Ford Open Order Books for Ford GT But not for Australia

[csv8]

"Getting your hands on the new Ford GT supercar may not be as simple as first thought, particularly if you call Australia home.

The manufacturer has opened the order books for the first 500 versions of the GT, which will be available from late 2016. Starting Thursday, well-heeled buyers can apply to purchase the GT via a questionnaire page on Ford's global website. But here's the bad news – the configurator doesn't apply to the Australian market, which isn't surprising as the GT will only be available in left-hand drive.

Instead, prospective buyers must be able to receive and register the vehicle from the US, Canada, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, China, Macau, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Since just 250 GTs will be produced annually, the initial order book will cover the first two years of production.

Sales of the GT are subject to some pretty strict criteria, Ford says. Prospective buyers must have a decent collection of Fords, either in an existing business relationship or as an enthusiast. Owning the previous-generation GT will also bode well in being hand-picked by the blue oval as an "ambassador" for the new model.

Ford doesn't want owners of the new model to squirrel the GT away in a vault, it has previously said.

"We want to prioritise people who are going to care about the car, keep the car, and drive the car," Ford chief technical officer Raj Nair told journalists back in February.

It's a similar philosophy to the one Ferrari employs for many of its limited edition vehicles, the highly exclusive LaFerrari being one.

The two-door GT coupe is said to feature race-proven technology developed and engineered to "keep company with exotics", including what Ford believes is one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car.

At the heart of those claims is a 3.5-litre V6 turbocharged engine which, though unconfirmed, is said to produce about 450kW of power. The engine is mid-mounted and based on the same architecture as Ford's Daytona prototype endurance racer. Although Ford hasn't released official performance figures, it says the engine is the most powerful EcoBoost yet.

Stopping the GT are carbon-ceramic brakes housed within 20-inch wheels wearing tailored Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tyres. There is also lashing of carbon fibre on the GT's structural carbon fibre body panels.

The GT will cost an estimated $450,000 in the US - a considerable mark-up on the predecessor. Ford has chosen not to offer wild customisation options for the GT. Instead, it will be limited to a relatively limit palette of eight exterior colours, with optional stripes available on seven cars.

Not that you're likely to spot a carbon copy of your vehicle on the roads anytime soon."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...13-go5vd9.html

[Bossxr8]

Talk has been 650-700 hp and 1200 kg weight. If so that is an unbelievable power to weight ratio.

[Wretched]

i'd have one of these with an Audi RS6 to do the shopping run.

[CyberWasp]

One Ford Policy at work again.

[joolz]

In Ireland you get up to 60 then have to slow down before the road ends....

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

One Ford Policy at work again.

Yep, lead designer from Australia.

[Falcon Coupe]

Looks like a few will be redlining while being driven at walking pace through the streets of London like most Super cars then...

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

One Ford Policy at work again.

Good to know you were going to get one.

[Franco Cozzo]

Awesome, so everyone else can order it except for Australia and South Sudan.

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Good to know you were going to get one.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Awesome, so everyone else can order it except for Australia and South Sudan.

Even if you could order in Oz , price of admission is pretty discriminatory ;-)

[CyberWasp]

It is not about if I would buy one or not.
It is about how does this vehicle fit their policy when many others that sell in larger volumes and are more affordable get canned.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

It is not about if I would buy one or not.
It is about how does this vehicle fit their policy when many others that sell in larger volumes and are more affordable get canned.

Do as I say not as I do.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

It is not about if I would buy one or not.
It is about how does this vehicle fit their policy when many others that sell in larger volumes and are more affordable get canned.

This vehicle serves a purpose to be a halo model, not to bank roll the company or to fill a market void

[Stefan]

I guess it will be more profitable then other more affordable cars.

A cracker of a car....but our fate was sealed when we decided to drive on the wrong side of the road.

[Yellow_Festiva]

While researching the current GT 40 kit cars available here I stumbled across a mob that's touting a new kit that's going to have a V10 or V12 and high 3 digit HP... Was around $185k.

One of those could certainly keep the garage warm for the next few years while Ford sort out the conversion and supply to Australian buyers.

http://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/de...11749692ba80a6

[4stanger]

Just like the export Mustang, it will be interesting to see what changes they make to the GT from the North American version, to suit the design rules of Europe for export,
for example;
bonnet scoops will have to go for pedestrian safety.
DRLs to be Europe compliant, etc. etc.

[XR8putts]

Originally Posted by Arnaldo

Just like the export Mustang, it will be interesting to see what changes they make to the GT from the North American version, to suit the design rules of Europe for export,
for example;
bonnet scoops will have to go for pedestrian safety.
DRLs to be Europe compliant, etc. etc.

Won't apply due to limited numbers.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Awesome, so everyone else can order it except for Australia and South Sudan.

Well, a first step would be to legalise registration of left hand drive cars. i mean, even england has that...

[crainger]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Looks like a few will be redlining while being driven at walking pace through the streets of London like most Super cars then...

Haha, well only the streets wide enough...

[FPV+fteT3]

The build of 250/year probably reflects the reality of the number of people with means to buy one actually placing an order. Most will be sold in the US where the ford faithful reside.
Removing the one ford rose coloured glasses I would say the people who buy cars like LP750 4, 488 GTO, Vantage V12, GT3RS etc.. probably find having a blue oval on the front of their supercar instead of a bull or horse etc..about as desirable as a case of the clap

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

Removing the one ford rose coloured glasses I would say the people who buy cars like LP750 4, 488 GTO, Vantage V12, GT3RS etc.. probably find having a blue oval on the front of their supercar instead of a bull or horse etc..about as desirable as a case of the clap

There would also be those that have had a Lambo, Ferrari or Porsche and want to try something different. For the guy that's had a string of Italian supercars, the Ford GT is an interesting proposition. That sort of analogy applies to McLaren's and Pargani's success in recent years. The Hondo NSX would be in a similar story.

[GasoLane]

I'm betting that Mr Bean already has his name down

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Well, a first step would be to legalise registration of left hand drive cars. i mean, even england has that...

One of my favourite subjects...

Once again being bitten in the bum by a government that won't treat us like adults and instead, unlike nearly every country in the world, forces us to drive new cars which only have the wheel on one particular side of the car. Other countries don't have such a problem.

They've allowed us to drive 30 year old cars in LHD freely on the roads...why not brand new cars which have far superior safety and dynamics?

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

The build of 250/year probably reflects the reality of the number of people with means to buy one actually placing an order. Most will be sold in the US where the ford faithful reside.
Removing the one ford rose coloured glasses I would say the people who buy cars like LP750 4, 488 GTO, Vantage V12, GT3RS etc.. probably find having a blue oval on the front of their supercar instead of a bull or horse etc..about as desirable as a case of the clap

They'll sell every one they build, and the prices will only go up.

[Cobra]

Ireland drive on the same side of the road we do. Can new cars be registered with either LH or RH drive over there?

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Ireland drive on the same side of the road we do. Can new cars be registered with either LH or RH drive over there?

Yes. Also in the UK. No issue in buying anew LHD car new and registering in the UK. Insurance tends to be a bit higher.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Yes. Also in the UK. No issue in buying anew LHD car new and registering in the UK. Insurance tends to be a bit higher.

No issue at all. My nephew who lives in Edinburgh Scotland went to France on a long weekend holiday and had been looking at a Renault for a while. When in France they saw the same car they had been looking at for a huge amount less than in Scotland (except of course in LHD), so they bought it and drove it home. Literally zero problem with rego or owning it there.

Some countries just treat their drivers with a bit more trust and maturity than our government treats us...partly over the years to protect our delicate little car industry, but now that it's sadly gone, how about dropping restrictions and letting people buy and drive whatever they want from where ever they want...?

[Wretched]

Ford GT supercar attracts 7000 interested buyers

Ford has reported an overwhelming public response to its GT supercar going on sale.

With news last week that the blue oval had opened applications to the first 500 vehicles, more than 7000 budding owners have put their names down for the highly exclusive supercar. That's despite reports of a circa $600,000 (AUD) price tag.

Ford will continue to accept applications for the GT via an online questionnaire until May 12. The company will be searching for 'brand ambassadors' intent on actually driving the new model and willing to sign a contract obliging them to keep the GT for a certain period of time.

The public response is all the more remarkable considering many countries including Australia were not allowed to participate in the online process.

Ford has limited applications to the GT to a meagre few nations, mostly due to the fact the it will only ever be built in left-hand drive. Annual production will be capped at 250 vehicles.

Ford is expected to select applicants using strict criteria. Prospective buyers must have a decent collection of Fords, either in an existing business relationship or as an enthusiast. Owning the previous-generation GT will also bode well in being hand-picked by the blue oval as an ambassador for the new model.

The first batch of GTs are expected to roll of the production line by year's end.

The two-door GT coupe is said to feature race-proven technology developed and engineered to "keep company with exotics", including what Ford believes is one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car.


At the heart of those claims is a 3.5-litre V6 turbocharged engine which, though unconfirmed, is said to produce about 450kW of power. The engine is mid-mounted and based on the same architecture as Ford's Daytona prototype endurance racer. Although Ford hasn't released official performance figures, it says the engine is the most powerful EcoBoost yet.

Stopping the GT are carbon-ceramic brakes housed within 20-inch wheels wearing tailored Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tyres.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...22-gocivv.html

[roddy1960]

G'day...Ah well ....they had their chance..We could of knocked a few up for them if they'd kept the factory open..Only joking of course but it's a shame that Geelong couldn't have been able to be re tooled to make some of the 'global' vehicles or at least some components..Can't help but feel a bit left out of the globe , maybe we're aliens...It's not as if we don't know how to build a reasonable car or two...Looks like global only counts if it's North America and Europe..maybe Thailand , not sure. meanwhile back on the farm there's a 15-18 month wait for a 'Stang" Okay then .No Ford GT for me ...bugger. I'll have to spend my half a million bucks plus on something else...maybe a condo on the Gold Coast...Cheers Rod