LIMITED-EDITION, TRACK-ONLY FORD GT MK II
UNLEASHES THE NEXT LEVEL OF FORD GT SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE
[Photo Gallery]
July 4, 2019 | GOODWOOD, UK
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Created by Ford Performance and Multimatic,
the Ford GT Mk II delivers the full performance potential of the Ford GT
in a track-only version engineered independent of race series rules,
regulations and limitations
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Ford GT Mk II performance innovations and
improvements include aerodynamic enhancements for added downforce, further
weight savings and chassis updates for better handling, and increased
engine power
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Available now, limited-edition track car is
limited to 45 vehicles with a $1.2 million starting MSRP
GOODWOOD, UK, Jul. 4, 2019 – Ford and
Multimatic today reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed the Ford GT Mk
II, a limited-edition, track-only GT that represents the next stage in
Ford GT performance.
With a 700 horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, race-proven aerodynamics
and competition-oriented handling, the GT Mk II has been co-developed by
Ford Performance and Multimatic based on competitive learnings from Ford’s
successful FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship campaigns with the Ford GT race car yet GT Mk II is
engineered independent of race series rules, regulations and limitations.
“The GT Mk II unleashes the full performance potential of the Ford GT
without any artificial performance limitations dictated by racing
sanctioning bodies,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development
and purchasing officer. “It’s the closest GT owners can get to the Le
Mans-winning performance and exhilarating feeling of crossing the finish
line in the Ford GT race car.”
Limited to just 45 vehicles, with a starting MSRP of $1.2 million, the GT
Mk II joins the GT race car that won the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans and the
Ford GT supercar.
“The true off-the-hook performance capability of the GT hasn’t yet been
fully showcased,” said Multimatic’s Chief Technical Officer, Larry Holt.
“The road car is obviously limited by the many global homologation
requirements that it must comply with, and the race car suffers from the
restriction of the dreaded Balance of Performance, resulting in it being
150 horsepower down to the road car. The Mk II answers the regularly asked
question of how would the car perform with all the limitations lifted: the
answer is spectacularly.”
Built in Markham, Ontario, the Mk II begins life at the main Ford GT plant
before being transferred to a specialist facility at Multimatic
Motorsports where it is crafted into the Ford GT Mk II.
The Best of Both Worlds
The Ford GT Mk II is focused around aerodynamic and engine improvements
and shares key features with both the street-legal GT supercar as well as
the GT race car. Many of its components have been track-proven in the
world’s most challenging endurance racing events.
The large dual-element rear wing exceeds what the Ford GT race car offers
in terms of downforce. An all-new front racing splitter and diffuser have
been incorporated along with new fender louvres and dive planes, which
help balance out the extra rear downforce.
These aggressive aerodynamic changes enable the GT Mk II to generate over
400 percent more downforce than the Ford GT while fixed aerodynamic
elements along with its race-proven suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport
racing tires enable the car to pull more than 2Gs of lateral grip.
GT Mk II is also lighter and more agile. The street car’s adjustable ride
height and drive modes have been removed, providing a weight savings of
over 200 pounds while 5-way adjustable DSSV shock absorbers work with a
lowered and fixed ride height to improve handling and keep the Mk II as
aerodynamically efficient as possible.
The Ford GT Mk II features the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine that powers both
the Ford GT race car and the road car but since the Mk II is not limited
by any racing sanctioning body it is able to generate 200 horsepower more
than the race car, making the Mk II the most powerful version of the Ford
GT. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost is paired with the same seven-speed dual-clutch
transmission from the Ford GT but specially calibrated for this
track-exclusive application.
To add stamina to power, the GT Mk II adds innovative engine cooling
technology, including a high capacity air-to-air outboard mounted charge
air cooler with water spray technology. The water spray automatically
activates in high temperature situations to provide cooling by applying
atomized water on the charge air cooler allowing the Ford GT Mk II to
maintain a consistent level of power at high temperatures.
A roof-mounted intake reminiscent of the race car engine air intake has
been added for the Mk II to feed auxiliary engine, clutch and transmission
coolers, giving the Mk II optimal cooling for the most extreme track day
duty.
Increased engine power is paired with improved stopping power. The Mk II
features braking performance beyond that of the GT race car by utilizing
the street car’s carbon ceramic brakes, including 15.5-inch front and
14.1-inch rear Brembo brakes. Unique forged aluminum 19-inch wheels cover
the massive brakes with race-proven Michelin Pilot Sport GT tires.
The front fascia and hood of the Mk II are similar to the street car as
well as the stylized Ford GT headlamps with signature running lights.
Interior changes include a bespoke Sparco racing seat with a six-point
racing harness and an optional passenger seat. A full MoTeC data
acquisition system has also added to provide vital information for a track
racer, which also doubles as a display for the rear camera.
Latest GT Family Member
The Ford GT production car, which made its first Goodwood appearance in
2017, is the most advanced and exclusive Ford road car ever, limited to
volumes of no more than 250 a year, globally.
Built for the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, the Ford GT race car has
been a great success for Ford, winning the GTE Pro class at Le Mans on its
first attempt in 2016, exactly 50 years on from the first of four
successive Le Mans victories for the Ford GT40 at Le Mans.
Ford ended its competitive GT racing program in the FIA World Endurance
Championship at the 2019 Le Mans in the GTE Pro class. The Ford GTs will
continue to race through the remainder of the IMSA season which culminates
at Road Atlanta in October.
The GT Mk II makes its public debut running in the Supercar class at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed and will be sold directly to customers by
Multimatic. Customers interested in purchasing a Mk II are invited to
contact Multimatic via FordGTMkII.com.
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