2006 also marks the 40th anniversary of Ford's remarkable four-year winning streak of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Earlier this year, Ford announced another special exterior color, Tungsten Grey available with Quick Silver stripes, would be available on the 2006 Ford GT to commemorate that first sterling victory.

But Ford isn't just celebrating its past. The company has built upon its heritage with its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) enhancing the performance of Ford products now and into the future.

"Sweeping Le Mans proved to the world that Ford Motor Company could beat the most prestigious manufacturers in the world," says Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation. "Those two events helped establish a culture of performance at Ford that to this day benefits our products, engineering expertise, and brand loyalty. Today, that culture is embodied in the Ford GT, aptly titled the pace car for the entire company."

The Ford GT delivers 550 horsepower and a certified 205-mph top track speed rating, with styling inspired by the historic racecars and a comfortable and contemporary interior.

An ultra high-performance two-seat sports car, the Ford GT is built on an aluminum spaceframe chassis with super-plastic-formed aluminum body panels and an aluminum-over-carbon engine cover.

A mid-mounted supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 delivers 500 pound-feet of torque. Power flows to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transaxle. Independent suspension, large Brembo brakes and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires on 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels all are standard equipment.