2023 Ford GT: Everything You Need To Know

The Ford GT is undoubtedly one of the most iconic nameplates to ever be produced in America. Tracing its roots back to the first Ford GT40 which was produced back in the mid-60s, the GT models embrace all the heritage and racing legacy of the GT40s of old, capturing the spirit of the raw, classic racecars. The first generation Ford GT was released in 2005, with the second generation bringing the nameplate back in explosion fashion in 2017. The second-gen model received a facelift in 2022, becoming the third-generation GT. However, production of the car came to a halt by the end of 2022.

Due to the Ford GT being a low-volume, high-cost sports car, it didn't make sense for the automaker to continue production from a financial standpoint. To give the nameplate a truly special sendoff for 2023, Ford announced the track-only Ford GT MK IV, which is designed to extract the maximum levels of performance that the second-gen design philosophy is capable of.

Many special editions of the Ford GT have been released in recent years to honor the brand's motorsport prestige, such as the '22 GT LM Edition, but none can hold a candle to the all-new Ford GT MK IV's track-dedicated nature. Here's everything you need to know about the '23 Ford GT MK IV.

The Ford GT is already a classic that grew out of another classic and whose history is coming to an end (for now).

Due to the 2023 Ford GT MK IV being a track-only model, the latest GT model sees a sizable increase in power in comparison to the base-level Ford GT. The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine that features in the '22 Ford GT is by no means anything to scoff at, managing to produce 660 horsepower. However, as impressive as this engine is, the '23 GT MK IV needed even more power to allow it to light up the timing screens on every track.

The '23 GT MK IV is fitted with a new 3.5-liter V-6, being "specially engineered" to increase the EcoBoost engine's power to 800 horsepower, says Ford Performance.

Although we don't have specific numbers regarding the speed of the '23 GT MK IV, the 660 horsepower base-level GT managed a 0–60 miles per hour speed of just three seconds, giving us plenty of hope that the '23 GT MK IV has the potential to storm past this number. As for the new GT's maximum pace, the '22 GT manages a top speed of 216 miles per hour, with the '23 GT MK IV expected to reach a similar speed.

The Seven-speed automatic transmission that is featured in the third-generation Ford GT models was more than effective enough to handle the power that the EcoBoost engine was capable of producing. But due to the seven-speed automatic transmission being designed for a street-legal car, the demand for the 800 horsepower '23 Ford GT would be way too much for the gearbox to handle. Instead, Ford has fitted what they call a "proper racing transmission" to the '23 Ford GT for seamless, silky smooth gear changes.

Racing transmissions can come in multiple different forms, with paddle-shift manuals and semi-automatic transmissions being the most popular. The 2023 Ford GT follows the semi-automatic race-ready transmission route, giving you the option between using the paddle shifters fixed to the complex steering wheel, or a fully automatic mode to allow you to focus entirely on the track ahead.

A company with which Ford worked to create the 2023 Ford GT MK IV is Mutlimatic, a global automotive supplier that provides engineering services from parts to solutions. One system that puts them ahead of the curve that the '23 Ford GT puts to great use is the DSSV damping system or dynamic suspension spool valve dampers for its full name.

This system is without question one of the most vital elements of the '23 Ford GT, regarding how effectively it performs as a track-only car. The adaptive dampers automatically adjust each wheel lap-by-lap to provide optimum levels of balance and grip, which can also be manually adjusted to find the perfect window for you to unleash the car's potential.

Whether you want more front or rear-end grip, the adaptive dampers can be fine-tuned to your preference. Moving forward, adaptive damping systems like Multimatic's DSSV will undoubtedly become the standard in track-only cars, unlocking more performance while simultaneously increasing the balance and overall confidence for the driver behind the wheel.

Final track-only model the 2023 Ford GT Mk IV

Specially engineered twin-turbo EcoBoost engine targeting more than 800 horsepower

Race Transmission

Carbon fiber “long tail” body

Multimatic’s Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) suspension

The team at Ford Performance looked at every area of the car's current aerodynamics and amplified them to the highest level possible. The longer wheelbase opens the door for opportunities that the street-legal Ford GT couldn't capitalize on, leading to the track-only '23 Ford GT being able to produce 2,400 lbs of downforce at 150 miles per hour.

At the front end of the car, the 2023 Ford GT features a massive front splitter to keep the nose stuck to the ground, assisted by equally imposing bumper canards on either side. The hood is also notably flatter than the street-legal GTs, swapping out the huge dual air vents for a standard singular vent which almost stretches to each wheel arch. This allows more air to efficiently pass over the top of the roof and towards the giant rear wing.

The new rear wing for the track-only GT is a key contributor to the car's overall aerodynamic capabilities, generating downforce to promote downforce and stability while reducing lift and drag on the straights. The rear diffuser plays an equally important role at the back, stretching way under the car to streamline as much air as possible.

Regarding the internal airflow of the car, the 2023 Ford GT received ample improvements to keep the powertrain running as smoothly as possible. On the hood, dual NACA hood ducts are added to either side which actually flow into the cockpit for cooling, with the iconic side vents on the second and third-generation Ford GTs also receiving a substantial increase in size, with additional vents on the side skirts to further improve airflow.

The overall style of the GT nameplate already has an aerodynamic philosophy, as they draw endless inspiration from the GT40 racecars of the '60s. Moving forward to the 2023 Ford GT MK IV, the aerodynamics reach an all-time high, thanks to its revised carbon fiber body.

The regular second-generation Ford GTs also come with a carbon fiber shell, but Ford Performance redesigned the carbon fiber body to cater for the necessary adjustments to the overall shape of the car. The '23 GT has a long tail design, subsequently leading to the car having a larger wheelbase than the street-legal Ford GT. For track-only cars such as the '23 GT, long tail bodies provide benefits such as reduced drag for higher top speeds, better downforce through the increased aerodynamic potential, and an overall improvement in the balance of the car.

As you had probably expected, the '23 Ford GT's interior is significantly different from that of the street-legal version of the nameplate. The 2022 Ford GT features most of the essential cabin equipment for a sports car while still creating a strong sense of the racing car feel of the old GT40s. The '23 Ford GT, however, strips out all the comfort-focused amenities that you can find in a GT road car, creating an interior similar to that of the Ford GT LM racecars that feature in the World Endurance Championship.

The dashboard continues the carbon fiber theme of the exterior, featuring a barebones dash with carbon fiber surrounding the telemetry screens directly behind the steering wheel. The roll cage encases both the driver and passenger, with the full bucket seats keeping you locked in place when swinging the car through high-speed turns.

Regarding Ford's rich history in the world of motorsport, there are a select few cars that allowed the company to establish themselves as one of the most iconic in motor racing history. One of these cars is the 24 Hours of Le Mans race-winning 1967 Ford GT40 MK IV, which is the car that the '23 GT MK IV is designed to honor, hence the MK IV generational nameplate. Continuing from the tremendous victory at Le Mans for the GT40 in 1966, the '67 MK IV is a true testament to the expert American craftsmanship of the late '60s.

As well as the nameplate, the '23 Ford GT MK IV draws inspiration from the '67 GT40 in a few different ways. As with every other Ford GT, the body style of the '23 GT MK IV strongly resembles the '67 GT40, with its aerodynamically enhanced low-cut, flowing design. What sets the '23 GT MK IV apart from other modern GTs is that it represents the current performance capabilities that Ford can produce, being a perfect modern reminder of how determined Ford was and still is for pushing the boundaries of what's possible around the racetrack.

As with the majority of modern track-only performance cars, the 2023 Ford GT MK IV is one of the most exclusive cars Ford has released. It's not quite as rare as the '22 GT LM Edition which saw just 20 units produced, with the '23 Ford GT MK IV being limited to 67 models. This may seem like a very specific number to limit production to. However, it allows the car to further honor the GT40 MK IV that the car is based on, which was released in 1967.

With track-only performance cars being the pinnacle of modern engineering, the price tag for these cars is generally pretty high. The Ford GT MK IV continues this trend, fetching a price of $1.7 million. The base model Ford GT which ended production was rather expensive itself on release, starting at $500,000. With the massive increase in power, aerodynamics, and rarity, the significant jump in price was more than expected.

To make the '23 Ford GT MK IV even more exclusive, only trusted customers of Ford are eligible to purchase one of the 67 units. The car has only been on the track for less than a year by this point, and it's already one of the most impactful performance cars Ford has ever produced.

With Ford's ambition for the 2023 Ford GT to be the ultimate track car that honors the '67 Le Mans-winning GT40, it's safe to say that the Ford GT nameplate has gone out in style. The motorsport heritage that the GT nameplate has given Ford over the years has made the Ford GT one of the most influential American cars of all time, with the 2023 GT MK IV being the perfect culmination of the masterful engineering that went into all those that came before it.

The 2022 Ford GT LM Edition was essentially the sendoff version of the street-legal GT, but the '23 GT MK IV is a sendoff for not just the GT models, but the GT40s of old which the modern-day cars wouldn't exist without. It's unclear whether Ford will replace the GT with a new performance sports/supercar soon. However, the 2023 Ford GT MK IV has left incredibly large shoes to fill.