I'm also getting that feeling that they may be jumping the shark with this engine. All of this R&D money and really they could have just built up the GT engine a bit more with cam selection and some slight intake modifications and eeked out equal or better torque, and close to 500hp with a 7,500 rpm or better redline. But then Ford would have had a much harder time marketing it as "something special", other than the Mag-ride, which is not a standard feature apparently anyhow. Don't even get me started on the 350R. The wheels and brakes are nice. They just are not my cup of tea, unless I was being sponsored by someone with deep pockets that would help me replace the rotors and pads after every few track events.
GT350R Nürburgring lap time!
- Thread starter Venomous 03
- Start date
That's a good question. Generally, what you see is what you get. At the engineering level, I'm quite certain that there are always details that have been or will be "adjusted" (for production reasons, supply issues, running changes, etc). Those responsible for this powerplant could probably point at certain items from that display engine and go into some pretty good detail about how what you are seeing is not exactly what will be offered. We keep hearing that development is ongoing and as such anything could change. But I think it fair to say that the cutaway engine in Detroit gave a damn good look at what Ford intends to use and would not expect major changes between now and production.
Ford reps have stated that the idea behind this engine was centered on the FPC from the beginning. Pretty cool, but I wondered too why they didn't just offer up a direct injected Coyote version that makes numbers similar to what you quoted. I think marketing won out here. What with the GT/Lemans victory anniversary coming up it is almost as if the inspiration for the GT350/FPC was drawn from the same ire, that being, to somehow "better" Ferrari and to show the world that Ford could manufacture a fairly low cost, high output, "large" displacement FPC V8 engine.
That made me chuckle as well. :dw:
Built to a price. That's all you need to remember.
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I also think with the introduction of this 5.2 FPC V8 and the new Ford GT that Ford is subtly thumbing their noses at Ferrari. Even after all these decades, there's still no love lost between the companies. Why else would Ford bring such a frivolous suit against Ferrari for calling the LaFerrari the F150. I bet one of those other unnamed performance vehicles they're planning on producing in the coming years will be something else to put the screws to Ferrari. A sort of "we can do it, too, but for way cheaper" affair.
What I'm about to say will come across to some as sacrilege to some, but with Jamal saying the new GT has the best power:weight ratio of any production vehicle, I can't help thinking this thing might be all up in the LaFerrari's face in spite of its relatively diminutive HP level. Ford's next performance vehicle might be something to push the 458 successor's face into the sand. How funny (and shocking) would it be if the GT350R ends up being able to hustle around a road course faster than a 458?? (Sounds crazy, but look to the GTR. It's the rolling embodiment of illogical and irrational engineering accomplishment.)
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That was on German race gas. :burn: I too would opt for the 1SS 1LE package, but only because I can afford a Z28. I guess I'm still lying because I bought a new 14 GT trackpack base model because it was even less than the 1LE.....
Just saw on yahoo that both the GT350 and Z06 times were bunk..... shocking.
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