Ford F-150 Pickup Adds Air Curtains to Reduce Drag

Ford Motor Co. says its 2015 model F-150 is the most aerodynamic version of the fullsize pickup ever. The company credits the achievement in part to "air curtains" that reduce wind drag by guiding airflow across the front wheels.

The new air curtains and other aerodynamic features help boost the F-150's fuel efficiency to what Ford describes as a segment-leading 22 mpg federal city/highway average in models equipped with the company's 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine.

Ford put the F-150 through extensive aerodynamic simulations and wind tunnel tests during its development. The simulations benefited from "major advances" in computational fluid dynamics, according to the company.

The air curtain technology, which debuted on the current Mustang, uses horizontal slots below the headlamps. This channels air from the front of the truck to side openings in the wheel wells, where it exits and flows across the outer surface of the wheel and tire. Ford says the approach, which creates a wall of high-speed air that reduces drag from the rotating wheels, works better and is more attractive than traditional skirt panels.

The new aluminum-intense F-150 also has a flush-mounted windshield that eliminates the need for moldings that can hinder airflow. Other aerodynamic features include a spoiler-like tailgate top, narrower cargo box and improved rear corner geometries to minimize reduce rear turbulence and optimize airflow.