Auto manufacturers pay special attention to the details of aerodynamics when they design and build a car. After all, good, smooth wind flow can mean a huge difference in price and fuel efficiency when it comes to actually operating the vehicle. In order to increase the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, designers at Ford not only pay attention to the design of the car, but they also need to be respectful of the materials that are used to manufacture the vehicle.



Take the Ford Flex, for example. The Ford Flex, which offers a new 2009 design to the Ford lineup, looks quite boxy from any vantage point. It's a short, mid-sized SUV that, according to many, believe looks like the grown-up version of the popular Mini Cooper. How is it possible to create fuel efficiency out of such a boxy model? Easy, said Ford. Just put the best designers and engineers on the case.

Using a wind tunnel, Flex designers spent countless hours simulating wind flow as the refined the design of the car. Subtle tweaks according to a recent press release issued by the company, resulted in huge fuel efficiency improvements and power efficiency. For example, when travelling at 55 miles-per-hour, the Ford Flex uses only 8.9 horsepower - nearly a full horse less than even larger sized vehicles made by competitors.

Also, the drag created by the vehicle is measured at .355, whereas close competitors measure a drag of about .375. The lower body of the car made it possible for engineers to play with the drag more, refining its efficiency every step of the way. In the end, drivers will enjoy increased fuel economy, which pulls in 24 miles to the gallon on the highway and 17 in the city.

While car design and manufacturing may seem like a glamorous job done on paper, Ford proves that hands-on tweaking and research actually goes a long way to creating a car that is not only stylish and easy to drive, but also fuel efficient and sensible.