The all-new Ford GT supercar uses more than 50 different sensors to continuously monitor vehicle performance and behaviour, external environment, and driver inputs.

The array of sensors provide real-time information on factors from the positions of pedals, steering wheel and deployable rear wing, to air humidity and even sunshine levels.

Ford claims data is generated at a rate of 100GB per hour – equivalent to about 25,000 song downloads –and is processed by more than 25 onboard computing systems comprising 10 million lines of software code – more than a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet!

Between them, the systems can analyse 300MB of data – comparable to downloading an hour-long TV show – every second.

“The Ford GT’s sophisticated computing systems work hand-in-hand with the vehicle’s core race car architecture to enhance performance, and also deliver greater versatility and flexibility,” says Ford Performance boss, Dave Pericak. “By constantly monitoring inputs, vehicle loads and environment, and adjusting the car’s profile and responses to suit, the Ford GT remains as responsive and stable at 180 mph as it is at 18 mph.”

Many of the Ford GT’s sensor and computing systems enable the performance of the supercar’s engine, electronic stability control, F1-derived active suspension damping, and active aerodynamics to be continuously adjusted within the parameters of the selectable Drive Modes, for optimal performance in whatever kind of driving scenario.

Others help deliver comfort and convenience whether on road or track, for example, those related to the car’s fixed seating position; the driver’s seat base is secured in a specific location that Ford designers say enabled them to develop a carbon-fibre body with the lowest possible frontal area for improved aerodynamic performance.

Rather than moving the seat fore and aft, drivers instead adjust the pedal assembly position and the multi-control steering wheel to suit the seat location.

Yet despite the focus on delivering a race car experience for just 1,000 customers across four years of confirmed production, the Ford GT also features regular creature comforts.

Retractable cup holders are among the convenience features that distinguish the Ford GT road car from the race car. Made from aluminium for reduced weight, the cup holders are concealed within the centre console. A hidden storage bin is also located under the driver’s seat, with further storage pockets behind the seats.

The Ford GT also features a capless fuel filler system that is standard on models across the regular Ford range. The system is designed for ease of refuelling and to prevent misfuelling of the 647 bhp 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine.

“We developed the Ford GT road car and race car side-by-side, and that led to some creative engineering, such as the road car’s fully integrated roll cage that also meets FIA racing safety requirements using only a small number of add-on components,” explains Pericak. “From the turbochargers to the cup holders, every component of the Ford GT has been developed with the driving experience at its core.”

Tags: car interior design, Dave Pericak, electronics, engineering, fighter jet, Ford GT, software