In a segment that houses brawny and muscular 8/12-cylinder engine options, the Ford GT bears distinction with its twin-turbocharged V6 unit. Though anomalous for its class, the V6 unit that sits under the hood of the GT is finely engineered and feels crafted for performance. It’s the same engine you would find in the Ford F-150 Raptor, but it’s immensely refined, less coarse, and produces higher power outputs. It is rated at 647hp and 550lb.-ft of torque and comes mated to a 7-speed automated manual transmission, which is the standard offering in the class. Power is transferred to the rear wheels as standard, which helps in good initial acceleration, and unsurprisingly, there is no option for an AWD configuration.
The 2017 Ford GT is immensely quick and delivers similar performance as its competitors, despite the least power outputs. With the pedal floored, the GT is capable of reaching the 60mph mark in 2.9 seconds and can further breach the quarter-mile mark in 10.7 seconds. Place a dashcam onto your dashboard and you can record a vivid range of expressions of excitement, exhilaration, joy, and fear, as the GT is capable of declaring its versatility in just a single ride around the city.
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Model
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Ford GT
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Lamborghini Aventador S
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Ferrari 488 GTB
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MSRP
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$447,000
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$424,845
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$252,800
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Engine
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3.5L twin-turbo V6
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6.5L V12
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3.9L turbocharged V8
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Drivetrain
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RWD
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AWD
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RWD
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Transmission
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7-speed automated manual
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7-speed automated manual
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7-speed automated manual
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Power
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647hp
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730hp
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661hp
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Torque
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550lb.-ft
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509lb.-ft
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561lb.-ft
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0-60 MPH (seconds)
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2.9 seconds
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2.9 seconds
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3.1 seconds
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Quarter-mile (mph)
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10.6 seconds
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10.7 seconds
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10.7 seconds
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Top speed (mph)
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216 MPH
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217 MPH
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215 MPH
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Being Lamborghini’s flagship vehicle, the Aventador gets the traditional V12 engine. But this time around it is tuned better to produce around 730hp of power and 509lb.-ft of torque. On the other hand, the 488 GTB that replaces the 458 Italia in Ferrari’s lineup, gets the twin-turbocharged V8 engine that is the torquiest in the segment at 561lb.-ft. Carrying the least expensive price tag in the segment, the 488 creates a solid first impression.
But irrespective of the power that each of these coupes produces, the performance remains quite identical. Each option in the segment has a similar 60 mph timing of around 3 seconds. Even the quarter-mile and top speeds are similar, with the Ford having a lead of a millisecond on its best days.
How does the 2017 Ford GT handle?
The Ford GT, being a true supercar, not only accelerates but handles like one. You could put the coupe into a corner or even drift at high speed without an iota of difficulty. The steering system feels precise and there is ample feedback available to make the ride better than it ever was. The GT provides five distinct driving modes; the Wet, Normal, Sport, Track, and V-Max modes, and in each of these the adaptive suspension adjusts itself according to the conditions.
Furthermore, the versatility of the GT is also indicated in its body design. Being a complete carbon-fiber construction, the GT is one of the lighter options on offer, and with a retractable rear spoiler, aerodynamics is taken care of. To eliminate even the slightest possibility of a turbo-lag in the performance-focused modes, an anti-lag system ensures consistent performance.
2017 Ford GT Braking Performance
For a supercar that goes from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of 2.9 seconds, braking capabilities also assume great importance. By fitting in a set of Brembo ceramic brakes, Ford has cleared its intentions of making the GT an affable performer that vaunts all-around abilities. It comes with 15-inch brake rotors at the front and 14.9-inch rotors at the rear. This setup allows the 3,250 lbs coupe to come to a halt at 98ft, which is impressive for its class.
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Model
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Ford GT
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Lamborghini Aventador S
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Ferrari 488 GTB
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Brake (front) (in.)
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15
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N/A
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N/A
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Brake (rear) (in.)
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14.9
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N/A
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N/A
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Curb Weight (lbs)
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3,250
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4,100
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3,252
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60-0 mph (ft)
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98
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N/A
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N/A
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While the performance potential of the Lamborghini Aventador S and Ferrari 488GTB are not yet known, one thing we can say for sure is that both these coupes, being flagship models from their respective brands, would not stand to disappoint. We expect efficient weight management from both the rivals that will help them in securing a braking distance of under 100ft.
