The EcoBoost V6 is Perfect for the Ford GT

"dustin_driver" (dustin-driver) 01/15/2015 at 00:27 • Filed to: None

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The EcoBoost V6 is perfect for the 2017 Ford GT. It doesn't need a V8.

The Ferrari-humiliating GT40 had a V8. First a 255 c.i., then a 298 c.i., then a colossal iron behemoth 427 c.i. V8 with more torque than the planet Saturn. You know why? Because those were the best engines Ford had back then. They were powerful, reliable, and made a wonderful noise.

But today, Ford's best engine is arguably the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. It's a technical tour de force. It makes 380 hp and 460 lbft in the Lincoln Navigator, for chrissake. It's an engineering marvel.

The thing has direct injection and two turbos and can run on practically anything, including fuel made from nothing but sugar cane or corn. And in the GT, it makes more than 600 hp. If Ford is going to stick to internal combustion, despite the obvious advantages of electric motors and advanced batteries, than the 3.5-liter EcoBoost is the most advanced power plant in the shed. So it makes perfect sense it'd go into the most advanced Ford GT ever made.

What's that? The Coyote V8? Oh... damn.

Cherry_man1 > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:31

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what about voodoo v8?

Jedidiah > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:32

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A V6 will never have the same sex appeal. It will never be as desirable. People won't write songs about a car with a v6.

V8 is love, V8 is life.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:37

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Flat plane or.....

go batshit weight reduction and throw a fiesta St engine in there

Brian, The Life of > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:39

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They used the V6 EB so they could race it in GTE.

Vi517, JDX Racing > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:40

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Can we start saying this about 4 cylinders as well?

Polestar High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept

450 hp, 2.0L, 4 cylinders, Triple Charged

<3

Also, I agree that it's good they used the V6 Ecoboost. When rumors of the new GT came up, I was secretly hoping they would use it.

1337HPMustang > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:43

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I'm praying every night that they at least make a version with the 5.2 voodoo. It'd be the most badass car of our generation

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vi517, JDX Racing 01/15/2015 at 00:43

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No, I draw the line at 4 cylinders. after 5 cylinders, it's just econobox sounds in sports cars and super cars, very uninspiring, boring, dull, and drowned out by turbo noises.....Just no. Turbo-5 is the lowest point for me, and I have a turbo 4 car.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 00:51

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Aaaaaammmeeeeennnnnnn, sister! Every point is spot-on! I think that people will get caught up in titles, but you can't argue with the power figures, the sound these things can make (I'm a huge fan, at least) or THE NUMBER OF TURBOS. Twin turbo just sounds great as a phrase.

Jedidiah > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/15/2015 at 00:55

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The phrase "twin turbo" doesn't sound as good as "429 cubic inch v8" to me. Unless the phrase happened to be placed before "429 cubic inch v8" to make "twin turbo 429 cubic inch v8."

camaroboy68ss > Jedidiah 01/15/2015 at 00:58

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V8's for LIFE! 6 bangers just don't thump like a old V8

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Cherry_man1 01/15/2015 at 00:59

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The Voodoo wouldn't be competitive. It would probably be much bigger and heavier. That also has an effect on the aerodynamics, the advantage of the V6 is that Ford can package it so well they can create the shape that they did. This engine was derived from the Daytona prototypes, so Ford has learned a lot about light weighting the engine, making it durable and packaging it better.

I think Ford would have issues getting the 5.2 to over 600HP while passing emissions testing. And they can't go forced induction either because GTE, the class the GT may be racing in only allows up to 4 liters with FI.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Jedidiah 01/15/2015 at 00:59

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How about "iron block tri-turbocharged twin-supercharged 429 cubic inch V8 E85"? I agree that the V8 has a certain romantic ring to it, both when it's being revved and when mentioned, but I also appreciate the technological achievement that is a 600-horsepower V6. It might have the mystical allure and it might pang of wussiness, but as soon as it ticks over, I'd bet you'd be alright with it.

Also, I don't care what anyone says, two huge turbochargers is insane.

Supercharged-V8-Jag > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 01:01

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I completely agree. People need to stop bitching that it doesn't have a V8 or manual. The V6 is light and efficient and the dual clutch will be fast and efficient as well. If you want tradition get the previous GT. If you want speed and ultimate lap times look no further. There is no doubt in my mind this thing will be biblically fast; a true hypercar of the 21st century.

OkCars- 22k Crossroads > 1337HPMustang 01/15/2015 at 01:38

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They should.

Axial > Jedidiah 01/15/2015 at 03:24

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The higher the cylinder count, the higher the sex appeal.

Compare:

Cadillac Six vs. Cadillc Sixteen

C6 vs . C16

V6 vs. V16

Axial > Vi517, JDX Racing 01/15/2015 at 03:27

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No, we can't. Because 4-bangers are lame without exception purely on the merit of being 4-bangers. There is no way to package any form of the term "four cylinder" into a romantic image. None. It can't work, because Joe Camry can then say he's got a 4-banger, too and it has the same effect as placing a late work by Picasso next to something by Da Vinci.

Axial > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/15/2015 at 03:34

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But it doesn't sound as good as saying "it's supercharged!"

In seriousness, though, "twin turbo" doesn't fully offset the disappointment that is the phrase "vee six." I'd much rather a 3.5 litre Twin-Turbo V8. Shit, let's go all-out and order a 6.2 litre twin-charged V12. Now that would be an engine!

Dusty Ventures > Axial 01/15/2015 at 03:42

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Not even the turbo flat four in a Subaru? Or the bonkers 4 cylinders in rallycross cars that are getting 600 hp out of 2 liters or less?

Axial > Dusty Ventures 01/15/2015 at 03:54

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Nope and nope.

I'm not impressed by getting more power out tiny displacements with turbochargers because I know that a turbocharger just serves the purpose of increasing the displacement again anyway. With a tiny displacement N/A engine, you have to use revs to get the power back and that's more fun even if it's shit to drive on the street. And why not a 2.9 L V8? We did it in the '80s, and it was awesome.

Both of those examples, especially the Subie, sound dreadful. Compared to the sound of the V8 in a 355 or the V12 in a Testarossa. Shoot, even compared to a modern V8 like the one in the Mercedes AMG GT S or a V6 like the one in the F-Type, those 4-pots ain't got sheeyit.

Cars for me are as much about the atmosphere they exude as they are capability. Capability means diddly doo if the car feels like a mere tool.

samssun > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 04:13

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The 3.5TT is the perfect engine for the Mustang. The flat plane 5.2 V8 with a supercharger is the perfect engine for the GT. I'm open to any possible argument against it, after you watch this supercharged RS4 rip the pavement:

samssun > Dusty Ventures 01/15/2015 at 04:16

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Not even the turbo flat four in the Subaru, because they also have flat 6s, nearly the perfect engine layout, which they refuse to (twin)turbocharge for some silly reason. A 4-cylinder is only impressive in the context of other 4-cylinders, otherwise it's an artificial handicap you're trying to overcome.

Leon711 > Jedidiah 01/15/2015 at 07:42

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I don't associate number of cylinders with sexiness, V6's need love too. Don't conform to unrealistic images put out by the media.

V6's man.

BigBlock440 > Axial 01/15/2015 at 08:36

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Joe Camry can also say he's got a 6-banger

dustin_driver > samssun 01/15/2015 at 14:04

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Aww, see. You know how to get to me. V8 Audis. Ack. So good.

I can't really argue against the flat-plane 5.2 V8 because it's amazing. But I can say that the 3.5l EcoBoost V6 is also amazing, and different, and pretty cool. I think it's the right move for Ford in the GT, but only time will tell. I really can't wait for reviews/videos of this thing!

dustin_driver > Axial 01/15/2015 at 14:08

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Although to be fair, I'm sure the instant we put our collective foot down in the 2017 GT V6, we'd be sold. It's not like a Camry V6.

dustin_driver > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 14:12

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A V6 can be sexy. Just ask Alfa.

dustin_driver > Axial 01/15/2015 at 14:19

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Audi's twin-turbo 2.7 V6 sounds pretty damn good.

Axial > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 14:21

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It's not like a Camry V6, but it gets ruined by the existence of the Camry V6. Saying you've got a V6 will never, ever sound awesome when there exist things with more pistons. Shoot, the V6 block itself will look lame next to those pieces of art Ferrari makes.

I'm not really knocking the Ford GT's capabilities. I'm sure it's great. It's just always going to feel unfinished to me. A computer analogue would be saying your new CPU is clocked at 2.6 GHz. Yup, it's faster than last year's 3.0 GHz because it's got a better architecture, but it just sounds bad.

Axial > dustin_driver 01/15/2015 at 14:22

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I said the 4 sounds terrible, not the 6!