Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Ford’s GT supercar goes on a carbon fiber diet to keep its performance edge

By
1 of 9
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s hard to imagine improving on the current Ford GT, but the automaker is trying with the 2019 Carbon Series model. The Carbon Series cuts weight while adding special styling and an extra dose of rarity to Ford’s race-proven supercar.

Recommended Videos

The Carbon Series treatment saves about 40 pounds compared to a regular GT, according to Ford. Those savings come from carbon fiber wheels (which are an optional extra on other GT models), titanium lug nuts, a titanium exhaust system, and a polycarbonate engine cover. Ford also removed the cupholders and the driver’s seat storage bin. Every little bit helps.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Despite the focus on shedding weight, Ford retained the air conditioning and Sync 3 infotainment system. Removing those items would have saved even more pounds, but Ford wanted to keep the Carbon Series relatively civilized.

You can spot a Ford GT Carbon Series by the exposed stripe of carbon fiber running down the center of the car. The lightweight material can also be seen on the forward pillars and low side skirts. The interior features exposed matte carbon fiber on many pieces. Ford says the Carbon Series shows off more carbon fiber than any previous GT.

Carbon Series buyers can also add an Accent Package in silver, orange, red, or blue. The selected color is used on the sideview mirror caps, brake calipers, and to frame the central carbon fiber stripe.

No mechanical changes were made, so the Carbon Series still employs a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 producing 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends that power to the rear wheels. It’s unclear how much difference the roughly 40-pound weight reduction will make in performance, but with a quoted top speed of 216 mph, it’s not like the GT needs to improve in that area.

As with all GT models, Carbon Series buyers need to apply for the privilege. The application process was put in place to ensure the limited number of GTs go to people will genuinely treasure them, and not just flip them for quick money, although Ford hasn’t been entirely successful in preventing that. Ford recently announced that it will expand GT production from 1,000 cars to 1,350. The application process reopens November 8. Expect the Carbon Series to command a premium over the standard GT, which is rumored to start at around $450,000. Ford said it can build only one Carbon Series car per week.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
EV sales surge could continue as Trump delays ending federal rebates, report says
Second-Gen Rivian R1S on a road

A surge in sales of electric vehicles in the final months of last year could continue well into 2025, as consumers continue to take advantage of federal tax incentives while they last, according to a report by the Associated Press.
On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy”, which says the government is “considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies.”
During his campaign, Trump’s team said it was planning to end the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV, although it did not provide a timeline for doing so.
Americans rushed to take advantage of the incentive, helping fuel a surge of more than 15% in EV sales in the fourth quarter, according to Cox Automotive.
Recent surveys show that incentives have played a major role in fueling EV sales over the past few years, and that a majority of Americans are in favor of government incentives to help with the purchase of an EV.
Meanwhile, the wording in Trump’s executive order, which says his administration is still 'considering' its options, leaves room for ambiguity about the timing of its application.
“Temporarily, sales of EVs could skyrocket as car-buyers rush to take advantage of existing tax credits,” the report by the Associated Press says.
In order to repeal the EV tax credit, the Trump administration will need to obtain the approval of congress. The process will likely take place as part of broader negotiations on extending Trump’s first-term tax cuts, which are due to expire near the end of 2025.
It’s also not entirely clear if the Trump administration will seek to end the whole of the $7,500 EV tax incentive. In order to obtain the incentive for the purchase of an EV, restrictions apply for high-income households and for EVs with non-U.S. made batteries. But those restrictions don’t apply to leasing an EV.
According to Cox Automotive, members of the Trump administration are particularly keen on ending “this leasing loophole, which was created partly to appease Korean and Japanese automakers, who have invested billions in U.S. EV manufacturing.”
Ending rebates and other subsidies for EVs is also likely to meet challenges, be they legal or political, from different actors.
The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group whose members include the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, has come out in support of incentives for both the production and the sale of EVs.
ZETA says the incentives for both EV and battery-makers have led to enormous investments and job gains in Republican-dominated states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia.

Read more
Tesla Model Y Juniper vs Rivian R1S: Can Tesla’s newest take out a much more expensive vehicle?
Tesla Model Y 2025.

Tesla and Rivian actually have a lot in common. Both are relatively new companies in the grand scheme of things, at least compared to the legacy automakers that are now switching to EVs, but their actual vehicles are pretty different. The Tesla Model Y is the most popular electric vehicle in America, serving as a high-tech crossover for those interested in buying a Tesla. The Rivian R1S is Rivian's electric SUV, obviously boasting a larger body, but also putting tech first.

On top of the Tesla Model Y being the most popular EV right now, it's also in the midst of getting a major refresh in the form of the Model Y Juniper. We're still early on in the rollout of that refresh, though. While Tesla has released the Model Y Juniper in its base form in China, the version of the vehicle being sold in the US right now is the so-called Launch Edition New Model Y, which is a high-performance version of the Model Y Juniper that comes with a high price tag. For this comparison, we'll use the specs from the both the entry-level Model Y Juniper being sold in China, and the launch edition New Model Y being sold in the U.S. Keep in mind, however, that until the Model Y Juniper gets a wider U.S. release, only the previous-generation Model Y is being sold alongside the Launch Edition New Model Y

Read more
Tesla Model Y Juniper vs Kia EV9: Can the new Model Y beat a large SUV?
White Tesla Model Y Juniper at a Supercharger

America's most popular electric vehicle, the Tesla Model Y, is getting a major refresh. Tesla already launched the Tesla Model Y Juniper in China, but now it's bringing the vehicle to the US.

Of course, the new Model Y has to go up against a host of competitive electric vehicles, some of which are larger, some faster, and some even cheaper. The Kia EV9 has been hailed for being one of the few full-size electric SUVs that offers a high-quality driving experience without completely breaking the bank.

Read more