Ford GT Carbon Series 2019, with a lower weight while keeping certain comforts

At the start of 2017 Ford turned up the heat on the circuits with the announcement of the GT Competition Series, a version of its iconic sports car that went on a strict diet to reduce its weight to the bare minimum, with the sole aim of being unbeatable in our weekend sessions. According to Ford, this model would give its drivers sensations as close as possible to the Ford GT that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016, but in exchange all comforts and unnecessary elements were removed.

The Ford GT Competition Series diet was so extreme that even the bonnet opening mechanism was replaced by manual latches, and in this same area the glass that showed us its beautiful engine was swapped for Plexiglas. Once again Ford wants to be king of the tracks with the GT, but this time with the new GT Carbon Series 2019, a new, exclusive and limited edition that takes the GT Competition Series as its reference, but with a less extreme weight reduction that allows us certain luxuries so we can comfortably drive home on the road.

As its name suggests, in the Ford GT Carbon Series the star element is carbon fibre. This material appears on the exterior in the A-pillars, the lower body panels and the exclusive carbon fibre wheels in a matte finish. The body colour can only be complemented by four accent colours—silver, orange, blue or red—applied to the central stripe, the mirror housings and the brake calipers.

But at Ford they have managed to make the GT Carbon Series lose 18 kilograms, so the “savings” are found in other elements too. Besides the wheels, a new exhaust system in titanium has been fitted, the wheel nuts are also titanium, and the rear tailgate is now polycarbonate with additional ventilation. Inside, the look is slightly more austere due to the removal of the cup holders and the driver’s seat storage compartment, leaving as equipment only air conditioning and the radio with the SYNC3 system, thus satisfying all those customers who asked for less austerity than the GT Competition Series.

In addition, the interior will feel closer to a normal production car, although carbon fibre is also used for the footrests, the air duct outlets and the centre console. The seats and steering wheel also feature exclusive upholstery with contrasting stitching in silver, while the aluminium paddle shifters have a more metallic look thanks to the anodised treatment, all topped off with a badge on the instrument panel identifying which version you are in.

As for the engine, nothing new under the sun. Beneath its light bonnet we find the 3,500 cc Ecoboost V6 delivering 647 CV together with 746 Nm of torque, figures we will undoubtedly notice even more thanks to the weight reduction.

Production of the Ford GT Carbon Series will be meticulous, so the company expects to complete roughly one unit per week, units that will go to customers selected by Ford and who can already place their orders. Nevertheless, on 8 November a second application process will open for selected global markets, lasting 30 days.