The new Ford GT already has an intriguing storyline behind it. The ink on the official announcement of the new GT wasn’t even dry yet, and Ford had already received insane consumer interest in the new supercar. So much interest, in fact, that the LeMans version was added to Forza 6 early on, and then – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GT40’s 1966 LeMans victory – a full-sized Lego version of the LeMans racer was created. The LeMans racing program was extended to 2019 while Ford also dropped a GT Heritage edition with old-school livery. Just a few months later, a few GT Prototypes were caught speeding in Colorado and, at the start of December 2016, Lego announced a scaled-down kit of the new GT and LeMans-winning GT40 for the masses. But, that’s not the end of the line for the Ford GT, as it’s in the headlines yet again now that the very first production model has officially rolled off the line.

Let’s not beat around the bush. The new Ford GT is Ford’s halo car, and it was on a tight schedule to not only kick ass at LeMans, but to begin deliveries by the end of 2016. And, as of December 16, 2016, Ford has done just that, as Raj Nair – Ford’s Executive Vice President of Global Product Development and Chief Technical Officer – sat down inside the very first production model and personally drove it off the production line. We don’t know who the first few recipients will be, but needless to say, they are about to have a VERY nice Christmas.

When speaking of the new GT, Nair said, “For everyone involved in designing and developing this car, including all of our employees and suppliers, this is a moment to celebrate. The all-new Ford GT is a showcase of our strength in innovation and our commitment to delivering more for our customers – especially related to lightweight materials, aerodynamics, and EcoBoost engine technologies.”

Due to the heavy demand for the best car Ford has developed in a long time, it recently added an extra two years of production for the beast. This means that an extra 500 vehicles will be created by the time the production run is done, with a total of 1,000 production models set to grace this floating marble we call home. You’ve got to give Ford credit. It said it was going to begin deliveries by the end of the year, and it did just that. Even you non-Ford fans have to respect that!

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Why it matters

I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with Ford over this new supercar. Not because Ford can finally take on other great models like the Lamborghini Huracán and Ferrari 458, but because Ford stuck to its word about delivering at LeMans and its production timetable. With all of the troubles seen by the poor guys who pre-ordered the Focus RS, it was pretty hard to have faith in Ford and its Performance division. But, all that is in the past, and Ford has certainly made up for it with the Ford GT. Now, all those who have been given the opportunity to purchase one, just have to hope that Ford can maintain that production schedule over the next few years.

For those of you who don’t know – I really hope there aren’t many – the Ford GT is an exceptional machine. It’s absolutely gorgeous on the outside and luxurious on the inside. The most important thing about the Ford GT, however, isn’t its looks or interior technology. It’s what lurks behind those seats: a mid-mounted, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. There is little as far as official specs go, but the Ford GT is said to have 630 horsepower on tap and will weigh just 2,890 pounds. If that turns out to be true, it could very well be the best power-to-weight ratio we’ve ever seen, and it should be fast enough to get even Henry Ford’s heart beating again. Okay, maybe not that fast – the last thing we need is for Henry Ford to come back as a zombie, but you get the point. With that said, I’ll end this with one of my favorite quotes from the man himself.

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford GT here.