automotivebriefs
9:43in productionCh. 1 · What it is/ 9:43 · ceiling 15 min
Concepts & prototypes · Supercars

Ford GT90

Ford’s first 'New Edge' car wasn’t a production model—it was a V12 statement that refused to compromise on angle or ambition.

The Ford GT90 is a 1995 concept car that launched Ford’s 'New Edge' design language. It uses a carbon-fibre body over an aluminium monocoque, and mounts a 5.9-litre V12 mid-ship. It shares only roof-cutting doors with the GT40. It was never intended for production or racing. As of 2025, it resides in the Hajek Motorsports Museum.

Chapters & takeaways6
  1. 0:57
    What it is

    A Ford concept car, unveiled in January 1995 at the Detroit Auto Show.

  2. 1:55
    Where it broke new ground

    The first Ford to show the 'New Edge' design philosophy—defined by sharp angles and planar glass.

  3. 3:19
    How it was built

    Built around a honeycomb-section aluminium monocoque with carbon fibre body panels.

  4. 4:08
    What it borrowed—and what it didn’t

    A spiritual successor to the GT40—but only in roof-cutting doors, not in purpose or lineage.

  5. 5:11
    What it packed under the skin

    Powered by a 5.9-litre 48-valve aluminium V12 producing 720 hp and 660 lb⋅ft of torque.

  6. 6:16
    Where it lives now

    Owned since 2025 by Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames, Oklahoma; displayed at the Petersen from September 2024 to July 2025.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • as a design statement
  • as a technical showcase
  • as a pivot point in Ford’s styling direction
What does not
  • production viability
  • racing pedigree
  • driving feedback
  • market relevance
Drive it if
  • design historians
  • Ford enthusiasts
  • concept car collectors
Skip it if
  • drivers
  • racing fans
  • practical buyers
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

A concept car developed and manufactured by Ford. Unveiled in January 1995 at the Detroit Auto Show.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a mid-engined concept car. The driver sits ahead of a 5.9-litre V12. The body panels are carbon fibre. The chassis is a honeycomb-section aluminium monocoque.

What it gets right

It establishes a clear visual break from Ford’s 1980s styling. Its monocoque-and-carbon construction reflects serious structural intent. The V12 layout commits fully to mid-engined drama.

What it does not

It does not share engineering or purpose with the GT40 beyond roof-cutting doors. It was never intended for racing, nor for production.

What it changed

It was the first Ford to display the ‘New Edge’ design philosophy. It repositioned Ford’s design vocabulary from curves to sharp angles and planar glass surfaces.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for designers, historians, and engineers interested in 1990s Ford strategy. It is not for buyers, drivers, or collectors seeking usability.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you want to see how Ford’s ‘New Edge’ design language began, and how far a V12 concept could stretch before production reality intervened.

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