GMC and football maker, Wilson, have a lot in common when it comes to aerodynamics.
What do a football and an SUV have in common?
Both rely on exceptional aerodynamics to perform to their fullest, and the GMC Terrain and Wilson leather NFL game footballs are perfect examples.
GMC Terrain engineers clocked more than 300 hours in the wind tunnel to refine every surface of the Terrain, from the front grille to the rear spoiler.
The Terrain’s lifted stance means that more air can flow under the vehicle and pressurize the chassis components, which increases aerodynamic drag.
To reduce this drag and optimize aero performance, Terrain aerodynamicists used testing and simulation to craft features that effectively guide air to the back of the vehicle.
Just like airflow is essential for vehicle performance, football aerodynamics are critical for game time performance.
While a vehicle and a football are vastly different in size and function, the aerodynamics teams for both analyze air trails using tools such as computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analytics.
For instance, the classic football shape and how Wilson researchers have enhanced that shape over time to reflect today’s passing-centric game, is where aerodynamic properties such as velocity, direction of motion and spin rate are critical.
Beyond shape, Wilson researchers also look at the pebble pattern of the leather on an NFL game football as well as the height of the laces, both of which are aerodynamic levers engineers utilize to optimize laminar airflow (the airflow that is smooth and consistent) while mitigating turbulent airflow, which is highly unsteady and unpredictable.
Keyword: GMC Terrain Scores Aero Touchdown