◾Ford Performance showcases the technology, tools, and team of engineers that helped design and optimise the Ford Focus RS RX driven by Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud in the FIA World Rallycross series
◾The videos focus on four different elements of the race car: the wing, suspension, driveshaft, and cockpit. VIDEOS HERE: http://bit.ly/2l4vBE9
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 20 April, 2017 – Ford Performance has released a video series showcasing the extraordinary technological and engineering expertise behind the dramatic Focus RS RX.
Designing the ultimate Rallycross car is a unique challenge, but that didn't hold back the team, comprising members from the Ford Performance, M-Sport, and Hoonigan Racing Division, from designing and manufacturing the Ford Focus RS RX race cars in under nine months.
◾Wing: More than 100 iterations were tested using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software before the optimum design was determined for the Ford Focus RS RX wing.
◾Suspension: Ford Performance tested the suspension of the Ford Focus RS RX utilising a Kinematics and Compliance rig. This tool is the same one that is used for production vehicles, and gathers data to help engineers make decisions on suspension changes for the car.
◾Driveshaft: Using Finite Element Analysis, the Ford Performance team created a 'heat map' of the potential stresses on the driveshaft of the vehicle to determine the best design.
◾Cockpit: Drawing on decades of racing experience between Ford Performance, M-Sport, and Hoonigan Racing Division, personalised cockpits were created for both Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud based on their personal preferences with the goal of reducing gear shift time and increasing speed.
The Focus RS RX won its first FIA World Rallycross Championship event after just five races in the 2016 season, the first season as a factory-backed team, following its debut in April last year at Bompiso, Portugal.
Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud earned a combined three wins and seven podium finishes in twelve rounds, which the team hope to better in 2017. The season started well in Barcelona with Ken Block narrowly missing the final, and Andreas Bakkerud finishing third overall.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company's core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford aggressively is pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company's plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
Photo credit: Ford
posted on conceptcarz.com
The crew worked together to optimise the key elements of the vehicle's design, including the wing, suspension, driveshaft, and cockpit:
The second round takes place this weekend at Montalegre, Portugal.
posted on conceptcarz.com
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