‘Function Wrapped in Form’: This Supercar Concept Seeded the 2000s-Era Ford GTs

Ford recently auctioned a rare 2006 model Ford GT to help fund the new Heritage Fleet, but another example of the legendary supercar that you may never have heard of was created 30 years ago.   

The Ford GT90 concept supercar, developed 30 years after the original GT40 made its debut, was a futuristic take on the Le Mans-winning race car of the 1960s. Its forward-thinking appearance was formed through Edge Design, which places emphasis on shapes, in the effort to create a modern take on the original.  

The mid-engined prototype was powered by an aluminum, 6.0-liter, quad-turbo V12 engine with a five-speed manual transmission and rated at 720 horsepower. It had a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds and 0-to-100 mph time of 6.2 seconds, with a top speed of 235 mph. A deployable anti-lift spoiler offered stability for speeds in excess of 150 mph.

Finding its form 

The car began as a reinforced aluminum monocoque body structure, like the GT40, and a fully independent front and rear suspension. A tightly wrapped composite fiberglass and carbon fiber body meant little space was wasted, helping achieve the car’s lightweight intentions. 

“We said, ‘Let's let the components start to form the car,’” said GT90 Chief Designer Tom Scott. “The next decision was, ‘Where do we go from there stylistically?’ We have a GT40 heritage that we wanted to honor, but we didn’t want a ’60s look or any kind of retro look. We have an exciting future ahead of us at Ford – and we wanted the car to point in that direction. 

A tinted blue bubble glass “birdcage” surrounded the cockpit, while the interior was wrapped in blue leather accented by charcoal gray carbon fiber in areas including the center console and rearview mirror. 

The GT90 concept also featured an advanced system that is commonplace today: an infrared-based blind spot detection system with warning lights on the outside mirrors. Also, the outside mirrors displayed a turn signal visible to drivers of other vehicles but not to the driver of the GT90. The car also featured fun touches such as a triangular exhaust theme and tire treads that spelled out “GT90.”

Another connection between the GT90 and the Ford GT of the 2000s comes in the form of legendary Ford designer Camilo Pardo, who was involved with the former and led design for the 2000s iteration. Unlike the 2000s-era GT and the one that followed in the 2010s with another victory at Le Mans, the GT90 concept was never intended for production. Its purpose included testing technology, design, and engineering concepts, as well as vehicle features, for potential future uses. 

Thirty years after the GT90, that same curiosity and drive to explore possibilities continues to define us. This visionary project underscores how our heritage of bold design and engineering fuels our present ambitions and future successes.

Love Ford history? Access http://fordarchivesonline.com with your CDSID to search your favorite topics. Or visit http://fordheritagevault.com, where no CDSID is needed, to browse and download product history.