A tiny 3D printed part (Hood Flicks) made the Mustang GTD faster than every Ferrari on the Nurburgring

[MustangMental]

How a Tiny 3D-Printed Part Made the Mustang GTD Faster Than Every Ferrari

What do you guys think?

Chief Program Engineer Greg Goodall explained that the team 3D-printed new parts at the track to chase every possible advantage. The breakthrough came with tiny “hood flicks” — raised pieces around the hood vents — that proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered. After several iterations and wind tunnel tests back in Detroit, the design was finalized for production.

With 815 hp from its supercharged 5.2-liter V8, the GTD had no shortage of speed. Despite already having more than 1,300 lbs of downforce when traveling 155 mph, Ford wanted more. However, the challenge was adding it without eating away at its 202-mph top speed. The hood flicks solved that. By reshaping airflow ever so slightly, they gave the Mustang GTD more front-end bite while keeping the drag coefficient unchanged. According to Goodall, without these tiny bumps, breaking seven minutes at the Nürburgring would have been “very tight.”

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[D/\rK•650]

Thats pretty wild

 

[mwbgxp]

Can one buy a GTD hood and fit it to a 2025 Dark Horse without any modification to the GTD hood? What is the GTD hood made of, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber?

 

[Stanzi]

Can one buy a GTD hood and fit it to a 2025 Dark Horse without any modification to the GTD hood? What is the GTD hood made of, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber?

Great question

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Is it the same?

 

[MustangMental]

Slightly different, these are the hood scoops they printed the article references. We need someone to manufacture the part!

 

[Zig]

Why does that make me think of this:

https://www.ford.com/product/hood-deflector-smoke-p2748537499

 

[Ewheels]

I can't take the writer seriously after her called them "hood flicks"

Major click-bait title as well. These hood vent 'wickers' help pull air through the radiator by creating a low pressure zone above the vent. This helps a bit with downforce and improves cooling efficiency but it's not so drastic that without these, the GTD would be slower than the Ferraris like the title suggests.

 

[Dragster]

I can't take the writer seriously after her called them "hood flicks"

Major click-bait title as well. These hood vent 'wickers' help pull air through the radiator by creating a low pressure zone above the vent. This helps a bit with downforce and improves cooling efficiency but it's not so drastic that without these, the GTD would be slower than the Ferraris like the title suggests.

Yeah, agreed. Ferrari also doesn’t test their cars at the Nurburgring as they have their own track, Fiorano, that they use for development and lap times. Not saying that the GTD wouldn’t be quicker, but Ferrari doesn’t run official Ring times.

 

[glenng6]

Is it the same?

Looks fantastic! Glenn

 

[DevilDog]

Very nice looking hood, but the OCD in me thinks it would be difficult to keep the engine compartment clean with those vents.

 

[Ewheels]

Very nice looking hood, but the OCD in me thinks it would be difficult to keep the engine compartment clean with those vents.

This is not the type of car where you get brownie points for a clean engine bay.
These should be covered in dirt, rock chips, and tire marks.

 

[DevilDog]

This is not the type of car where you get brownie points for a clean engine bay.
These should be covered in dirt, rock chips, and tire marks.

I agree. I was referring to the aftermarket carbon fiber hood.

 

[Ewheels]

I agree. I was referring to the aftermarket carbon fiber hood.

Ah, I missed that part. Ok, I'll crawl back to my corner now.

 

[DeluxeStang]

Ferrari doesn’t run official Ring times.

That's 'cause Ferrari is a little bitch.

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