Picture this. You’re seated at the table of your favourite restaurant, eagerly awaiting the dish you’ve order which is also the restaurant's hero dish, except this time you’ve gotten wind that they’ve amped up the spice factor on the dish. One spoonful after the dish arrives and you’re just sat there, simply blown away by it. How did they make an already incredible dish even better? The same can be said of the 2020 Ford GT.
The MK II GT didn’t need an upgrade or a revamp to be more palatable to supercar buyers and fans but the Blue Oval did it anyway. They took their hero dish and amped up the spice factor to eleven. We aren’t just talking about a power hike but the two new appearance options for customers to choose from, namely: Liquid Carbon and the restyled Gulf Racing livery.
“Ford GT continues to be the pinnacle of Ford performance,” said Ed Krenz, Ford Performance chief program engineer. “GT is always the ultimate expression of Ford racing innovation, and as we know from the 1966 Le Mans through today, that means constantly raising our game for our customers as well as earning the chequered flag.”
The GT’s engine has been fettled to produce slightly more power and a broader torque curve. The twin-turbo 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 gets a 10kW hike for a total output of 492kW. The marque says they’ve revised the engine’s calibration along with gallery-cooled pistons and higher-energy ignition coils, thanks to lessons garnered from motorsports.
Furthermore, the 2020 GT gets better engine cooling and airflow, thanks to new buttress air ducts which are designed to increase air flow by up to 50 percent, while larger intercoolers keep charge air temperatures cooler, thus preserving peak power for high-temperature sessions at the track.
Other revision to the powertrain include a new Akrapovič titanium exhaust system, as standard equipment for the new GT. The new system cuts almost 4.1kg from the previous system. Moreover, this new system gives the car that “deeply resonant, unmistakable sound", claims the brand.
The Blue Oval has also worked to improve the suspensions dampening when in Track mode to further enhance handling and body control, particularly for those high-speed transient sections of the circuit.
But the bit that really gets this author is the new Liquid Carbon option which is completely free of paint. A special clearcoat is applied to the body which clearly showcases the GT’s unique carbon fibre weave. “The results of this ongoing partnership between Multimatic and Ford Performance speak for themselves, as each visually stunning and unique Liquid Carbon GT is a manufacturing marvel, showcasing the characteristics and nuances inherent in carbon fibre composites” said Angus Smith, GM of Multimatic Niche Vehicles, North America.
The Liquid Carbon option also includes carbon fibre wheels as standard. Further, owners can specify titanium lugnuts, six-point racing harness anchors and choose between five interior options and five calliper colours. Even the racing stripe is up for grabs. The stripes and mirror caps are available in a myriad of colours and for the first time, the brand says these features can be ordered independently of one another.
While the Liquid Carbon option looks absolutely sinister, the updated Gulf Racing Heritage Livery fills hearts with nostalgia. The iconic livery now features a black pinstripe to divide the distinct blue and orange colours. The optional carbon fibre number switches from 9 on the 2019 model to 6 for 2020, matching that of the historic back-to-back winning car, chassis No. 1075. For the first time on a heritage model, carbon fibre wheels are available in lieu of aluminium alloy.
The company says deliveries of the upgraded 2020 Ford GT are on-going, with production set to wrap up in 2022. For more information on Ford and for the best deal on your next brand-new car, please visit our Showroom.
