NFS: Shift new COTD - Ford GT

• OZ 7/20/2009 7:21 PM

The Ford GT was first revealed at the 1995 Detroit Auto Shaw as the Ford GT90 concept. It first entered production late 2004 with 4500 models planned to be built, however, only 4038 we're ever built. The remaining models ended up being disassembled and sold as service parts. The production run of 4038 GT's ended the 2006 model year on 21 September 2006, short of the originally planned 4500.

Three different manufacturing plants were involved in the assembly of the Ford GT. The GT began assembly and was painted by Saleen in their Saleen Special Vehicles facility in Troy, Michigan. The engine was built at Ford's Romeo Engine Plant in Romeo, Michigan. Installation of the engine and manual transmission along with interior finishing was handled in the SVT building at Ford's Wixom, Michigan plant.

The Ford GT is powered by the 5.4L Modular V8, which is all-aluminum and fed by a Lysholm twin screw-type supercharger. The engine, designed specifically for the GT program, features a forged rotating assembly housed in an aluminum bloc. A dry sump oiling system is employed, allowing the engine to sit very low in the frame. The DOHC 4-valve heads are a revision of the 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R cylinder heads (with slightly increased wall casting thickness in the exhaust port). The camshafts have unique specifications, with more lift and duration than those found in the Shelby GT500 or 2003–2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra. Power output is 550 horsepower (410 kW) and 500 foot-pounds force (680 N·m) of torque. A Ricardo six-speed manual transmission is fitted featuring a helical limited-slip differential.

Some quick stats on the Performance of the GT:
- 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h): 3.7 seconds
- 0–100 mph (0–160 km/h): 7.4 seconds
- Standing 1/4 mile: 11.2 seconds @ 131.2 mph (211.1 km/h)
- Top speed: 205 mph (electronically limited)

Check out some High Resolution shots at Needforspeed.com
Check out all the SHIFT screenshots Here.

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