheless the car can be positioned through the cones very precise and after the 5th cone the GT still feels and is very stable, neutral and a good handler.

110m evasion test:

although the GT comes with a kinda soft suspension setup there´s hardly any roll in the chassis, the steering – as lazy as it is – is on the other hand precise and the overall handling is therefore very good natured. tricky load-cycle changes are no problem to deal with and catching the car back.

wet handling:

the GT comes without any el.aids only a ABS system is installed and it is to say that the GT doesn´t need any aids due to its good overall setup. this is also valid for wet conditions, hardly any understeering and when the car starts oversteering everything is very predictable and under safe conditions – here the “not so nervous and direct” steering is helping of course in combination with the Goodyear Eagle tires with their kinda high negative tread contingent.

verdict:

who ever had doubts that the Americans can´t build sport cars!!!?
no one here in good old Europe would have bet that the GT is performing that good, quite some thought that it´ll just be another “show car” from over the pond but Ford did a really good job on either building the GT and of course also on preparing the GT that it is useable on both, strolling around in the city in front of the café´s but also at demanding tracks like Nürburgring Nordschleife, a lap time of 7:52 is definitely an argument!
what a pitty that only 19 of the 101 cars for Europe will be seen in germany…

Thanks for the scans st-anger!

Thanx StAnger for scans AND translation for german nonspeakers :wink:

After sitting in it cannot really imagine to have a pleasent drive in it.. its huge like a bus :mrgreen: surely its and awsome car! Looks absolutely fantastic in person :P

who of your buddies have one ... ???

*me want to come over to have a look/ride*

:mrgreen:

Thank you very much st-anger :D Translation helps a lot to appreciate these scans :wink:
It seems that the Ford GT is really an achievement !!

...just like u´re doing it for us man with the superb "Turbo" videos :P

Thanks st-anger :)

hehe no, I wish it would be like that :D MIHALS will post pics in WYST topic later, sadly we couldnt drive it :mrgreen:

well...

what a great article st-a :) and a tremendous thanks for the translations

i only have one disagreement with the article... and it may be cued' due to being a press car??? (abused) from my own experience :P its clutch is as easy as a Ford Focus to push in... but does also work perfectly ;)

i knew the car was tuned at NS... but until now... nobody @ ford were willing to talk about its performance there :lol:

thankyou very very much :-D

im hoping for further drives of this marvelous car this summer 8)

Great article, but it would mean nothing to me if you didnt provide ssuch a nice translated summary.. Thanks st-anger!

I wonder what they're going to say when they test the Z06

A big, big thanks to st-anger for both the excellent scans and the translation! :D Its great to read a review in Sport Auto, they seem to be very fair, and I'm glad the GT did well in their tests.

Again, much thanks! 8)

...next one´ll be the CCR 8)

Cool !!! :D I wonder what will be the verdict, compared to what Tiff Needell said about it ... :P Too long gearing and not really well setted-up.

Thx much St-anger; the Ford GT is an amazing all time supercar.

I certaintly can't wait for the CCR and i suspect the Zonda F will be after that. Autodrome reports AMS tested the ZF recording a lap time of 7:32 followed by a 70 out of 70 score.

thnx st-anger !! when is the date for the CCR ???