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[01/09/2002] GT40 concept unveiled at the International Auto Show

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On Monday, Ford released a new high-performance concept car at the 2002 North American International Auto Show. The GT40 concept is inspired by the 1960''s era racecars with its accent lines, sweeping cowls and unique headlights. "The GT40 is the ultimate Living Legend," said J Mays, a Ford Vice President. "It?s a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, but with the addition of a heritage no one can match. Essential elements of the original ? including the stunning low profile and mid-mounted American V-8 ? continue in this latest interpretation of the classic."

Camilo Pardo was chosen to lead the design of the GT40 concept. Pardo borrowed a vintage GT40 for inspiration. The concept car was designed around the wheel housings, purposely making the car seem like it had no beginning or end. The front cowl is hinged and opens to reveal a small storage area and the polished front suspension. Twin fuel cells run down the center tunnel of the car. The rear canopy is the awe of every car enthusiast, as it reveals the heart and soul of the car, a modular 5.4-liter V-8 engine.

The interior design simulates the older GT40 racecar with its cockpit style design. Both the driver and the passenger will be seated comfortably in custom Recaro bucket seats. The console runs the entire length of the cockpit, revealing a short-throw shifter and CD player. The dash looks like a racecar with its analog gauges, large tachometer, and toggle-style switches controlling the car''s key elements.

Powered by a modular 32-valve, 5.4-liter aluminum block V-8, the GT40 should definitely set the standard for streetable racecars. The 5.4-liter motor produces an amazing 500 horsepower at 5250 rpm and 500 foot-pounds of torque at 3250 rpm thanks to a intercooled, roots-style, supercharger. Aluminum 4-valve heads, aluminum pistons, forged crankshaft, and H-beam forged rods should make the motor extremely reliable for the amount of horsepower it produces. The motor is comparable to the 7-liter engine that won the Le Mans in 1966 and 1967. Power is put to the ground by a close-ratio RTB 6-speed transmission, a 9 inch McLeod clutch, and 4:22 rear-end gears.

The GT40''s suspension will definitely give it great handling capabilities with its unequal length control arms and a push-rod/bell-cranks system to interface with the spring-damper units. The whole suspension was designed completely from scratch by SVT chassis engineers giving it a unique all-aluminum spaceframe. The wheels were custom fabricated for the concept car using 18-inch rims up front and 19''s in the rear. To help stop the beast, Alcon 6-piston calipers grip the 15-inch cross-drilled rotors.

The concept car was created to test the future of other Ford cars to come. Just like the Forty-Nine concept, the GT40 was created to test out production feasibility. SVT Engineering worked very closely with the concept designers to make sure the car lived up to its performance heritage.

"?If this car meets an Italian exotic on a winding road or finds itself at a stoplight next to an American muscle car, it will have no trouble defending its honor."

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[01/09/2002] GT40 concept unveiled at the International Auto Show By: -

[01/09/2002] GT40 concept unveiled at the International Auto Show

By: -