When you think of patriotic American supercars, perhaps the most well-known and significant one is the Ford GT. This iconic supercar nameplate dates back to the 1960s, when Ford, after Ferrari bailed out on an acquisition and financial security, were hell-bent on beating the Italians where it hurt the most, the racetrack, and they actually succeeded. This is such an iconic tale, it spawned an entire Academy Award-winning feature film. For their 100th anniversary, Ford brought back the GT in the early 2000s, with heavy retro influences and a supercharged V8. It took 37 years, and a lot of headaches, but they did it.
In 2015, around a decade later, Ford revived the GT yet again, but this time, it was much different. Rather than being a simpler approach to the mid-engine supercar that was still very effective, Ford conceived the second generation GT as a world-beater from the very beginning. A 647 hp twin-turbo V6, some of the craziest aero on a production car, and a track-focus first and foremost. The second-gen Ford GT will soon be going away, but what would it look like if Ford revisited the concept and gave it battery power? Exclusively for HotCars, artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel has imagined what that would look like in this car rendering.
What Could An All-Electric Ford GT Look Like?
An electric Ford GT has a lot of potential as a concept, and it would be absolutely awesome if Ford were to explore that concept at some point in the future. Ford has been creative with their GT, especially true for the 2022 Ford GT that pays tribute to its heritage. While we have no concrete confirmation, it won't stop us from imagining what that would look like. Timothy Adry Emmanuel envisions an electric Ford GT as using the current Ford GT as a base, but with various and significant changes to show that this is not your typical supercar.
The front-end blocks off the cooling system, as this is an electric car and it needs nowhere near as much cooling as its V6-powered equivalent. Seemingly taking inspiration from the BMW i8, there are various thin strips of blue around the bodywork and wheels, to indicate that this is a battery-powered vehicle. The rear-end foregoes the afterburner-inspired taillights and centrally-mounted exhaust pipes for a glossy rear decklid and a wrap-around LED rectangle acting as the taillights. The wheels both get aero covers, and the front wheels get the Ford script spelled out. This e-GT concept retains the current car's basic silhouette, as well as the aero components, including the signature flying buttresses and the massive rear wing.
What Could Power An Electric Ford GT?
It's safe to assume that Ford would put together a bespoke powertrain and platform for an electric Ford GT. Simply adapting the Mustang Mach-E GT's powertrain wouldn't cut it. An electric Ford GT could either use two electric motors at each axle, or four electric motors, one for each of the wheels. Some electric hypercars, like the Rimac Nevera, which completely smashed the Goodwood Hill Climb, and the NIO EP9, use the latter option, so it would make sense to use it here as well.
Horsepower levels would most likely be north of 1,000 hp, and closer to 2,000 hp to keep it in-line with all of the latest insane electric hypercars that are coming out, notably the Lotus Evija and the Pininfarina Battista. This would require a pretty massive battery pack, so the e-GT wouldn't be a featherweight like it is currently. On the other hand, Ford could optimize the body and aerodynamics further, as the narrow body of the current GT (which is the reason why it has a V6 rather than a V8) and the compactness of everything allows it to be so light.
Will We Ever See An Electric Ford GT?
Of course, this is all speculative, and Ford has never expressed interest in making a third-generation Ford GT with battery power. However, it's not completely off limits, as the Ford GT is a household name, and with all the amazing electric hypercars that are coming out seemingly ever other day, this could be a fantastic competitor. The Tesla Roadster (if it ever goes into production) would certainly have something to worry about, especially if an electric GT looks half as good as this.