In their latest test video at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds, a Ford GT can’t quite reach its maximum velocity before running out of runway.
We’re digging the new YouTube channel from the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in sunny West Palm Beach, Florida. Its temperate climate and at-sea-level elevation provide an ideal environment for cars to see just how fast they can go when provided with 3.2 miles of pristine concrete.
However, 3.2 miles might not be quite enough to see how fast a car can actually go.
Take the 2017 Ford GT. Under the hood is a 3.5-L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine with 674 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. That much power allows the GT to hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.8 seconds and rocket off to 100 mph in just 6 seconds. Top speed is given by Ford engineers to be 216 mph.
Helping the GT reach those extreme speeds is a carbon fiber body that keeps weight down and directs air to where it needs to go. An active rear spoiler can raise and lower depending on the needs of the vehicle, and the car’s suspension can be lowered to just a bare few inches above the ground to minimize drag.
Getting to 216 mph involves a powerful engine, but it also requires enough space and a streamlined body to push through and reach that velocity. And it looks like 3.2 miles isn’t quite enough.
In their top speed test, Johnny Bohmer is able to get the GT up to 213 mph before finally running out of runway. The GT has no problem pulling the car all the way to 200 mph, but each mile more after that is a struggle. We’re certain if the runway were something like 5 or 7 miles long then the GT would be able to eke out that remaining 3 mph.