Ford Building New Wind Tunnel to Improve Fuel Efficiency

Ford has invested $200 million to build a new wind tunnel complex aimed at improving the fuel efficiency and performance of its future model lineup. The new wind tunnel complex will be built across 13 acres next to Ford’s Driveability Test Facility in Michigan. Ford said customers’ desire for greater fuel efficiency and performance is the impetus behind the new wind tunnel complex, which will house new and innovative technology to deliver state-of-the-art real-world driving simulations to optimize fuel economy and performance.

[ READ MORE: What New Driver Assistance Features are Ford Working On? ]

Ford’s new wind tunnel complex will feature an all-new rolling road aerodynamic tunnel, an environmental airflow simulation facility with wind speeds that will reach up to 200 miles per hour, an advanced climatic chamber complete with temperatures as low as minus-40 degrees – which is colder than the Artic – and as high as 140 degrees – which is hotter than the Sahara. But what exactly does that all mean? The rolling road aerodynamic tunnel will feature a new five-belt conveyor system which will allow Ford to replicate real-word drag to improve gas mileage. The environmental airflow simulation facility will also optimize fuel efficiency by helping Ford improve aerodynamic shielding, among other features. Finally, the climatic chamber will allow Ford to ensure its new models can handle any and all climate conditions.

“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.” – Raj Nair, Ford Executive Vice President, Global Product Development and Chief Technical Officer.

Construction on the new Ford wind tunnel complex will begin soon. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to have to wait to get new Ford models with great gas mileage. We have a huge selection of new Ford models that get over 30 miles per gallon here at Brandon Ford in Tampa, Florida.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our helpful Brandon Ford staff here in Tampa, FL.