Even though production of the Ford GT has already begun, the Blue Oval still sees it fit to divulge bite-sized pieces of information about its new halo supercar. This time, we are introduced to the GT’s five driving modes available to owners – Normal, Wet, Sport, Track, and V-Max.
According to Ford, these five modes “enable the Ford GT to attain ideal performance – whether on-road driving on a nice summer day, contending with rain and other elements, or aggressively pursuing its limits on a closed circuit.” To switch between them, one only needs to simply turn the knob on the GT’s F1-inspired steering wheel.
For everyday driving, Normal mode keeps things civil on public roads, with throttle and transmission calibrations set for standard driving. The car also offers the highest possible ground clearance of 120 mm in this mode, while the dampers are in their most comfortable setting with a push of a button.
The GT’s active rear wing also deploys automatically from 145 km/h onwards, returning to its stowed position at 130 km/h. Should the car detect aggressive braking at speeds above 120 km/h, the wing will deploy as an airbrake to slow things down quicker.
Next, Wet mode is similar to Normal mode, except the throttle control is dialled back even further to help prevent the car from slipping and sliding. In both above-mentioned modes, the car’s AdvanceTrac stability and traction control systems are left active and cannot be adjusted.
Moving on to the more exciting modes, Sport grants the driver with quicker throttle response and access to the anti-lag system on the 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 engine, keeping the turbo spinning to provide boost on demand. The rear wing also comes into action at just 112 km/h.
The car continues to retain its 120 mm ground clearance but there is no comfort setting available for the dampers, and the AdvanceTrac system now offers three additional settings, allowing for more sideways motion.
Kicking things up a notch, we reach the first of two modes that is not intended for street use. The aptly-named Track mode is as you expect, for the track, dropping the GT’s ride height by 50 mm. Spring rates are increased here, the damping goes to its firmest setting, and the rear wing is permanently deployed to ensure maximum downforce – useful characteristics while on the track.
The final mode is “engineering-speak for maximum velocity,” as Ford puts it, ensuring the GT achieves its fastest possible straight-line speed. It retains many of the Track mode’s settings but all aero features are repurposed to minimise drag and the stability control cannot be altered to ensure the car points straight and true.
If that isn’t enough, Ford even throws in an easy-to-use launch control system, which can be engaged in all modes except Wet. Drivers simply need to navigate through the instrument panel menu and activate it, whereby a white “LC” icon appears in the cluster. From there, they only need to keep their left foot on the brake, floor the accelerator with their right foot, watch the “LC” icon turn green, and the GT launches off the line.
GALLERY: Ford GT
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
it is one of the wonderful supercar and the best supercar from the American and i can’t wait to see it chalenging the best european supercar especially McLaren 570s and Ferrari 488GTB
Thia year it will be compete with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, both cars have the engine in the middle, both are turbochargers like the Mustang and Camaro that chalenging each order since 1960s. It will be a great Detroit cold war this year
Looks like somekind of commercial to the public from Ford on the Ford GT which is rather ironic for a supposedly very limited production & exclusive supercar. Perhaps Ford will consider to make it a proper mass production supercar just like its main rivals..