Ford improves the convertible in new MustangDrive On
Alisa Priddle and Chris Woodyard, Detroit Free Press and USA TODAY 8:04 a.m. EST February 27, 2014
FordMustangConvertible14 (Photo: Andre J. Jackson / AP)Anyone who has ever owned a convertible knows the problem: droptops are often trouble spots.
In particular, the fun of sunshine and fresh air can be overshadowed by a whipping, noisy wind. The top can be hard to latch, or it eats up too much trunk space. Or the top develops ugly stains or creases from going up and down a lot.
In designing the new Ford Mustang, engineers think they have been able to make a better convertible. They focused on aerodynamics and a better soft top. It had to be because the ragtop accounts for more than 18% of Mustang sales and should grow with expansion to global markets.
"It's a good piece of the business," said marketing manager Steve Ling.
Twice as much time was spent on simulations and wind tunnel testing for the 2015 car than for the current model, said Carl Widmann, Ford's aerodynamics engineering manager. The result is a quieter car with 3% less drag, translating into 1% better fuel efficiency.
Kemal Curic, Mustang studio design manager, said early clay models were shaped and tested in the wind tunnel in Allen Park, Mich.
The convertible top has been simplified. The current Mustang offers a choice of black cloth or tan or gray vinyl, said engineer Kumar Krishnaswamy. For 2015, there is only a black cloth top, but it has a full layer of headliner with insulation sandwiched inside for a quieter cabin and a sleeker look.
Supplier Webasto worked with Ford to give the top additional bow for support. The top also uses electromechanical, rather than hydraulic, drive to open and close. The top goes down in seven to 10 seconds, 50% faster than on the Mustang it replaces. Add a second for it to go back up.
Instead of two release latches, a single latch twists to release to drop the top. The top folds down almost seven inches lower into the back of the vehicle and no longer requires a giant boot to cover it.
Two small side panels are all that are needed for a sleek look when the top is down. And there is 19% more trunk space when the top is down, said Ron Lovasz, product development engineer.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/driveon/2014/02/27/mustang-convertible/5857049/
