Only two cars are faster than the Ford GT Mk IV around the ‘Green Hell’.
Setting a lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife is not just a badge of honor, but an obsession for automakers at the front of the pack. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are locked in constant position for the top spot, as are American companies like Ford. Not only is the Blue Oval interested in braking production model records with the Mustang GTD, but it’s also gunning for fastest car period around the Nürburgring with the GT Mk IV.
The 12.9-mile North Loop, affectionately referred to as the Green Hell, is one of the world’s most grueling race tracks. The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo currently claims the fastest time with an almost unbelievable 5:19.546 time. Then, the Volkswagen ID.R (6:05.336) and the electric Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype (6:22.091) rounded out the top three…until now. The Ford team’s most recent ‘Ring record leapfrogs Xiaomi’s EV as well as the Lotus Evija, with the GT Mk IV’s 6:15.977 officially putting Ford in third place. Not only that, but it’s now the fastest American OEM, while the GT is also the fastest gas-powered car without any electrification as well.
Now, the Ford GT officially went out of production in 2023, when this Mk IV rolled out with just 67 examples. Each one packed a seven-figure price tag (around $1.7 million before options and taxes). Nevertheless, the car still proves the sheer capability of Ford’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which in this application cranks out more than 800 horsepower. Alongside the power boost over the past GTs (which had around 650 horses), the GT Mk IV goes runs the gamut of carbon fiber aerodynamic upgrades, a different ‘long-tail’ carbon fiber body and specialized Multimatic ASV suspension.
Since the Ford GT has been out of circulation for a little bit, this accompanying TFLcar video is more of an oldie, but a goodie, where Andre gets to check out the GT against the S550-generation Mustang GT500. Check out more on Ford’s run in the GT Mk IV on the Nürburgring too:
