The prospect of Ford->ke31 returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans->ke1591 50 years after first winning the event with the iconic GT40 has sparked rumors that the GT->ke411 supercar might also make a comeback after laying dormant for nearly a decade. And although the Blue Oval has yet to confirm such a possibility, the imaginations of journalists and enthusiasts the world over run wild with all sorts of scenarios at hand. As if there wasn't enough fuel added to the fire, an image the Blue Oval company has just trademarked stirs things up even more.
The illustration in question includes a mid-engined car and three horizontal lines "depicting speed, propulsion, heat or wind," behind it. It comes with no words, numbers, or any explanation attached to it; basically a logo-type drawing in black-and-white. Now for the big question: is it related to the upcoming GT supercar? Not likely, and that's because the silhouette in the illustration belongs to a Ford GT40 Mk.II race car, the same that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. And although I'd love to look at it as some sort of confirmation for a new Ford GT, I'm positive this drawing has different purposes.
With the 50th anniversary of Ford's first win at Le Mans, the speeding GT40 is likely the logo the company will be using for an upcoming line of merchandise items celebrating its resounding win in France. Basically what Ford did with the Mustang 50 Years collection, which included anything from Mustang-branded mugs and pens to t-shirts and fleece jackets, only this time there will be a Le Mans and GT40 theme attached to it, as well as the logo shown above. Since the celebration is supposed to start in 2016, I expect the official details to be unveiled in the second half of 2015.
Click past the jump to read more about the next generation Ford GT.
Why it matters
I know, it's a bit disappointing that we still don't have details surrounding the GT supercar, but there's a big chance this logo is related to the V-8 beast we're all waiting for. With a Le Mans comeback already underway, a celebration this big calls for something special; something beyond a line of clothes and a GT40-branded mug to drink your morning coffee from. That might very well be a brand-new GT and the upcoming 2015 Detroit Auto Show might provide us with more hints. So make sure you stay tuned for the latest developments on the highly anticipated supercar.
Ford GT
The upcoming Ford GT is still a mystery -- in fact, we're not even sure it will be named like that -- but we do know for a fact that it will pay tribute to the classic GT40 while carrying a similar configuration to the previous GT. Styling-wise, it should resemble its predecessor, while motivation is likely to come from the all-new, 5.2-liter, flat-crank, V-8 engine that debuted in the 2016 Shelby GT350. Naturally, some form of forced induction will find its way under the hood, but whether it will be supercharged or turbocharged is difficult to say. Either way, a Ford-badged supercar is long overdue and Ford's return to Circuit de la Sarthe sets the perfect stage for a GT revival.