Concept car shines in the showroom
By: News 8 Austin Staff
The GR-1 Ford Shelby Concept is a car Ford says could someday replace the Ford GT.
It has a polished aluminum exterior, butterfly doors and is extremely aerodynamic.
It was showcased at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The engine is the same 6.4, V10 engine that was unveiled at the 2004 show in the Cobra Roadster. It produces a 605 horsepower and goes from 0-60 in less than four seconds.
Ford Design manager George Saridakis said the interior is functional.
“It’s a very basic, simple sporting interior. We wanted a comprehensive, ergonomic package for the driver, so we have a six-speed manual transmission. There’s not many terribly high-tech features other than enjoying the feel of the car when you’re driving. It’s a very racecar-inspired interior,” Saridakis said.
The GR-1 is an homage to racing legend Carroll Shelby.
“There are smiling references to the cars he raced in the 60s, which had aluminum bodies as well. Aluminum as a material evokes lightweight, precision engineering and quality. By polishing it up, there’s no better way to express a very sculptural form,” Saridakis said.
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