A Tasmanian has
designed one of the showcase cars at the recent Detroit Motor Show – the new
Ford GT. This was one of three headline
grabbing cars revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit
this month which were designed by Australians.
While Holden’s
design studio in Port Melbourne was responsible for the design and construction
of two of General Motors’ showpieces, over at Ford, the creation of its
stunning GT supercar was overseen by
Tasmanian Todd Willing.
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| The 'Tasmanian designed' Ford GT, unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show |
Hobart born and
bred, Willing managed a team of just six designers under a shroud of secrecy to
create the mid-engined Ford GT in a secret location in the US. He was reportedly not permitted to tell his
family or friends what he was working on for more than 14 months!
Willing told
reporters at the car show ‘It’s every designer’s dream to work on a car like
this. A once-in-a-career opportunity.’
The car has
special significance to Ford as the original Ford GT40 won the LeMans 24-hour
race four consecutive times from 1966-69 after being defeated by Ferrari in the
previous six years.
This new car
controversially runs on a twin-turbo V6 engine rather than a V8, but Ford says
it makes more power than its predecessor without burning as much fuel.
Willing has heard
and seen the car being tested but as yet has not driven it. And although it’s a ‘global car’ it will be
manufactured only in left-hand drive and not sold in Australia.
Having managed
the top-secret supercar project he has now returned to Australia as the head of
Ford’s Asia-Pacific design studio in Broadmeadows.
It is the first
time Australian designers have played such a significant role on the world stage
and shows that we can still have some input into the worldwide automotive
industry while the local manufacturing industry comes to an end.
And it just goes
to show the talent that comes out of Tasmania!
