The first example of Ford’s GT supercar has rolled off the production line.
The GT, which is designed to be Ford’s latest ‘halo’ model, is being built at Multimatic – a low-volume assembly facility in Markham, Ontario.
Raj Nair, Ford executive vice-president of global product development and chief technical officer, said: “When we kicked off 2016, we had two primary objectives for our GT supercar – to excel at Le Mans, and to start deliveries before year-end. We’ve achieved both.
“The all-new Ford GT is a showcase of our strength and innovation and our commitment to delivering more for our customers – especially related to lightweight materials, aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine technologies.”
The Ford GT is an innovative new supercar. Utilising a 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine, it produces 591bhp. Its entire body is crafted from carbon fibre, which means it remains incredibly light, while high-strength subframes maintain excellent levels of rigidity. It was first unveiled at the North American International Auto Show almost two years ago.
Just 1,000 examples of the car – 250 a year – will be built and if you’re not already on the waiting list then you’ve no chance of getting one. Ford’s not telling what price its customers are playing for the supercars but has hinted at around £300,000.
Meanwhile, the true heroes of the festive season are the designated drivers who allow us to have a tipple or three without being stuck waiting on a taxi.
Research by breakdown cover provider Green Flag reveals a quarter of Brits say they’re designated driver (DD) more often than they were 10 years ago.
Its most concerning finding is that almost a third of those surveyed said friends had tried to pressure them into drinking when they’re the driver.
And more than a third reckon they’ve been distracted by drunk passengers while behind the wheel.
So whether you’re the tipsy passenger or the sober driver tonight, be safe and have a happy Hogmanay.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk