Quest for Better Fuel Economy, Performance Leads Ford to $200 Million Investment in New Wind Tunnel Complex
February 15 2017 - 12:01AM
Business Wire
- With fuel efficiency and performance
near the top of many consumer wish lists, Ford is committed to
maintaining its leadership in both production and race vehicles
with a $200 million investment in a new complex targeting improved
product technology and design
- The wind tunnel complex will feature
all-new rolling road aerodynamic tunnel, an environmental
simulation facility with airflow up to 200 mph; an advanced
climatic chamber that gets as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit,
colder than the Arctic, and as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit,
hotter than the Sahara
- Construction on the new wind tunnel
complex starts this year
Consumers’ appetite for vehicles with greater fuel efficiency
and performance has led Ford to invest in a new aerodynamic testing
complex that will house a next-generation rolling road wind tunnel
and state-of-the-art climatic chamber. The new facility will come
complete with testing advancements that better match the
technological development of Ford products – both production
vehicles and racing vehicles.
“This investment in new world-class test facilities underpins
Ford’s ongoing commitment to advance our capabilities to continue
to provide our customers with high-quality vehicles,” said Raj
Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development and
chief technical officer.
The new wind tunnel complex will sit on 13 acres next to Ford’s
current Driveability Test Facility in Allen Park, Michigan. The
complex will house new innovative technology that delivers
state-of-the-art real-world driving simulations to advance
improvements in fuel economy.
Construction starts this year.
Bringing the road to the vehicle
Dennis Paige, lab manager for Ford’s Driveability Testing
Facilities, points out that advanced features, development and
innovation require that testing and verification technology keep
pace with the evolution of the automobile and the industry as a
whole. That’s where the new facility comes into play.
Ford’s new wind tunnel complex better positions its engineers to
conduct testing that proves out advancements in vehicle design. A
new five-belt conveyor system can replicate real-world drag through
a rolling road aerodynamic tunnel that enables Ford to bring the
road to the vehicle, rather than the vehicle to the road.
To test for optimal fuel efficiency, each wheel gets its own
belt. The massive fifth belt runs under the center of the vehicle,
allowing airflow around the entire vehicle at speeds up to 155 mph.
As a part of the rolling road belt cartridge system, a crane will
be used to switch between the five belt and single belt systems –
an industrial-sized plug-and-play approach bringing two testing
methods into one. The single belt – which operates at up to 200 mph
– opens up a new breed of testing for high-speed performance and
racing vehicles.
Wind speeds that will blow you away
Together with the rolling road, the wind tunnel complex will
produce full environmental airflow simulation, with speeds from 155
mph to 200 mph. This expanded air-flow will enable engineers to
validate vehicle designs at a higher quality and repeatability.
This strengthens testing for aerodynamic shielding, high-speed
performance and other design features.
The climatic chamber can get as low as minus 40 degrees
Fahrenheit, colder than the Arctic, and as high as 140 degrees
Fahrenheit, hotter than the Sahara.
“This new wind tunnel facility will not only allow us to test
our performance and racing vehicle line-up but will also enable us
to share innovations across all our global Ford products,” said
Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director.
To accommodate large-frame vehicles, including Super Duty
trucks, the new aerodynamic complex will “super-size” wind tunnel
chambers.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62
plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars,
trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its
business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging
opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and
mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its
products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214006602/en/
Ford Motor CompanyDeeptie Sethi313.594.0949sdeeptie@ford.com
Ford Motor (NYSE:F)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Ford Motor (NYSE:F)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024