New spy photos of Ford GT test mule indicate possible V8 shipment

Rumors are rife right now about a vehicle that, frankly, we expected to leave the scene on a rather calm note. Dress the Ford GT in a neat final edition package to end production in 2022, maybe crank up the horsepower a few notches, you know the drill. But maybe, just maybe, Ford will send its supercar in a fantastic way with a thunderous American V8.

It is important to understand that may be is the key word here. We have no definitive evidence that Ford is considering a V8 engine option for the GT. What we have is an unconfirmed rumor from an anonymous source that simply suggests that a boosted 7.3-liter V8 could replace the current EcoBoost V6. And now we also have these fresh off the wire spy shots, showing a GT that clearly has a modified back and engine cover. Additionally, he was caught near an EPA testing facility not far from Ford’s world headquarters in Dearborn.

9 Pictures

This is actually the second Ford GT V8 rumor that we hear today. A previous report cited another anonymous source as having heard of a GT test car unlike any other second-generation model. As for these photos, the rear fairing lacks its lower grille and diffuser, and makeshift bumpers are visible. The exhaust tips are very different, and if you take a close look right in front of the spoiler, you’ll see what looks like an oil cap. Whatever the purpose of the cap, you won’t find it in this spot on a typical GT, so something mechanically different is going on here.

Combine that with the exposed lower end, the exhaust tips, the location of this sighting, and the rumors, and suddenly we have more than a few sketchy claims. Of course, Ford could use a GT body to test something completely unrelated to the GT. It wouldn’t be the first time an automaker has hidden a new powertrain in familiar packaging. It’s also possible that this could be a prelude to a runway-only model. When it comes to fitting a 7.3-liter V8 into the 3.5-liter space, pushrod engines are quite compact compared to dual overhead cam models. At the waist level, this should be doable without too much effort.

Here is a final thought on this crazy idea of ​​the V8. The second generation Ford GT is expected to end production in 2022. When that happens, it will almost certainly be Ford’s last internal combustion supercar, so we’re not just talking about the end of the GT, but the end of it. a time. Looking at it this way, dropping a pushrod V8 under the glass for one last round of strong American power isn’t just a proper way to drive into the sunset. It almost seems compulsory.