A pair of Ford engineers were able to alter the way the New Ford Mustang tackles corners with a single application of duct tape. By obstructing one of the openings on the front grille, they were able to change the vehicle's aerodynamics just enough to improve the steering. Seriously - what can't it do?

While designing and engineering vehicles using computers has its merits, this particular story shows that the human ingenuity is an important part of the equation, and how the vehicle 'feels' can't always be quantified. Check out an excerpt from this article from the Ford Media Center below:

How One Piece Of Duct Tape Improved Handling And Efficiency In New Ford Mustang

In the data-driven, computer-monitored world of vehicle testing, sometimes there is no replacing the human touch. Ford engineers Jonathan Gesek and Mike Del Zio are proof that both the objective and subjective remain integral parts of car development.

After driving a high-speed lap at the test track in a prototype Mustang, Del Zio, a vehicle dynamics engineer – the objective one – reported that despite wind tunnel numbers that would indicate otherwise, the car wasn’t responding around corners to his satisfaction. Gesek, an aerodynamics engineer – the subjective one – had a quick solution.

Gesek applied a simple strip of duct tape over the lower gap of the grille. The goal was to reduce what is known as front-end lift. Del Zio re-tested the car, paying attention to the vehicle’s response when cornering at high speed. The result: a better-handling car and a modified grille.

“That little strip of tape made all the difference,” Del Zio said.

You can read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com.

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