| When I approach an exotic car that can go 204 MPH | | | | a few envelopes under my seat. But this is exactly |
| with a roof line that is only as high as my belt, I have | | | | what I want in a true sports car - all business at |
| low ergonomic expectations. I'll probably get some | | | | propelling me forward and nothing flying around the |
| bruising from the suspension and hopefully be | | | | cockpit as I take big g-forces in the turns. |
| distracted by the acceleration to forget how | | | | The interior was much more comfortable than I |
| uncomfortable everything else is. I was only right | | | | expected, and the black and silver knobs and dash |
| about the acceleration. | | | | have an edgy look to them. It has the usual big red |
| The Ford GT is the remake of the 1966 Le Mans | | | | "Start" button that many expensive cars have made |
| champion car called the GT40. The original GT40 was | | | | popular (again), and toggle switches like a space |
| a great looking car, but this new GT has a | | | | shuttle for the rear defroster and hazard lights. The |
| spectacular exterior design. I'm normally quick to | | | | tachometer is the big dial in front of the driver and |
| whine about a benign design concept, or a trunk line | | | | that irrelevant speedometer is off to the right, nearly |
| or the shape under the front bumper, or at least | | | | next to the passenger. Don't forget to set the |
| some little picky thing. But the more I looked around | | | | temperature controls before you start moving |
| this car, the more admiration I have for this work of | | | | because they are under your right elbow in the |
| art. And the designers & engineers had to factor in | | | | center console and awkward to reach while driving. |
| stable aerodynamics at 200 MPH that would have | | | | When driving the car, the biggest surprise I had is |
| flipped the original model on its top. | | | | how comfortable it takes the potholes and uneven |
| The 5.4-liter engine fills the entire back half of the | | | | surfaces. I've ridden in sport BMW sedans that don't |
| car, and the supercharged V-8 produces 550 | | | | ride this smoothly. The GT is easy to launch and |
| horsepower. For the performance fans: the GT's | | | | shift, with power delivered without a noticeable spike |
| 0-to-60 time is only 3.3 seconds, and it takes only | | | | from the superchargers. I didn't get a chance to |
| 11.6 seconds to pass a ¼-mile. The engine note | | | | throw the car around many corners, but the low |
| is pretty plain; no NASCAR guttural tones or | | | | profile and wide stance would indicate an adeptness |
| Formula-1 scream that I could tell; the glass partition | | | | with lateral-speed. |
| between the interior cab and the engine deaden the | | | | If you are trying to avoid attention, I can't think of a |
| sound. (From the inside you can turn your head to | | | | bigger mistake than being in this car. Everywhere I |
| see a giant belt turning, to what I presume to be the | | | | drove some people were staring and pointing, and at |
| superchargers). | | | | nearly every stop light, someone had a question |
| Under the front hood is plenty of storage room for a | | | | about the car - a lot more public attraction than any |
| sports car; about enough for 6 tennis balls or a pair | | | | other unique production car I've piloted. But for the |
| of flip-flops, but not both at the same time! Once | | | | GT most of its features are extremes, and I am |
| inside the car, you realize that the only storage is in | | | | very pleased that Ford has proven it can compete in |
| the front trunk. There is no glove box, no | | | | the +$150,000 world market. |
| side-pocket, no cup holder, but I suppose I could slide | | | | |