2023 Ford GT Mk IV: Final Edition Track Monster
The Ford GT already has 11 special editions, but this one might be the best. The track-only Ford GT Mk IV has a long tail and even more power.
Ford is saying farewell to the GT, but the American supercar isn’t going out without a bang. The last special edition will be the Ford GT Mk IV, a track-only monster with 800 horsepower, a long-tail body, and a race-ready transmission. The name is a tribute to the car that won Le Mans in 1967.
This isn’t the first track-day-special Ford GT to come since the car’s launch in 2016. That honor goes to the Ford GT Mk II of 2019, which was itself named as a nod to the car that won Le Mans in 1966. For that one, Ford tuned the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 to make 700 horsepower and removed the adjustable ride height system.
Mk IV Stretches the Ford GT
For the Mk IV, Ford has gone well above and beyond any previous iteration of the GT, starting from its very bones.
The Ford GT Mk IV has a longer wheelbase than the standard car. Adding the extra distance between the wheels should give it more high-speed stability on the circuit. Ford also says it will give the car “greater on-track handling.”
On top of the longer chassis, Ford has installed even longer bodywork. Stretching the tail is a time-tested technique to help boost top speed and add aerodynamic stability. The original Mk IV of 1967 had an elongated tail, and it has been part of many other successful racers including the McLaren F1.
New Higher-Displacement V6
A new, special version of Ford’s 3.5L twin-turbo V6 is being cooked up by the mad scientists at Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations Group, the company that builds the cars for Ford. How special? It won’t be 3.5 L, for a start. Multimatic says that it will have more displacement, and it was built with a target of more than 800 horsepower. That’s at least 140 more than the road car and 100 more than the last track special.
Ford and Multimatic are also giving it a new transmission. A “proper racing box,” as Multimatic’s Larry Holt calls it. We’re also expecting some serious suspension changes. The car will get Multimatic’s Adaptive Spool Valve suspension — a big upgrade over the already highly capable Multimatic spool valve dampers of the standard GT.
If you’re wondering why this is a little vague on specifics and big on wow, it’s because Ford is keeping the details close to its corporate chest. The announcement here focuses more on ideas and potential rather than spring rates, downforce numbers, and the other details we’re itching for.
What is the company saying?
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports:
“The original GT Mk IV held nothing back for max track performance, and the new Ford GT Mk IV brings it in the same way. With an even higher level of motorsport engineering and performance, plus a completely new carbon fiber body that is functional and striking, the Mk IV is the ultimate send-off of the third-generation supercar.”
Larry Holt, Executive Vice President, Multimatic:
“Multimatic’s brief was to create the most extreme final version of the Ford GT, and the Mk IV is the outcome. A unique larger displacement engine, proper racing gearbox, stretched wheelbase and truly radical body has resulted in an unprecedented level of performance.”
Ultraexclusive Supercar
The Ford GT has always been a very low-volume car, with the automaker giving customers hoops to jump through to get the chance to buy one. This Mk IV special edition won’t be any different.
Just 67 of the cars will be built — again a nod to the 1967 win of the original Mk IV. Pricing for the cars will start at $1.7 million, which is about half a million more than the Mk II. Maybe it’s a bargain though; an original 1967 car auctions for around $3.5 million.
Ford is once again making customers apply for a tiny number of cars. The new application process will open soon but should be completed in a hurry. The 67 handpicked customers will be confirmed in the first quarter of next year, and deliveries will start in late spring. Expect more details about the car as that process heats up.
Ford GT Production Ends This Year, but Not Before One More Limited Edition
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