2018 Ford GT
Starting at $478,750
Select a year
- Highs Race-car design, race-car performance, massive street and track cred.
- Lows Not practical, not quiet, not inexpensive.
- Verdict The Ford GT is a track-focused American supercar that can hang with the best Europe has to offer.
Overview
The Ford GT is a supercar from the automaker that put the world on wheels with the Model T, but that’s not damning with faint praise. The GT is a road-legal version of a Le Mans-style race car, with all the performance and panache of the mid-engined supercars from Ferrari and Lamborghini, with special attention paid to aerodynamics and downforce for sticking to the road at top speed (216 mph!) and in the corners. Ford had planned to build 200 GTs in the first model year, 2017, but produced just 138, so if you’re not on the waiting list already you will very likely have to wait past the 2018 model year for one.
What's New for 2018?
Ford offers a new Heritage Edition for 2018, celebrating the 1967 overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt in the GT 40 Mark IV, the only win in the famed endurance race by an all-American team with American drivers. The Ford GT Heritage Edition comes with a “1” racing number on the doors, exposed carbon-fiber exterior and interior trim, silver 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with red brake calipers, and carbon-fiber seat shells with leather padding and red stitching.
Pricing
Original MSRP:
Base: $478,750
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
While the original GT 40s of the 1960s were powered by Ford’s NASCAR 7.0-liter V-8, the latest GTs come with a twin-turbo V-6, the most powerful EcoBoost engine the Blue Oval has ever built. The 3.5-liter engine is rated at 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, putting power to the rear wheels with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While most buyers will add this car to a big garage full of collectibles, a few owners may buy some weekend track time or try a twisty canyon road, and they should know that the Ford GT requires a race-car driver’s respect, with sharp turn-in that can easily catch out novices in the corners. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.9 seconds, covers the quarter mile in 10.6 seconds, and doesn’t top out until it reaches 216 mph.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest numbers on current and older vehicles, visit the EPA’s website and select Find & Compare Cars.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The GT’s two doors swing up, not out, and the outer frame rails are wide enough to require driver and passenger to sit sideways on the seat with feet still on the tarmac, and then swing their legs inside. The seats are fixed in place, with limited legroom for the passenger. The driver has adjustable pedals and steering column. A thumbwheel on the steering wheel is used to choose from the car’s drive modes. In testing, we found that at first the cabin feels basic and frankly cheap, but we soon came to appreciate the simplicity and lack of distraction, from the rotary climate controls that would barely have passed muster in a rental-grade Taurus 15 years ago to a digital dashboard that is a model of clarity and concision. There's a front trunk, but it's tight for anything beyond a couple of minimally packed soft weekender bags.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Ford GT’s audio system is off-the-Ford-shelf, and as a light-weighted road version of a race car, the GT's cabin gets loud enough at speed to make listening to the radio superfluous. Ford’s Sync3 comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but the GT is better for enjoying engine sounds rather than streaming music.
Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings
For more information about the Ford GT’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty
Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.
