Ford is poised to unveil a groundbreaking new supercar next year, marking a significant resurgence for its high-performance division. Details are scarce, but the global director of Ford Racing, Mark Rushbrook, promises this upcoming model will embody “how deeply we’re integrating our racing innovation into the vehicles you drive every day.” The January 15, 2026 reveal will offer a glimpse of this ambitious project.
This announcement aligns with Ford Performance’s rebranding to Ford Racing earlier in 2023. This shift signifies a more direct link between the company’s racecars and its consumer vehicles, hinting at future road-going models that push boundaries similar to the recently launched, monstrously powerful 815bhp Mustang GTD.
Will Ford, general manager of Ford Performance, emphasizes this isn’t merely a marketing tactic. He stresses it’s “a promise” and a “new, more focused mission to tear down the wall between our race teams and the engineering of the vehicles you drive every day on and off road.”
The rebranding signifies a unified approach where engineers and designers working on performance road cars will collaborate directly with those developing racing vehicles. This collaborative effort promises technology derived from grueling endurance races like the Baja 1000 finding its way into production models like the F-150 Raptor, while aerodynamic lessons learned at Daytona and Le Mans will shape future Mustang designs.
What exactly is Ford cooking up? While specifics remain under wraps, several possibilities have emerged:
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A Road-Legal Le Mans Hypercar: Ford is slated to enter a hypercar in the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a roadgoing version bearing the legendary Ford GT name seems highly plausible.
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A $300,000 Off-Road Supercar: Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed interest in developing an extreme off-road supercar reaching 1,000bhp, inspired by their Dakar Rally racer. This vehicle would likely command a price tag around $300,000 (£228,000).
The January unveiling will coincide with Ford Racing’s 2026 season launch and celebrate the company’s return to Formula One as Red Bull and AlphaTauri’s engine supplier.
Ford is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at becoming a more aspirational brand anchored around iconic names like Bronco, Capri, Mustang, and Explorer in response to escalating competition from Chinese automakers. Farley underscores this shift, stating that “we have our first generation of these personality vehicles” with Ford focusing on areas where it excels: fast Fords, Broncos, authentic off-roaders, and Explorers.
He cites the global success of the Raptor nameplate as a prime example of their winning formula, noting its evolution from desert racing roots in Mexico to mainstream phenomenon status. Farley is also confident in the Mustang’s continued strength, believing “we can take on Porsche with Mustang,” highlighting its position as the world’s best-selling sports coupe.
This newfound dedication to enthusiast products marks a departure from Ford’s historical approach where performance vehicles were treated as a sideline. Today, Raptor, Mustang, and Bronco are central pillars of the brand, potentially explaining the increased investment and ambitious road car plans for Ford Racing.
The upcoming supercar reveal is a major step in this evolution, promising an exciting chapter in Ford’s legacy of performance excellence.
