press event for GT this weekend?

[scoopman]

From a Ford engineer who works on the Mach-E on the 'gram .... there's some kind of a private event with a ton of GTPEs on an autocross course that's in Alameda this weekend (across from the USS Hornet I believe). I'm guessing this is the event to get us professional GT reviews (finally) -- why else would they have so many GTs in the same place at a private event?

Here's two photos as an example...

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[scoopman]

(if I only didn't have anything else to do today .... )

 

[buzznwood]

Hmm an autocross event, don't tell me with just enough space to get up to 70mph ? . These controlled events are nothing more than PR+ IMO until we get vehicles in the hands of reviewers away from coordinated events we probably won't get any detailed testing information, happy to be proved wrong of course but think we will have to wait a bit longer.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Hmm an autocross event, don't tell me with just enough space to get up to 70mph ? . These controlled events are nothing more than PR+ IMO until we get vehicles in the hands of reviewers away from coordinated events we probably won't get any detailed testing information, happy to be proved wrong of course but think we will have to wait a bit longer.

I havemt seen many auto-x tracks that would let you get much past 50. LOL

 

[buzznwood]

I havemt seen many auto-x tracks that would let you get much past 50. LOL

Happy to be proved wrong, but I suspect it will just be what every manufacture does and create a layout that will play to the strengths and disguise the weaknesses. So plenty of opportunities to feel the instant torque response from the motors at low speed but without a straight not long enough to get to much above 60mph to mask an real sense of the true acceleration.

While I suspect any twisity sections will not be anything that technical but more for showing the strengths of the magneride, I find the steering ratio of the GTPE way to slow for one using performance in the title and while the seats are very comfortable the side bolsters do not hold me in that tightly either, especially when compared to the recaros used in my focus st / rs, so having a load of journalists sawing away at the wheel while trying to hang on is probably not in Fords best interests lol.

 

[blue92lx]

I can't tell for sure but that looks like the place from a YouTube video that just came out here

They have a drifting event going on and tried to drift a GTPE and basically couldn't (not surprising since traction control doesn't fully shut off).

There's definitely not enough room to get to 80 mph. We all knew this would be the case for the "big pres event in October".

The big thing now is how much longer can they keep the doors shut on real reviews. They're working as hard as possible to not let reviews come out.

Edit: nevermind it looks like a different track now that I watched the video again, but I still doubt the cars are going to hit 80mph wherever they're doing their press event.

 

[scoopman]

Hmm an autocross event, don't tell me with just enough space to get up to 70mph ? . These controlled events are nothing more than PR+ IMO until we get vehicles in the hands of reviewers away from coordinated events we probably won't get any detailed testing information, happy to be proved wrong of course but think we will have to wait a bit longer.

I can't tell for sure but that looks like the place from a YouTube video that just came out here

They have a drifting event going on and tried to drift a GTPE and basically couldn't (not surprising since traction control doesn't fully shut off).

There's definitely not enough room to get to 80 mph. We all knew this would be the case for the "big pres event in October".

The big thing now is how much longer can they keep the doors shut on real reviews. They're working as hard as possible to not let reviews come out.

No this is from a different place -- the lot they're using is right next to the USS Hornet in Alameda. This video is from some other place (and that owner probably had to head directly to TireRack.com after those videos!)

 

[scoopman]

Happy to be proved wrong, but I suspect it will just be what every manufacture does and create a layout that will play to the strengths and disguise the weaknesses. So plenty of opportunities to feel the instant torque response from the motors at low speed but without a straight not long enough to get to much above 60mph to mask an real sense of the true acceleration.

While I suspect any twisity sections will not be anything that technical but more for showing the strengths of the magneride, I find the steering ratio of the GTPE way to slow for one using performance in the title and while the seats are very comfortable I the side bolsters do not hold me in that tightly either, especially when compared to the recaros used in my focus st / rs, so having a load of journalists sawing away at the wheel while trying to hang on is probably not in Fords best interests lol.

Oh I bet this event is a combo of autocross in a controlled place, and then a couple of hours for the usual YouTube suspects to drive the vehicle around some nice local roads in Northern California. It's kinda what they did when the non-GT was introduced, I think they did it in the parking lot of the Forum in LA.

This is, of course, pure speculation on my part, but I bet that's what is going on. Why else would they have so many GTs on an autocross for a "private event" ..... ?

 

[scoopman]

this is quite a parking lot.

 

[macchiaz-o]

this is quite a parking lot.

Credit to the OG Ho.... Several more photos on his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theog.ho/

 

[Brown1000]

Credit to the OG Ho.... Several more photos on his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theog.ho/

He posted a couple of videos of a couple GTPE running the auto X course...

 

[CharleyCarlos]

this is quite a parking lot.

Pretty thorough track test with lap times here:

 

[scoopman]

He posted a couple of videos of a couple GTPE running the auto X course...

Indeed, and you can see the historic USS Hornet aircraft carrier museum in the background

 

[Brown1000]

Indeed, and you can see the historic USS Hornet aircraft carrier museum in the background

just waiting to hear about this event. We need some info about these GT's

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