Ford Teases New Supercar Ahead of the 2026 Detroit Auto Show

Forever Ford’s Halo Car

The GT is undoubtedly one of the most storied nameplates in Ford’s history and according to the carmaker’s latest press release, a successor could be in the works.

Built out of spite, the original GT40 sole purpose was to beat the Ferrari at Le Mans following Ford’s failed acquisition of the Italian company. The company succeeded in that, and then proceeded to rub it in with a 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

If that wasn’t enough, the GT40 kept piling on the wins and glory for the Ford Motor Company. It won Le Mans four years in a row, from that famous finish in ’66, all the way to ’69. Nice.

It would be decades before Ford revived its mid-engined supercar in the form of the GT, introduced in late 2004. While it never competed in motorsports in an official capacity, the car’s DNA was unmistakable. Production ended in 2006, and we had to wait for another decade for the all-new model.

Unlike its predecessor, the latest model heralded a return to Le Mans. Like the GT40 from the ’60s, the new GT had a successful career in endurance racing. On its first attempt at Le Mans in 2016, Ford beat Ferrari yet again, taking the GTE-Pro class win in the prestigious race. A poignant moment, too, as it marked the 50th anniversary of the company’s first win there.

A New Ford Supercar for the 2020s?

The second-generation GT ceased production in 2022 after about 1,300 cars were built. There’s the track-only MK.IV, but since then, Ford hasn’t made any official plans to build a successor.

However, Ford Racing recently announced its plans and goals for the 2026 season. By now, we all know that they’re coming back to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing, and they’ll be ramping up their efforts in NASCAR, IMSA, and the Dakar Rally, to name a few. But on top of that, Ford also said that they will be previewing something very special just in time for the 2026 Detroit Auto Show in January.

In Ford’s words, “For the first time ever, fans worldwide will also get an exclusive sneak peek at an all-new Ford Racing production road car.” The company didn’t say much after that, but for them to release that statement is a hint that it’ll probably be something more than a hot Mustang.

Other Possibilities

We do have to be open to the possibility that it won’t be a new-generation GT. That said, we don’t mind another extreme Mustang. The GTD is already a pretty wild ride with a price tag that’s up against some exotics, and something even more hardcore than that would be an amazing thing.

Let’s also not forget that Ford is mulling a different kind of supercar, one that’s inspired by its Dakar program. Back in August, CEO Jim Farley openly discussed the idea of a Raptor supercar. If so, it’s a potential goldmine for Ford as the off-road supercar niche has gained recognition. Just take a look at the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato —megabuck limited-run specials that can do the business on and off the pavement.