Is the Ford GT a V-6 or V-8?
In the modern era, the Ford GT is powered by a twin-turbo V6; historically, the GT lineage has used V8s. This article traces the engine choices across generations and explains what powers the car today.
Current Ford GT engine: a V6 twin-turbo
The latest Ford GT, produced from 2016 through 2022, uses a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. It delivers approximately 647 horsepower and is tuned for high-performance track capability. This marks a notable shift from the V8 layouts that defined earlier GT models.
Technical snapshot
Key specifications of the current powertrain include a mid-mounted placement in a carbon-fiber chassis, advanced turbocharging, and a design focus on delivering strong throttle response and high-speed stability in a lightweight package.
Historical engine lineup of the Ford GT family
Across generations, the Ford GT family has used V8 engines in the GT40-era cars and in the 2005–2006 road-going Ford GT, while the modern incarnation uses a V6. The following outline highlights the main configurations by era.
Note: the GT40-era examples used V8 engines; the 2005–2006 Ford GT used a supercharged V8; the 2016–2022 Ford GT uses a V6.
- 1960s Ford GT40 and related road cars — V8 engines (various displacements).
- 2005–2006 Ford GT — 5.4-liter supercharged V8.
- 2016–2022 Ford GT — 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6.
Conclusion: Across its history, the GT’s heart has shifted from large-displacement V8s toward a modern twin-turbo V6, reflecting evolving design goals—from the raw power of the GT40 era to the precise, aerodynamically tuned performance of the current generation.
Why the switch to a V6?
The move to a smaller-displacement V6 in the modern GT was driven by weight savings, packaging efficiency, and the benefits of turbocharged power delivery. The mid-engine layout and carbon-fiber construction also shaped engine choices and overall dynamics, enabling high track performance while keeping mass more manageable than a large V8.
Current status and context
As of the early 2020s, Ford concluded the current GT’s production run with Final Edition variants, and there has been no announced successor in the immediate pipeline. The car remains a benchmark for how Ford has balanced horsepower, weight, and aerodynamics across generations.
Summary
The Ford GT you see today is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, a departure from the V8s of earlier GT models. The GT40-era cars and the 2005–2006 road-going GT used V8 engines, illustrating Ford’s evolving approach to high-performance design across decades.
Did the Ford GT ever have a V6?
Period, as they say. But with the new GT, Ford had the guts to ditch the V8 that had blessed the GT40 and GT for nearly 60 years in favour of a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine. If that wasn't bad enough, they paired the EcoBoost with an automatic (ok, dual-clutch) gearbox!
What engine does a Ford GT use?
**Engine**: The modern Ford GT is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine, producing around 660 horsepower in its latest iteration. This engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, allowing for quick gear changes.
What Ford GT has a V8?
We talked about how the GT40. Still inspires the modern team who will race a hypercar at Lemon in 2027. First though you join us at the rolling. Road starting the process of making our GT40.
Is the Ford GT a V6 or V8?
Performance and Technology
The teardrop shape of the Ford GT is the result of extensive work in the wind tunnel. Its carbon-fiber body and its 660-horsepower 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine are the ultimate expressions of technological innovation.
