The Aerodynamic Development of the 1986 European Ford Transit

THIS PAPER GIVES an overview of the aerodynamic development of a medium commercial vehicle.

It deals with the setting out and achievement of the objectives of reducing aerodynamic drag as well as other aspects of aerodynamic design development such as engine cooling, heating and ventilating and sensitivity to side winds.

Reference is made to measures taken to develop heater intake designs which are suitable for a low resistance vehicle with a fast attached flow over most of the forward surfaces.

At the time of initial design studies, the Ford of Europe windtunnel in Cologne, West Germany, had not yet been commissioned and it was necessary therefore to adapt testing methods to suite the different windtunnels which were used at various stages of the development programme.