Ford Puts the Shelby GT350 Mustang on ice to test its cold temp resistance

By Alexander Kalogianni December 24, 2014

Heaps of new tech has been loaded in the 2015 Mustang, with selectable drive modes being a fine example. Among the “track” and “sport” modes is a word that usually causes the hearts of Mustang owners to fill with dread: Snow. Anyone living in an area susceptible to icy conditions that happens to own the rear-wheel drive Ford pony car knows how the car and snow don’t jive, and having a mode that adds even a little assistance in the slippery chaos is most welcome.

It’s a great addition, but this isn’t the extent of preparation for wintery weather that Ford has done to its premiere muscle car. In a video on the automaker’s YouTube channel, Project and Facility Engineer John Toth shows us how vehicles like the upcoming Shelby GT350 Mustang get put through a variety of temperature extremes to see how well the car deals with snow, beyond just traction.

Screen Shot 2014-12-24 at 11.23.07 AM — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Toth explains how Ford’s climate chamber test facility can simulate different driving conditions, being capable of temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and as high 131 degrees. They can also control the humidity, and even simulate altitude changes by controlling the chamber’s air pressure levels.

When it comes to snow, one of they key factors Toth and his team test for are the effects snow has on the vehicles air filtration system. Build-up can suffocate an engine, so the engineers test to see how resistant the vehicle can be to that. They also monitor how ice builds up on the car and its components to see how things like shifter linkage are effected.

As painful as it is to watch the GT350 test mule being subjected to such frigid torture, it’s nice to know that those who happen to live in parts of the world can have some assurance that, if they choose to get the new Mustang to enjoy in the summer, it won’t become immediately unreliable during the winter.

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Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

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