Avro's 720 Mirage Ford GT

Avro Motorsports 720 Mirage

Ultra-limited production model developed jointly with Roush

By Christopher Jackson
March 15, 2008 12:02 AM
Filed Under: European, Ford, Tuners

The Ford GT may be in the process of passing into supercar history, but that hasn't stopped Avro Motor Cars from taking one last spin at making the beast faster. The Brooklands-based tuner recently announced a 10-car run of modified GTs called 720 Mirage. Avro partnered with Roush Technologies to push the GT's power output to 720 horses. The company previously teamed up with Roush to produce the 600RE edition of the GT.

The additional urge comes courtesy of a larger Whipple supercharger and Accufab throttle body, inlet sleeve and X pipe exhaust, among other minor modifications. Specific output is 720bhp at 6950 rpm and 815Nm (627 pound-feet) torque at 4800 rpm. Unleash that power and the 720 Mirage will run to an un-governed top speed somewhere north of 220mph.

Suspension upgrades include a 5mm wider track and a 25mm drop, as well as KW Variant 3 adjustable coil-overs. Six-piston AP Racing brake calipers are used in the front, and drilled and slotted rotors sourced from Stillen are installed front and rear. The modifications are subtle but should help to ensure that the Avro 720 Mirage can handle its increased power with the same poise as the factory version.

The 720 Mirage stands out thanks to a distinctive metallic orange paint job with matte-black detailing. The wheels are blacked out as well. Avro adds special decals and sill plates, and ditches the GT's rear bumper in the name of weight savings for an even more exclusive appearance. Naturally, there's a numbered plaque on the console.

Source: Avro Motorcars

Press Release (Click to expand)

Just as the Ford GT becomes a legend in its own time, Avro Motor Cars, the Brooklands-based supercar specialist, has joined forces with Roush Technologies in the UK to create a further strictly limited edition of the car. The Avro 720 Mirage special edition will be limited to just 10 cars – the first of which has just been rolled out of Roush’s Technical Centre in Brentwood, Essex.

Finished in vibrant Arancia Metallica (Italian Metallic Orange) with semi-matt black details and wheels – and exclusive sill plates and side decals, the 720 Mirage incorporates a significant range of engine and mechanical upgrades. Changes in appearance include the deletion of the rear bumper – partly to save weight – and each car will carry an exclusive numbered Avro plaque on the centre tunnel.

Roush Technologies’ close association with the Ford GT programme includes the homologation of the European cars. The company is also the only officially appointed Ford approved service centre for the cars in the UK. Now, its engineers have applied a custom calibration package to the car, to extract a delivered, mean 720bhp at 6950rpm and a massive 815Nm (627lb.ft.) of torque at 4800rpm. The car is also derestricted, which gives a top speed capability in excess of 220mph (354km/h).

Central to the increased power is a larger – and polished – Whipple supercharger. The induction side of the engine also includes an Accufab throttle body and inlet sleeve. An Accufab X pipe exhaust system with ceramic-coated tips is also fitted. Other engine equipment includes a Mafia MAF sensor adaptor and a transmission breather catch tank.

The running gear on the Avro 720 Mirage has been appropriately upgraded to match the boost in power. The front and rear track is 5mm wider than the standard car. The front brakes use AP Racing 6-pot front callipers with Stillen drilled and slotted rotors – and similar rotors are used also at the rear. The suspension has been lowered by 25mm – and uprated to include KW’s Variant 3 fully adjustable coil-over system.

Avro Managing Director, Andy McGrath says, “When we created the highly successful Roush 600RE edition, we recognised the potential in the car to go a step further. The Ford GT is already a rare and sought after motorcar and simply identifying and locating more available untitled vehicles has been a significant challenge for us. The 720 Mirage is available exclusively from Avro – and once these cars are completed, we believe there will be no more. Examples of our 600RE edition are now located in several parts of the world – and we expect the market response to the 720 Mirage to be similarly international.”