Ford's Shelby GT350R, which the company says is the most track-capable Mustang that has ever been released, will be the first car from a major automobile manufacturer that will offer carbon fiber wheels as a standard feature.
Carbon fiber wheels have already been previously offered by a low-volume manufacturer of supercars and aftermarket customizers, but it has never been offered on a mass-produced vehicle.
Ford teamed up with Carbon Revolution, a supplier from Australia, to be able to mass produce track-ready carbon fiber wheels which will be standard equipment for the Shelby GT350R.
The carbon fiber wheels will be delivering exceptional chassis performance, significant weight savings and increased driving dynamics. Early testing of prototype carbon fiber wheels showed that there was significant potential, as the response times of suspension improved, along with the feel of steering and the overall quality of the ride.
This moved Ford to decide to include carbon fiber wheels in the production model of the Shelby GT350R, but this decision challenged the engineering team of the company to develop such wheels that would meet the strict standards of the company.
Carbon fiber wheels are among the dream components of high-performance cars, with Koenigsegg previously the only company offering the unique wheels as an option.
While Carbon Revolution has led the carbon fiber wheel market, Ford and the company recognized the need for significant innovation to meet the production needs of the Shelby GT350R. In addition, Ford has very high requirements for the components of its vehicles to pass testing.
Ford is also looking to correct the common misconception that carbon fiber, despite being strong, is brittle. The carbon fiber wheels that will be included in the Shelby GT350R will be light, stiff and resilient.
Testing of the carbon fiber wheels also revealed that temperatures reached over 900 degrees Celsius, which required the specifications of the component to be upgraded to be suitable to motorsports usage, with Carbon Revolution adding a thermal barrier coating system to the carbon fiber wheels to protect them from the extreme temperatures.
In addition, a special coating was added to the carbon fiber wheels to protect their resin from the car's environment.
"We believe this is a game changer for the industry," said Ford Performance chassis supervisor Adam Wirth. "[A] great example of improved performance through innovation."
