Lowering drag coefficient by 14.8%?

[eRockBoon]

Hmm. Interesting thought, though I'd only attempt that if the kit included air bags that could also raise it up to stock or above. Wouldn't want to compromise functionality. I may check them out though. Thanks!

Either way I’m looking forward to your official published report!

Sponsored

 

[FMarkus]

Our first installment just published this afternoon. Click the link for lots of photos. Future installments with test results and some CFD analysis are coming in the next few weeks.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-ford-f-150-lightning-xlt-yearlong-review-update-6/

 

[lurker]

Our first installment just published this afternoon. Click the link for lots of photos. Future installments with test results and some CFD analysis are coming in the next few weeks.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-ford-f-150-lightning-xlt-yearlong-review-update-6/

Thank you for doing this. Very excited to see what your team finds and what other improvements can be made.

Coming from a Mach-E, I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc. If it helps on the Mach-E, I would expect it to help on the truck too

 

[ctuan13]

Thank you for doing this. Very excited to see what your team finds and what other improvements can be made.

Coming from a Mach-E, I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc. If it helps on the Mach-E, I would expect it to help on the truck too

I realize you're only looking at it from an efficiency point of view, but from an owner's perspective, I am so happy Ford kept the door handles and mechanical mechanisms. I can't stand electronic door actuators.

 

[Pioneer74]

Thank you for doing this. Very excited to see what your team finds and what other improvements can be made.

Coming from a Mach-E, I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc. If it helps on the Mach-E, I would expect it to help on the truck too

They did it for cost.

 

[Maquis]

I realize you're only looking at it from an efficiency point of view, but from an owner's perspective, I am so happy Ford kept the door handles and mechanical mechanisms. I can't stand electronic door actuators.

It’s possible to have mechanical door pulls without the obtuse protrusions we currently have.

 

[mefly2]

Link returns:
Your connection is not private

 

[F150ROD]

Thank you for doing this. Very excited to see what your team finds and what other improvements can be made.

Coming from a Mach-E, I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc. If it helps on the Mach-E, I would expect it to help on the truck too

Most likely because they planned on these also selling as fleet vehicles, workers with gloves and out on sites probably wanted to be able to use door handles. I’m sure during their focus groups this was brought up.

 

[Heliian]

I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc

Because it's an f150. It's not a bold redesign, it's a familiar and comfortable truck.

That's why the frunk is so big and it still looks like an f150.

The next generation of Ford ev pickup will not look the same and will include many incorporated aero design features.

 

[Peddyr]

Thank you for doing this. Very excited to see what your team finds and what other improvements can be made.

Coming from a Mach-E, I sometimes wonder why Ford didn't do things like get rid of the door handles, curvier mirrors, etc. If it helps on the Mach-E, I would expect it to help on the truck too

Ever watch a video of a Tesla owner living in the Northeast/Midwest try and open their frozen door with no door handles? Speaking from experience, I'd rather keep the door handle. .

 

[MichaelCA]

Ever watch a video of a Tesla owner living in the Northeast/Midwest try and open their frozen door with no door handles? Speaking from experience, I'd rather keep the door handle. .

Ya you open the the app and press “unlock door”

 

[Jim Lewis]

Ya you open the the app and press “unlock door”

Lotsa fun doing that in a freezing rain with the wind howling...

 

[Nomoregas]

I think my cap increased range but not sure. I never noticed any reduction in range in the first 3 months without cap and since cap was installed. In fact now that cap is installed the truck always has 1200 pounds of tools in the bed and no range degradation that I can tell.

my cap is a leer and matches the height of the cab

 

[Peddyr]

Lotsa fun doing that in a freezing rain with the wind howling...

Yeah the app works real well if it's a thin sheet of ice. In colder climates, and I speak from personal experience, not so much.

 

[KrakenJack]

I'm not sure if anybody's still monitoring this thread, but I'm an editor at MotorTrend chaperoning a long-term Lightning test vehicle for a year. I watched Wouter Remmerie's video (touting the potential 14.8% improvement that might come from smoothing airflow from the back of the bed to the tailgate )with great interest, reached out to MVS, and they've built and installed a prototype AeroX cap on our truck. It looks awesome (see pic).

I have also reached out to AirShaper CEO Wouter Remmerie to better understand that 14.8% figure. That's relative to a baseline of ICE PowerBoost hybrid F-150 with an open bed. Hes notes that a simple tonneau is good for around 4-5 percent improvement, so we should expect more like 10% if replacing a tonneau with the AeroX hatchback cap.

Has anyone here dabbled with any aero improvements? Maybe attempted fabricating and installing any sort of underbody aero panels? I am desperately trying to slicken up our truck enough to allow me to drive 80 mph (the safest speed flowing with traffic in Michigan) without torpedoing the range. Watch MotorTrend in the coming weeks for test results.

Any update on this? I love my truck and if i have to have a mullet in order to be happier with the range so be it.