New Mustang’s Handling and Efficiency Improved by Strip of Duct Tape
In a world where it seems like everything is either run by or improved by computers, it’s nice to know there are still people out there using their brain and some old-school tools to make things better. Now, this rather general statement could mean many things, but we’re willing to bet a couple guys improving the handling and fuel efficiency of the new Ford Mustang with a strip of duct tape wasn’t the first thing to pop in your head when you read it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not true. Don’t believe us? Well, read on to find out all about how two Ford engineers made the 2018 Ford Mustang more capable than ever thanks to a piece of duct tape.
[ READ MORE: New Drag Strip Mode Features for 2018 Ford Mustang GT]
How a Piece of Duct Tape Made the 2018 Ford Mustang More Efficient and Fun to Drive
As with most stories that revolve around making a car better, this story begins with two Ford engineers and a trip to the test track. Engineers Jonathan Gesek and Mike Del Zio were working with a prototype of the 2018 Ford Mustang one day, taking it for a couple high-speed turns around the Ford test track, when they realized the new Mustang just wasn’t living up to their expectations in terms of handling and responsiveness. This would normally be the time the pair got back on their computers to figure out the problem, but Gesek had a different plan this time around. He concluded that a strip of duct tape placed over the lower gap of the grille of the 2018 Mustang prototype was all that was needed to optimize the front-end lift of the car. With the duct tape in place, a few more laps were taken, and the duo discovered their small strip of duct tape had solved their problems. This discovery led the two engineers to redesign the grille, lower the nose, increase the size of the front splitter and add a rocker shield to the new Ford Mustang. Active grille shutters were also made standard across the entire new Ford Mustang lineup to lower drag at higher speeds, thus improving fuel economy.
To learn more about the 2018 Ford Mustang and the other new Ford models in our inventory, please reach out to us here at Akins Ford near Atlanta, GA.
