• The Ford GTX1 project brings together Ford design and engineering innovation, one engineer’s personal creativity and commitment, and the quickness and capability of the aftermarket
• The X1 roadster can become reality for the enthusiasts who desire world-class performance, a flexible roof system for open-air driving, and one-of-a-kind exterior styling

With the 1966 Sebring-winning Ford GTX1 roadster as inspiration, Ford SVT engineering supervisor Kip Ewing unveiled his take on that legendary racer during the opening day of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. Ewing conceived the idea for a roadster while working on the Ford GT launch, and after completing initial design sketches and engineering studies on his own time, he obtained the privilege of utilising the Ford’s SEMA Technology Initiative to bring the Ford GTX1 roadster to life.

Ford’s SEMA Technology Initiative began in 1999 with the sharing of technical drawings and electrical schematics of the then-new Mustang. The programme has expanded over the years to include the majority of Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles and now provides three-dimensional CAD data to aftermarket companies looking to develop parts and accessories. As part of Ford’s initiatives to promote its vehicles to SEMA members in the aftermarket, Ford supports a selection of project vehicles to be built every year for the SEMA Show, and the Ford GTX1 was one of them.

The builder chosen for the project is Mark Gerisch of Genaddi Design Group, an experienced designer and metal shaper that has a history of cutting the roofs off expensive and exotic cars. Ewing worked with Ford’s SEMA liaison team and Ford Corporate Design to bring the OEM perspective to the project, but working with Gerisch’s team in the aftermarket was critical for success.

“The Ford GTX1 project is a great example of manufacturers working together with the aftermarket to stretch the boundaries and investigate potential design and product innovation,” says Hau Thai-Tang, director, Ford SVT and Advanced Product Creation, and one of Ewing’s management supporters on the X1. “SEMA showcases trends in styling, accessories, and performance, and whether it’s a new Fusion, Mustang, F-150 or Ford GT, there is something new to be learned by going through this process.”

The X1 roadster features an innovative roof system of four individual hard panels. The panels can be configured as a coupe, t-top, or full convertible. Even with all the panels installed, the outer panels can be locked into a vent position. Plus, the panels are painted in the same Valencia Yellow featuring Tungsten Silver stripes; therefore, as a coupe, it doesn’t lose any of its design appeal. And, X1 drivers won’t be caught in the rain because all four panels can be stored inside the vehicle for easy access.

The Ford GTX1’s rear clamshell covering the engine has been redesigned to feature two buttresses that flow rearward from the seatbacks. Without the need for a backlight due to its open-top configuration, the view into the engine bay could have gone away, but Ewing knew the importance of showcasing the 550-horsepower 5.4L supercharged V-8.

The answer to the inevitable question of “Can I buy one?” is yes. All it will take is a trip to your local Ford dealer to purchase a Ford GT, and then a call to Genaddi Design Group.

Besides Genaddi Design Group, the Ford GTX1 features several SEMA-member company products, including:

Sony is using the Ford GTX1 roadster to showcase its latest product from its Xplôd audio system product line. Music in the GTX1 comes courtesy of the Sony Xplôd MEX-1GP “Giga Panel” AM/FM CD receiver. This new device allows users to simply transfer their favourite MP3 and WMA files from virtually any computer to the receiver’s detachable faceplate via USB cable. Dubbed “Drag and Drive”, its built-in 1GB of flash memory holds up to 500 songs for hours of uninterrupted playback.

Range Rover Sport At SEMA
3rd November, 2005
Land Rover North America is presenting the first Range Rover Sport to appear at the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SEMA) show, in Las Vegas, USA ..... more

GM'S 2005 SEMA Showcase
2nd November, 2005
GM will make a big impact at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, proving that with the right combination of technology, great products and accessories, it's possible to pack performance, style and fuel economy into one exciting package ..... more

Bentley Celebrates The Blue Train Race
1st November, 2005
Some 75 years since the adventurer and Le Mans winner Woolf Barnato raced and beat the famous Blue Train on its journey across France ..... more

New Sparkle for 2006 Fiesta
31st October, 2005
Ford's small car range, Fiesta, is set to receive a distinctive new look ..... more

Mazda CX-7 Australia Bound
31st October, 2005
The MX-Crossport concept will be displayed at the 2006 Melbourne International Motor Show, as Mazda Australia has been given the green light to import the all-new crossover SUV, the CX-7 ..... more

VW Touareg Tow Ball Down Weight Now 350kg
31st October, 2005
Volkswagen has now increased the tow ball down weight of the Touareg from 140 kilogrammes to 350 kilogrammes ..... more

Smart Signs Up For Mitsubishi Engine
30th October, 2005
Mitsubishi and Smart have signed an agreement on engine supply ..... more

Volkswagen EcoRacer Concept Car
28th October, 2005
Its basic data: average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres per 100 km, a top speed of 230 km/h. Its name: EcoRacer ..... more

Thailand Important For Ford's Growth
28th October, 2005
Ford Chairman, Bill Ford shared the company’s global vision on Innovation when he visited the Ford Jor Charoen Prachuabkirikhan dealership in Hua Hin, Thailand yesterday ..... more

Škoda Sales Success
28th October, 2005
Škoda continues its positive sales trend. A total of 369,652 customers bought Škoda Fabia, Octavia and Superb cars over the first nine months of 2005 ..... more

GM's Global Growth Continues
27th October, 2005
General Motors reported calendar year-to-date sales (January - September) of 7,066,774 vehicles around the world – a 3.7 percent increase over 2004 ..... more

4MOTION For New Volkswagen Passat
27th October, 2005
The new generation Passat can now be ordered with permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive in Europe ..... more

Bill Ford Hosts Debut Of Ford Fiesta In India
26th October, 2005
Ford Motor Company took another step forward in the important and growing Indian automotive market ..... more

GM Opens Russian R&D Science Office
26th October, 2005
General Motors will open a new R&D science office in Moscow in order to leverage Russian science institutes and universities on a broad array of technologies ..... more

Mastering Germany's Nurburgring In An MX-5
26th October, 2005
Mazda developers fine-tuned the new Mazda MX-5’s chassis systems at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, pushing components like brakes, tyres and dampers to their limits ..... more

Volkswagen Multivan Business
26th October, 2005
The Volkswagen Multivan Business, now available to order, made its Australian debut at Sydney's 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

Caterham Dominates Monte Carlo 2005
26th October, 2005
One of the ultimate tests of endurance and reliability, the Monte Carlo Sports Car Challenge, has been dominated by the legendary Caterham Seven ..... more

Scottish Sports Car Of The Year
24th October, 2005
The Association of Scottish Motoring Writers has voted the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX as Sports Car of the Year 2005 ..... more

Volkswagen's Latest Hot Hatch
21st October, 2005
Volkswagen Group Australia introduces the latest "Hot Hatch" to the Volkswagen range and confirms that Australia will be the first country in the world to sell the new Polo GTI ..... more

New Volkswagen Polo
21st October, 2005
The new generation Volkswagen Polo has received a fresh and dynamic re-design, reflecting a more modern appearance and building upon the Polo’s vivacious and unique shape ..... more

Audi Shooting Brake Concept For Tokyo
20th October, 2005
An Audi sports car of the future may possibly have just started the journey from drawing board to driveway in the shape of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept, a convention-challenging, technology-laden design study destined for the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show ..... more

Volkswagen Wins Grand Challenge 2005
20th October, 2005
Volkswagen won the American Grand Challenge 2005 with a Touareg TDI ..... more

Mazda at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show
20th October, 2005
Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the Mazda SENKU concept vehicle, as well as the Japanese debut of the Mazda MX-Crossport concept ..... more

Nissan Unveils the GT-R PROTO
20th October, 2005
With the launch of the production model just two years away, the development of the new GT-R has moved ahead again with the revealing of the GT-R PROTO ..... more

Citroen DS Is 50 Years Young
19th October, 2005
Classic car enthusiasts were blowing out the candles last weekend at a special party to celebrate the 50th birthday of one of the world’s most famous cars, the iconic Citroën DS ..... more

The New Audi S8
19th October, 2005
Distinct sports appeal and supreme comfort – these are the two defining characteristics of the Audi A8. At the time of its market launch three years ago, this large saloon shot straight to the top of the luxury segment thanks to its dynamic qualities. The brand with the four-ring emblem is now unveiling a sporty top model of the very highest calibre in the luxury segment: the new Audi S8 ..... more

Japan's Mazda RX-8 'Sport Prestige Limited II'
19th October, 2005
Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch of two upgraded versions of its RX-8 sports car in the Japanese market ..... more

Start Of Building For New Porsche Museum
19th October, 2005
With the installation of an unusual construction site sign, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, started construction of its new museum ..... more

Toyota Infringement Of Antonov Patents Update
19th October, 2005
Update: The case received its preliminary hearing on 22nd September 2005 having previously been postponed by the company to allow further negotiations with Toyota ..... more

Avanti Takes A Big Step With New V-6
18th October, 2005
Georgia (USA) based independent car maker, Avanti Motor Corporation, is introducing the first Avanti built with a 210 horsepower V-6 engine ..... more

FPV Shifts into Top Gear with New BF Range
18th October, 2005
Ford Performance Vehicles unveiled its bold new range of high-performance vehicles at Sydney's 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

New VW Jetta Visits Sydney's Motor Show
17th October, 2005
The new Volkswagen Jetta has just been launched in Europe. Jetta is a sporty but elegant compact sedan and will be a great value proposition, suiting the Australian market ..... more

New Focus XR5 Turbo to Join Ford Line Up
17th October, 2005
Ford has revealed its latest performance vehicle – the five cylinder Focus XR5 Turbo, equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox ..... more

New Baby quattro for Audi
16th October, 2005
The 2005 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) marks the local introduction of Audi's smallest quattro model – the A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro ..... more

S3X From Daewoo For Holden
16th October, 2005
Holden is showing the striking S3X concept SUV at Sydney's Australian International Motor Show, as the preview for a Daewoo-sourced seven-seater Holden destined for Australia next year ..... more

Mazda's Diesel Car Push
16th October, 2005
Mazda announced at the Australian International Motor Show, in Sydney, that they plan to launch a diesel Mazda 6 next year ..... more

Nissan Previews 2006 350Z Roadster in Sydney
14th October, 2005
Nissan's iconic 36-year-old flagship sports car, the 350Z, goes on show at the Australian Motor Show with new features ..... more

New Peugeot 307 Debuts In Sydney
14th October, 2005
A new look and new features for the new Peugeot 307, which has been launched at the 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

Mitsubishi's Completely New Look for Motor Show
14th October, 2005
Mitsubishi Motors’ stand has a completely new look for this year’s 2005 Australian International Motor Show, and it is not only due to the newly released and exciting Mitsubishi 380 ..... more

New Volkswagen Beetle Face Lift and TDI
14th October, 2005
The New Beetle receives a subtle re-styling in both the hardtop and the cabriolet models for summer. In addition New Beetle also receives the option of a TDI (diesel) engine for the first time ..... more

The New Volkswagen Caddy Life
14th October, 2005
With up to seven seats and two sliding doors, the Volkswagen Caddy Life opens up a whole new world of practical and exciting people moving innovation in the compact van class ..... more

Maybach Exelero Show Car in Sydney
14th October, 2005
The Maybach show car "Exelero" is on display at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney ..... more

Holden's Wild Hot Rod Brings FJ Back to Life
13th October, 2005
A wild 21st Century hot rod reinventing one of Australia ’s most famous cars, the FJ Holden, was unveiled today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney ..... more

New Audi S4 Makes Its Australian Premiere
13th October, 2005
Audi's new S4 will be unveiled for the first time in Australia at the Australian International Motor Show, ahead of its mid-November 2005 launch ..... more

New Volkswagen Polo GTI To Debut In Tokyo
12th October, 2005
VW will introduce the Polo GTI during a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show next week. With 110 kW/150 hp it is the strongest Polo since the series was first introduced 30 years ago ..... more

Historical Brazilian Truck's Driving Odyssey
12th October, 2005
An intrepid group of eight passionate Brazilian adventurers traveled nearly 19,312 kms (12,000 miles), crossing two continents, eleven countries and the Amazon River ..... more

New World Blind Land Speed Record
12th October, 2005
England's Mike Newman and his Speed of Sight team have rewritten the Guinness Book of World Records, again! ..... more

Mitsubishi Grandis Gets Luxury Treatment
12th October, 2005
Mitsubishi’s Grandis people-mover has had a luxury make-over as part of a model upgrade, and now offers even better value for money in its new guise ..... more

Ford Equator Concept
11th October, 2005
Ford Motor Company has announced that a world premiere concept - the Ford Equator - will join the all-new Focus and Explorer at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show ..... more