The Ford That Cost More Than A Lamborghini
Ford has always played both ends of the automotive spectrum better than almost anyone. While rival manufacturers tend to plant their flags in one segment and defend it, Ford has spent decades building everything from economy hatchbacks to heavy-duty work trucks — and somehow making both feel purpose-built. That range is impressive enough on its own, but it doesn’t prepare you for what the Blue Oval pulled off when it decided to go toe-to-toe with the supercar establishment. Most people expect Ferrari or McLaren to occupy that rarefied air. Very few expect the company that built the F-150.
Yet that’s exactly what happened when Ford unveiled a mid-engined supercar that carried a higher sticker price than some of the exotics rolling out of Sant’Agata Bolognese. This wasn’t a V8-powered muscle car dressed up in a suit — it was a purpose-engineered machine packed with exotic materials and cutting-edge technology, designed to serve as a rolling laboratory for future Ford products. It looks just as breathtaking today as it did at its debut, and it stands as one of the last true analog supercars of its era. Read on to find out how Ford built a car that out-priced Lamborghini — and why it was worth every penny.
The Second-Generation Ford GT Took The Company Into A New Stratosphere
Of course, Ford wasn’t entirely new to the supercar game. The company launched its first GT model for 2005, which featured a supercharged V8. That model was an unashamedly retro design based visually on the Le Mans-winning cars of the ’60s. It was a beautiful creation and proved that Ford, even in the modern era, could produce a compelling supercar at around $149,000. It was so well-regarded that even Jeremy Clarkson went out and bought one. That first Ford GT produced 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque from its 5.4-liter supercharged V8.
Ford Went Futuristic For The Second GT Supercar
However, nostalgia only goes so far, and for the second-generation Ford GT, the company was going back to the future. The GT was partly created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it was a thoroughly modern proposition. The all-new GT supercar featured rear-wheel drive, a mid-mounted engine, and a svelte, aerodynamic two-door body that only hinted at the GT40 race cars of the past.
This wouldn’t be some V12 behemoth — it wouldn’t even be a V10, or, shock horror, a V8. The GT is fitted with the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever made by Ford: a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 producing more than 600 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. Ford was now mixing it with the supercar elite — and the price was even more eyebrow-raising than the spec sheet.
Here’s How Much The New Ford GT Would Set You Back In 2017
2017 Ford GT Vs 2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Specs
|
2017 Ford GT |
2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
Twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 |
6.5-liter V12 |
|
Power |
600 hp |
691 hp |
|
Torque |
550 lb-ft |
508 lb-ft |
|
0-60 mph |
3.0 seconds |
2.9 seconds |
|
MSRP |
$478,750 |
$402,995 |
Source: Manufacturers/ independent testing
When the new Ford GT arrived, it may have shared a name with the first-generation model, but this was a fundamentally different car — not just because it had two fewer cylinders, but because it cost dramatically more. The original carried a $149,000 price tag, so one might reasonably expect the new car to run $50,000 or even $100,000 higher. Not even close. The Ford GT was priced at $478,750, or $525,750 as tested by one reputable car magazine. That meant the Ford GT was no longer a car that was a bit cheaper than the Lamborghini Gallardo (which is a used bargain these days); it was now considerably more expensive than a $402,995 2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4.
The Lambo And The Ford Have Very Different Specifications But Similar Performance
That Lamborghini’s 6.5-liter V12 had double the cylinder count, along with 691 horsepower and 508 lb-ft of torque. While the Aventador edged ahead on some specs, the sprint to 60 mph was surprisingly close, with the Italian supercar beating its American rival by just 0.1 seconds. But the story didn’t end there. With the GT, Ford had gone all out to develop technologies it hoped would filter down to its mainstream lineup, and the result is a complete work of art.
The Ford GT Showcased Tech For Future Models
Ford designed its GT supercar to serve as a testbed for new technologies and advanced lightweight materials that would trickle down to future Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles. Innovative ideas were evident throughout the car, with some representing entirely new inventions. The GT’s wing features a patent-pending Ford design that changes the shape of the airfoil for maximum efficiency when fully deployed.
Having A Smaller Engine Made The Ford GT More Slippery
The smaller engine also aided the car’s aerodynamics, allowing the design team to taper the fuselage to more efficient dimensions than would have been possible with a larger V8. The GT uses carbon fiber extensively, and Ford worked with partners including Multimatic and DowAksa to develop faster production methods for carbon fiber components. Ford also developed innovative anti-lag turbo technology to maximize the GT’s power out of corners, keeping the throttle open when the driver lifts off the gas. The fuel injectors cut out, but turbo speed and boost are maintained, delivering quicker throttle response and acceleration when the driver gets back on the power.
Buying A Second-Generation Ford GT In 2025
Used Prices Of Second-Generation Ford GT
- 2017 Ford GT: $912,618
- 2018 Ford GT: $904,286
- 2019 Ford GT: $1 million
- 2020 Ford GT: $1 million
- 2021 Ford GT: $938,375
- 2022 Ford GT: $1.1 million
Even though the second-generation Ford GT carried an epic price tag when new, those who committed to one of Ford’s supercars have plenty to smile about now. While the original sticker on the 2017 Ford GT was nearly half a million dollars, the cars now command roughly twice that on the secondary market. Using Classic.com’s used car average prices, first-year cars now sell for $912,618. That figure dips slightly for 2018 to $904,286, before climbing to a million dollars and beyond. For context, Classic.com prices a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 at $291,861.
Sources: Classic.com
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