Mayflower Back to the Future With the GT40

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., July 17 -- Mayflower Vehicle Systems has won a prestigious contract from Ford to conduct multiple tasks in the development program for the production version of the GT40 concept car. Although the new car has taken through its styling cues from the very essence of the original vehicle; modern technologies are to be utilized to meet today's requirements in vehicle performance and safety.

The new car marks a change in the way Ford has approached vehicle programs in the past and this vehicle will be developed from the ground up in under two years. Four key suppliers have been hand picked by Ford to deliver this prestigious product and will be working alongside experts from within Ford.

The key suppliers, of whom Mayflower is one, bring experience and specialist capability to the development and manufacture of this unique niche vehicle.

Working alongside the Ford team, Mayflower will take responsibility for five key areas: vehicle packaging and integration, spaceframe design, 'A' class skin panels, body structure and exterior trim.

Gordon Boyd, Chief Executive and President of Mayflower Vehicle Systems, Inc. explains: "Mayflower is well placed to work with Ford in this fast track program. We have many years of experience with niche vehicle engineering projects that cover a unique combination of skills. As with previous programs, including Ford, we shall seek to explore the use of the latest technologies, materials and processes."

Mayflower's development responsibilities in this program identify some tough challenges. The spaceframe is the backbone of this high performance car and is the basis for both vehicle dynamics and occupant safety.

Mayflower is developing the spaceframe with a long-standing vehicle analysis partner, Ove-Arup. Mayflower enjoys a relationship with Ove-Arup that has been proven in past vehicle programs and makes fast track programs achievable.

The exterior shape of the car is challenging and the class 'A' aluminum skin panels will utilize superplastic forming techniques in order to realize the unique design that is GT40.

Mayflower also takes responsibility for elements of the body structure. The link between the spaceframe and outer skin is via structural panels that will be engineered and manufactured by Mayflower.

In order to have complete control of the exterior appearance of the vehicle, Mayflower also controls the development of the exterior trim that involves working closely with Ford stylists and liasing with production suppliers.

Mayflower is taking the leading role controlling the vehicle package and integration of the project data and has market leading expertize in this field.

The company has a unique combination of niche vehicle engineering expertize that covers a diverse product range, and with that the manufacturing experience and flexibility to develop the right solution for the vehicle: expertize in the manufacturing arena that has recently helped Aston Martin successfully launch the new Vanquish.