The Ford GT was an enigma deep in the halls of the Ford Motor Company. When Ford announced that it was reviving the GT at a conference during the North American International Auto Show inside the now-demolished Joe Louis Arena, it was arguably one of the best-kept secrets in the industry, with the futuristic two-door grabbing the world’s attention. We had a chance to experience it both on the track and on the street where it proved to be a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sadly, the GT is going away after 2023, but Ford has prepared a final send-off model (for real this time) with the 2023 Ford GT Mk IV, which is a wild track-focused insane member of the GT family that pays homage to Ford’s vintage 1967 Le Mans racer.
GT Mk IV Embraces Sleek Retro-Inspired Styling
The Mk IV is a track-exclusive beast, and that’s readily evident in some of the changes that Ford engineers made to make this beast into a true dragon on the raceway. The chassis is exclusive to the Mk IV, and the wheelbase has been stretched to help improve high-speed handling behavior. The bodywork has been heavily revamped, and the need not to abide by road car safety standards allowed the GT team to push the envelope regarding functional performance. The simplified headlights bleed into the bodywork while the side mirrors have been axed. The rear houses a massive rear diffuser and a massive rear wing.
Some of the air intakes also appear larger than before, and the roof-mounted scoop helps highlight its track-ready intent. It’s hard to deny that the GT MkIv has a sinister yet elegant vibe to its personality, and we look forward to seeing how all of this translates to the real world if we have a chance to see it in person.
V6 returns, But In A Beefier Wrapper
This latest iteration of the GT retains the twin-turbocharged V6 that we have seen in countless other GT models. However, while the last road-going version of the GT (the LM Edition) makes do with 600 hp, the Mk IV is promising to make over 800 hp. That’s a massive bump in performance, and we suspect Ford upped the displacement here since the company’s press release doesn’t explicitly confirm whether it’s indeed a 3.5-liter V6 or not.
Ford is also promising a proper track-ready gearbox but is stopping short of revealing what is mated to the engine. A Multimatic sourced suspension is still in play, but the road-going version has been replaced with an all-new Multimatic sourced Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) track suspension. A set of track-ready Michelin Pilot Sport racing slicks replace traditional road tires and the sticky rubber is paired with center locking wheels.
When Can I Buy One?
Ford revealed that it will be only building 67 examples of the Mk IV (a nod to the year 1967) and will also use an updated client application process and pass Ford’s rigorous screening process. If approved, your wallet will have to part with $1.7 million, with Ford revealing that it will begin deliveries to these customers by the end of spring. Look for an updated no-sale agreement to also be in play here too which was a defining trait of the first production batch of GTs when they made there way to production several years back.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.