Engineers of the 2018 GMC Terrain clocked more than 300 hours in the wind tunnel refining the surfaces of the truck, from the front grille to the rear spoiler.
GMC has revealed that during the development program for the 2018 Terrain, engineers clocked more than 300 hours in the wind tunnel refining the surfaces of the truck, from the front grille to the rear spoiler.
GMC aerodynamic engineer Alicia Bidwell said, “Reducing the aerodynamic drag of an SUV is always a challenge. Our engineering team paid attention to even the smallest details to deliver the size and cargo space our customers want.”
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.
This attention to detail and craftsmanship resulted in the next chapter of GMC’s design language and assisted in providing more athletic handling and bold performance.
“The styling that you can see — and the mechanical components that you can’t — work together in perfect aerodynamic harmony. Ultimately, this means up to three more miles per gallon for the Terrain driver for an EPA-estimated 26mpg combined for AWD models.”