Ford's Secret? Running (Better) Against the Wind

BEVERLY, MASS. (04/26/2011)(readMedia)-- It is a challenge met early on by Cub Scouts in their pinewood derbies: Design a wooden car that lowers air resistance. The principles of aerodynamics are by no means a secret, but while hybrid and electric-vehicle advancements dominate media coverage, Ford Motor Company believes its additional work to limit wind resistance has put it over the top in the fuel-efficiency race.

Ford engineers spent endless hours in their wind tunnel facility to improve the aerodynamics and, by extension, the fuel efficiency of its current vehicle line. With the resulting design changes, Ford has improved the fuel economy of some vehicles by up to 7 percent, delivering a wide range of vehicles to Ford dealers that offer class-leading fuel efficiency in their segments.

"The average driver could care less about the physics of aerodynamics, but they feel the benefits in their wallets every time they drive their Fords," said Jeff Klein, general sales manager of Massachusetts Ford dealer Thomas Ford. "Some advantages go unnoticed, like being able to travel that extra mile or two before the gas light comes on or the lack of annoying wind noise. Others are obvious, like the smooth handling and the money saved on gas costs."

The fruit of Ford's labor is no more evident than in the reinvented 2011 Ford Explorer, which received several design enhancements to minimize the wind drag and below-average fuel economy found in earlier models. The new Explorer features a front air dam that reduces airflow underneath the SUV, a liftgate spoiler that improves top airflow and reduces turbulence, and side-view mirrors that cut wind noise. These changes make for a smooth and quiet ride and squeeze nearly 1 more mile from each gallon of gas, contributing to the base-model Explorer's best-in-class fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

And while the eye-catching, boxy shape of the Ford Flex may not look aerodynamic, it received meticulous detail work in the wind tunnel that allows the Ford crossover to beat competitors like the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander by requiring only 8.90 horsepower to cruise at 55 mph. The compact Ford Focus features a new active grille shutter system that only opens grille slats when extra cooling is needed; keeping them closed during highway cruising minimizes resistance and helps the vehicle get 40 mpg in open-road highway driving with the available Super Fuel Economy (SFE) package.

Regardless of their size or purpose, every Ford vehicle has benefited from the automaker's focus on aerodynamics. Ford F-Series pickups feature altered cabs, tailgates, front bumpers and spoilers that direct air flow to add to their best-in-class fuel economy. The Ford Fusion sports revised front and rear fascias, new tire and underbody shields and regulated engine air flow to get the most from every tank of gas. The subcompact Ford Fiesta is available with an SFE package that puts it alongside the Focus in earning 40 mpg on the highway.

These aerodynamics innovations from Ford have supplemented the company's eco-friendly powertrain options, including the powerful and efficient EcoBoost engine line and the largest selection of hybrid vehicles from a U.S. manufacturer. Year-to-date, the company has sold 7,016 hybrids, up 77 percent compared with last year.

"Advances in hybrid technology and its new fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines get the lion's share of credit for Ford's recent leadership in fuel economy, but aerodynamics are what give Ford vehicles the edge over competitors," Klein added. "Just as football is a game of inches, the slightest angle change on a car can make the difference between best-in-class and second best, and Ford is currently winning that battle."

About Thomas Ford:

Thomas Ford, located in Beverly MA, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, call them at 1-800-910-1082, visit their web site at www.thomasford.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA.