Ford GT turns silver

The Blue Oval's new-generation Ford GT will be built in smaller numbers than expected in Canada by the company's long-standing motor racing partner Multimatic Motorsports.

The announcement was made overnight at the Toronto motor show, where Ford said the new GT will enter low-volume production at Multimatic in Ontario next year, increasing speculation the company intends to return to the Le Mans 24-Hour in 2016.

Ford said it reinvented the GT to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its 1966 LeMans win. Multimatic has worked with Ford since 1992 and was part of the team that won the LMP675 class in the 2000 LeMans race.

US reports say only a few hundred examples of the Ford GT, a 'liquid silver' version of which was also shown overnight at the Chicago show, will be built annually in Canada, priced well over $US200,000 apiece.

Multimatic has 12 manufacturing facilities in five countries, including the US, UK, China, Mexico and Canada.

Based around a carbon-fibre tub and wrapped in carbon-fibre bodywork, the new Ford GT made its surprise world debut at the Detroit motor show last month.

Powered by a circa-450kW twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, it was designed by Ford Australia design chief Todd Willing and features aluminium pushrod suspension, active aerodynamics and dihedral doors.

The new GT super-coupe is one of 12 Ford Performance models the Blue Oval has promised to deliver, starting with the new Focus RS, F-150 Raptor and Mustang GT 350R.

Ford produced just over 4000 examples of its last GT between 2005 and 2006.