With Fords new engine building technology we will be seeing a lot more show cars hitting the production floor. Would you believe that the Engine in the Gt 40 was the first one built. They have a new computer program that tests every aspect of the engine, sound, fit, stress points, hot spots, oil flow, fuel atomization, exhaust flow, they can even adjust parts that interfere with that v-8 sound. Before the process used to involve building a running engine and then try it out, test it until it failed and then build another one, the new program lets it test to destuction and then allows for adjustments to be made.
http://sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23482
The video of the engine here is not some fancy hollywood commercial but rather teh actual video image of PowerKIT (Powetrain Knowledge-based Integrated Toolset). This new process even allows them to test fit and find out if any serviceable parts are not in a good spot, if they are not accessible they can change the design right there and not have to reproduce another car. And the program can even help them design the suspension to hold up to the cars train ride across the country to different dealers who will be selling them.
The you have AVL's Excite software wich has a file for every every engine part. It then runs it at all speeds and load conditions to hear the noise signature of every component.
The GT program was so rushed that Ford only had enough time to make one car. They had no time for all the pre-production prototype. Everything had to be right the first time.
GM uses a little more advanced program that allowed them to produce the 1000HP 1000 ft-lbs Cadilac V-16 in one shot. Using simalar tooling Ford got 500HP and 500 ft-lbs out of exactly half the cylinders.
With the new technology car companies will be able to actualy create a lot of limited production cars with low costs. Maybe the new SC will follow suit.