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$1.7 million 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track car, of which 67 will be built
As production of the standard Ford GT winds down over the next two weeks, it looks like Ford isn’t quite ready to let go of this generation. Ford Performance and Multimatic have cooked up another iteration for production in 2023, the GT Mk IV. This one is a special $1.7 million track only model of which 67 examples will be built.
1967 Ford GT Mk IV winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans driven by Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt
The name and production number pay homage to the GT40 Mk IV that finished in the top four positions at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. That original Mk IV only competed in two races before being retired, Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, winning both. The original Mk IV was a completely new design that shared very little apart from the 7.0-litre V8 with the Mk II that won in 1966. It was longer and significantly lighter than the Mk II thanks to a then-new aluminum honeycomb chassis structure. Tragically, Ken Miles died while testing the prototype in the summer of 1966 which led Ford to install a more robust roll cage on the race cars.
$1.7 million 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track car, of which 67 will be built
The new GT Mk IV is the second track-only variant of the current GT following the 2019 Mk II. While the Mk II was closer to the Le Mans GTE-Pro class winning race cars, the Mk IV was more radical, and the most powerful variant yet. Not bound by any racing regulations, the twin-turbo Ecoboost V6 has been reworked with a larger, unspecified displacement to put out more than 800 horsepower. The standard dual clutch transmission from road cars is also replaced by a racing gearbox.
$1.7 million 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track car, of which 67 will be built
The carbon fiber bodywork is also unique to the Mk IV and perhaps gives a strong hint of what an Evo version of the race car might look like if Ford chooses to continue the racing program beyond 2019. As per modern racing car, be careful The management of the air flow inside, and around the body is a clear priority.
$1.7 million 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track car, of which 67 will be built
From the extended front fender and barge board behind the wheels to the longer tail and massive rear wing and diffuser, it’s clear this one spent some significant time in the wind tunnel to crank up the downforce. The headlamps have been reduced to a minimum with only the production car’s C-shaped running lamps remaining. The iconic cooling exit on the hood is replaced by a louver with more areas for blowing hot air. The intercooler vents ahead of the rear wheels are both taller and wider to handle the increased thermal load.
$1.7 million 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track car, of which 67 will be built
The engineers at Multimatic have also stretched the wheelbase, although again, details have not been given.
Those hoping to secure one of the 67 examples will need to apply at www.ford.com/performance/gt/mk-iv with a base price for the Mk IV of $1.7 million. Ford will notify customers of approval in the first quarter of 2023 and deliveries will begin in late spring.
Clarification: Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R which gets its racing debut in 2024, the Ford GT Mk IV does not follow the rules of any sanctioned racing series anywhere in the world and will not compete in any formal races. It is a toy for the very rich.
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