When most jet manufacturers are actually cutting back on the lines of code used in the creation of their aircraft, Ford has actually gone a step further by writing a staggering 10 million lines of code for its super car, Ford GT, which was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
According to Ford Performance Chief Engineer, Jamal Hameedi, they have to acquire ‘off-the-shelf’ auto parts from technology suppliers, so software customization wasn’t possible, which resulted in more lines of code being written to sustain the car’s excessive computing power. The Ford GT, as a result, has up to 8 million more lines of code than a Lockheed Martin F22 fighter jet and 3 million more lines of code than a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
In a time when less code is considered more, experts are terming the new development as probably a good thing for the Ford GT as the added power will enable even non-expert drivers navigate the car on a racetrack. There are a lot of technical add-ons that facilitate the Ford GT’s smooth drive, namely 50 different sensors and 28 microprocessors to keep its power in check, 3,000 different signals (handled by 6 communication area networks) that measure everything from outside humidity, the pressure of each tire to the amount of G-force the car is generating.
The new Ford GT is expected to be powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with exact information related to its powertrain and price to be revealed at a later date.
The Ford GT is expected to go on sale globally sometime next year. However, Australia will not be one of their pit-stops as the supercar is being made as solely a left-hand drive. Nevertheless, collectors and investors may own this masterpiece even if it cannot be driven legally on Australian roads.