In a new video, Ford delves into the development of the 2017 GT. We also get some never-before-seen footage of the supercar's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine on the dyno. And best yet, we get to revel at a prototype rocketing around Sebring for a first test.

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I know people will disagree, but Ford could have done this with V8 power.

The size of the twin turbo EcoBoost V6 with intake, turbos, etc. is massive! I hope as much as anyone the GT is 1-2-3-4 at Le Mans, but it won't touch the previous generation in the "standing mile". Far better on road courses however!

 

Ford could have done this with V-8 power but that wouldn't help absorb R&D costs for future ecoboost developments.

Many folks are still stuck in the 80's when Ford was dabbling with gas turbos and their many failures. The ecoboost family is nothing like it's long past kin.

 

The 3.5 has an established racing background. They most like would have developed a new engine that would have the power they need to compete and still come in under the max displacement rule for lemans if they wanted a v8

 

I don't have any idea what the displacement rules are for Le Mans, but different manufacturer's run all engine types. Ford is running a 3.5L EcoBoost because that's the engine they WANT to run. Pushing the EcoBoost really hard on the marketing front, proof that Ford is "all in" on the EcoBoost platform. I hope it goes well!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mans_Prototype

Looks like a 5.5L / 340 CI engine is the maximum size. However, there are size restrictions as well.

The 3.5L EB weighs about 120 less than a 6.2L V-8 but more than a 5.0L V-8 and it requires as much or more real estate as any V-8 of current use.

I'm happy to see Ford use the EB for this purpose. As I mentioned above, development alone will benefit us consumers.