NEW WIND TUNNEL TREADMILL REFINES IT’ S DARK HORSE
MOTORING NEWS
NEW WIND TUNNEL TREADMILL REFINES IT’ S DARK HORSE
Wind tunnel treadmill testing at speeds up to 322 km / h helped Ford design the Mustang Dark Horse, the most aerodynamic and track-capable Mustang yet.
Ford is utilizing a new tool, the Rolling Road Wind Tunnel( RRWT), to develop their next generation of production vehicles, including the first-ever Mustang Dark Horse. This advanced wind tunnel can simulate wind and road surface speeds of up to 200 mph while also mimicking open-road conditions. The RRWT offers significant advantages over traditional wind tunnels by providing more precise data on wind drag and downforce, which are critical factors in optimizing for range and efficiency. Moreover, this technology allows for increased in-house testing, potentially reducing design costs and expediting the design process for Ford’ s electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine vehicles.“ The closer we can get to reality in the lab, the better and faster we can create more energy efficient vehicles with great on-road and track stability,” said John Toth, Ford’ s North America Wind Tunnels Engineering Supervisor.“ Testing while the wheels and tyres move is instrumental to improving aerodynamics for track-ready vehicles, like Mustang Dark Horse which has to balance both aerodynamic drag and downforce.” Ford has developed a new rolling road aerodynamic tunnel with a five-belt system that can simulate real-world drag, allowing them to test a vehicle’ s aerodynamic performance without taking it on the road. Four of the belts are assigned to each wheel individually, and the fifth larger belt runs beneath the center of the vehicle. The system can switch between using all five belts and a single belt using a crane, with the single belt being capable of reaching speeds of up to 322km / h for high-speed performance vehicle testing.
The Mustang Dark Horse, one of the first vehicles tested in the wind tunnel, exemplifies the significance of tailored aerodynamics in vehicle development. For passenger vehicles and trucks, the primary objective is to minimize drag for enhanced efficiency. However, for performance-oriented vehicles like the Mustang Dark Horse, aerodynamicists prioritize increased downforce over low drag to improve road or track adhesion and handling during cornering. The Mustang Dark Horse incorporates several changes and additions, including a redesigned front bumper, a lower valence, a spoiler, and unique wheels. These modifications optimize airflow for engine cooling, brakes, and air intake while reducing front lift. The car’ s unique lower air spoiler and splitter enable further tuning for greater downforce, contributing to its trackready performance.“ We spent approximately 250 hours in the wind tunnel developing the 2024 Ford Mustang which includes the Dark Horse,” said Program Aerodynamicist for Mustang and Bronco, Jonathan Gesek.“ The aerodynamics of Mustang Dark Horse along with several other factors have created the most track- and streetcapable 5.0-litre Mustang to date.” www. abrbuzz. co. za 15 MARCH 2025