Aerodynamics- An Underrated Fuel Saver

How Proper Engineering Can Make A Car More Fuel Efficient 

A huge topic of conversation these days is how to save money at the gas pump. We all talk about car pooling or other solutions, but auto engineers at Ford are taking steps behind the scenes to ensure high fuel economy on their vehicles.  

Specifically, they are masters of aerodynamics. 

In a nutshell, fuel economy improvements can result from reducing friction and drag on a car.  This can occur within engines, but also as air flows over and around the vehicle as it efficiently skims through the atmosphere at cruising speeds.

Ford even has a wind tunnel on hand at their plants to test out all vehicles and their aerodynamics.  

“Aerodynamic development has yielded significant improvements in fuel efficiency across the full line of Ford vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development.

The all-new Ford Explorer SUV, 2011 North American Truck of the Year, and the Ford Flex crossover both enjoy improved fuel efficiency from painstaking detail work by designers and aerodynamicists collaborating in the wind tunnel.

Carefully balancing aerodynamic details such as the front air dam, sideview mirrors and rear liftgate spoiler adds nearly 1 mpg as Explorer quietly cruises the highway.  

Power usage also affects fuel consumption.  For example, the Flex's boxy shape requires only 8.90 horsepower to maintain a 55 mph cruising speed.  Using less power to carve through the atmosphere saves fuel, lowering the cost of ownership.