Ford built a 200mph monster but then abandoned the project as the car was too advanced
- The Ford GT90 was designed as a GT40 successor
- It had a V12, and a top speed of 253mph
- Ford canceled the project because it was too expensive at the time
Published on Mar 18, 2025 at 1:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This is the Ford GT90, a concept car inspired by the Ford GT40 unveiled exactly 30 years ago at the Detroit Auto Show.
Initially designed as a potential production model, the GT90 was quickly put on the back burner.
It could’ve been the fastest car in the world, but the world just wasn’t ready.
So, like many other super cool prototypes, the GT90 project died because it was too simply too advanced.
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Why Ford canceled this project
The Ford GT40 is one of the best cars ever made.
It was discontinued in 1969 and the American automaker spent the next few decades trying to design a worthy successor.
The GT90 looked like a good candidate.
Like the Ford GT40, it had doors that cut into the roofline and, like the GT40, it was powerful and fast.
It used the same engine that Jaguar, Ford’s subsidiary at the time, had used for the XJ220 concept unveiled just three years prior.
It was a big, meaty 5.9-liter V12, which was capable of 720HP.
The GT90 was capable of accelerating from standstill to 60mph in just 3.1 seconds, and the top speed was listed as 253MPH – or 407KMH
This would’ve made the Ford GT90 the fastest car in the world, faster than the McLaren F1.
Unfortunately, reality quickly set in, and the company realized this car would’ve been way too expensive to build.
Not all was lost, though.
In 2002, once again at the Detroit Auto Show, the American automaker unveiled the GT. Two years later, production of the GT began.
Timing is key
The Ford GT90 is part of a long list of cars that were great, but not right for the times.
The Jaguar C-X75 is arguably the most beautiful car on the list.
It was unveiled as a prototype in 2010, right in the middle of one of the worst recessions in history, which is why Jaguar pulled the plug after building a few prototypes.
The BMW i8, a car you can now buy for a fraction of its original cost, is another example worth mentioning.
It was a futuristic, complicated hybrid sports car unveiled in 2014.
But, back in 2014, most buyers were pretty happy with their uncomplicated, no-nonsense sports cars with big V8s, which made the i8 the equivalent of using a touchscreen phone two decades ago.
It was promising, but it was too much, too soon.
Maybe we’ll see it again when we’re ready for it.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
