Ford GT’s Buttresses Made Possible by EcoBoost
One design element on the 2016 Ford GT that everyone seems to talk about is the flying buttresses. Those wings over the rear of the automobile help in a variety of ways. I recently attended the Further With Ford conference in San Francisco, and learned a really interesting fact about the buttresses. Those were only possible because of the EcoBoost engine.
The carbon fiber Ford GT benefits immensely from the buttresses. They serve two purposes. For starters, they help improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and provide extra downforce. Additionally, they are structural members that increase the rigidity of the car.
More downforce means the car can stick to the ground better. More rigidity means that the car can stay flatter through the corners, making it faster.
But the buttresses were only possible thanks to the EcoBoost V6 engine. Why? Size. A V8 engine would simply be bigger than the EcoBoost V6 and it would’ve been more difficult, or impossible, to use the buttress design. A smaller, compact engine meant that designers could focus more on the body work and develop unique ways to make the car go faster.
So, while you might not like that the EcoBoost V6 is powering the car, it wouldn’t look as great as it does without the assistance of Ford’s boosted V6 powerplant.
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