Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept Represents a New Direction for Ford Performance Cars

Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept Represents a New Direction for Ford Performance Cars
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By: Brad Nevin | Ford Communications Network

The GR-1 concept, on display at the North American International Auto Show, takes the performance car genre in a new direction by combining modern sculptured surfaces in a sleek muscular fastback design.

DETROIT, Mich., Jan 9, 2005 -- The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept springs from a long line of Ford performance project cars and establishes itself as one of the most contemporary and dramatic front-engine, two-seat supercars in the world.

The GR-1 running prototype, on display at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, reaches closer to reality with a 605-horsepower, 390-cubic-inch all-aluminum V-10 engine, a road-tested version of the Ford GT suspension and a stunning new polished-aluminum body.

Sensuous, perfectly proportioned and wholly modern, this show car builds on the success of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept -- the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) "Best in Show" winner -- and reinforces Ford's continued commitment to performance.

"The Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship with Carroll Shelby," said J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Design and chief creative officer. "The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future."

The GR-1 concept takes the performance car genre in a new direction by combining modern sculptured surfaces in a sleek muscular fastback design. The result is a forward-looking supercar with attention-grabbing Ford presence and Carroll Shelby inspiration. The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a front-engined, two-seat, fastback supercar based on the architecture of the Ford GT.

The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept has a sinewy, athletic design with a dramatic front engine proportion. The long hood blends seamlessly into the teardrop-shaped cabin while the dramatic fenders dart rearwards into curvaceous haunches thrusting the car forward and enhancing the aggressive stance and width.

The car looks as if it is in motion even when standing still. The optimized wheel arches and compact overhangs define the dramatic proportion while the sensual surfaces express the car’s athletic nature. A chiseled physique is achieved with sheer and full surfaces working together, interfacing one another in harmonious lines such as the strong shoulder line orbiting the car’s form.

"A perfect body with smooth, shimmering aluminum skin, the new Ford Shelby GR-1 concept is a rolling sculpture whose beautiful, flowing lines belie the raw, beastly V-10 wedged under the hood," said Mays. "This concept shifts gears and takes Ford's performance car future into a new direction."

The front of the GR-1 is dominated by an impressive air intake aperture and air flow splitter, directing cooling air into the engine bay and wheel wells, while air vents on the top surface of the hood exhaust hot air from the radiator. The V10 engine pushes unashamedly upwards into the hood's surface exposing prominent bulges -- a potent reminder of the car's powerful performance -- while air vents at the base of the front screen allow the motor to breathe.

"With the Ford GT and Ford Shelby Cobra concept, we have a tremendous amount of experience quickly building high-performance cars, like the Shelby GR-1, with world-class performance," said Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation. "Our goal this time around was not to create the ultimate top-speed, high-performance sports car. Really, we intended to strike a better balance of design, capability and usability that might appeal to someone considering a Ferrari 575M Maranello. Building a concept car with this level of sophistication is much easier when you start with a world-class supercar like the Ford GT. This commonality and re-use goes hand-in-hand with our speed and cost efficiency, promising the Ford GT's bang-for-the-buck equation if the Shelby GR-1 goes to production."

Inspiration for the Ford Shelby GR-1 came from George Saridakis, a young designer new to Ford in 2000 who was known for his contributions in executing the details of some of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury’s latest production and concept designs. In Ford's Irvine Advanced Design Studio, Saridakis created a sketch that caught the attention of the Irvine team and resonated with Mays.

"George produced this completely resolved sketch, the best I’ve seen in 10 years," says Mays. "When I saw it, it wasn't a matter of 'Let's do more sketches.' It was really more of a 'Let's get this into clay.'"

Remarkably, only the original sketch of the car, in three perspectives, was created.

"George nailed it in one crack," Mays said. "This is a designer so masterful at visualizing every aspect of the car and its story that it literally flowed out of his pen. And because the design is so pure, we really believe this show car will be a hit."
http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=19670

 

Check out new photos of the Ford Shelby GR-1 here.

RS

 

I hear Ford is "crunching the numbers" so to speak. I'm sure we will know before too long.
RS