We recently spent time around a nearly production-ready prototype of the Ford GT supercar, during which we learned how engineers tuned the car’s chassis and aerodynamic package to morph to the driver’s needs with the twist of a steering wheel-mounted dial. Here’s an in-depth explanation of exactly what will happen when the lucky GT owner cycles through each of five modes.

Let’s start with the least-aggressive setting, Wet. Here, the suspension is in Normal, its second softest setting, with 4.7 inches of ground clearance and the option to hit the Comfort button for even softer damping. Throttle response is lazier to prevent unintentional wheel spin; the ABS and stability-control systems are at their most sensitive. Next up is Normal mode. The suspension, ride height, and aerodynamics are unchanged from Wet mode, but throttle response is sharper and the stability control reins are looser compared. Transmission shifting strategies remain at their default.

How the GT looks in Wet, Normal, and Sport mode, with normal ride height and the rear wing stowed.
One click more calls up Sport mode. The ride height stays the same, but the dampers firm up. In this mode, the GT’s “anti-lag” feature kicks in to manage throttle position and fuel delivery to keep the turbos spooling, eliminating lag even at low rpm. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission adopts a more aggressive shift strategy, using accelerometers to detect spirited drivin...