Phoenix CF Designs is thrilled to announce a special collaboration with our friend Shane Lathrop, a true automotive enthusiast, to create bespoke carbon fiber fender vents for the 2016-2020 Mustang GT350. Shane's passion project, designed as a no-compromise way of maximizing the performance of the car, has been a labor of love and we are excited to help turn his vision into
reality.
About the Collaboration
Shane Lathrop approached Phoenix CF Designs with a clear vision: to develop high-performance carbon fiber fender vents that provide incredible aerodynamic benefits and happen to look great while doing it. Shane provided 3D CAD designs that he and former Mercedes F1
aerodynamicist Kyle Forster (JKF Consultants and Kyle.Engineers of YouTube fame) worked on together. Through close collaboration and leveraging our expertise in carbon fiber engineering,
we have crafted fender vents that deliver on both fronts.
Key Features of the Fender Vents
● 36.6 lbs of Front Downforce and 8 lbs of Rear Downforce at 100MPH: Engineered to generate significant downforce, improving vehicle stability and handling.
● Premium Carbon Fiber: Constructed from top-grade carbon fiber, offering strength and
a sleek, modern aesthetic. Every vent is hand-built in Walnut, CA.
● Aerodynamic Design: These vents have been designed purely to perform by optimizing airflow, reducing front-end drag, and providing an additional route for hot air in the wheel
well to evacuate.
Shane's Vision
Shane's dedication to automotive excellence is evident in every detail of this project. His goal was to create a product that stands out for its functionality, providing track enthusiasts with an upgrade that makes a real, measurable difference on the road and track. The first problem to
overcome was the lack of good 3D models of the GT350. Many designs that use 3D models do so with some leniency by modeling the car with a flat floor, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis on only the affected area of the car, or by simply assuming the path air would
travel behind the bumper. Compromises like that were not going to work.
Bringing the Project to Life
Shane began by having the entire car 3D scanned top to bottom. He was also able to work with one of Kyle’s other clients, AJ Hartman, to get scans behind the bumper to find the exact path the air would flow into the bumper and out of fenders, wheel wells, hood openings. Once all those scans were joined, Kyle extracted the most performance possible and created the design we have today.
Working hand-in-hand with Shane, our team at Phoenix CF Designs focused on every aspect of the fender vents' design and manufacturing process. From initial concept sketches to final product testing, Shane's input was invaluable, ensuring the end product perfectly matched his vision. The most important aspect of the project was to make sure the vents would perform flawlessly at any achievable speed at any track whether it’s a simple track day or wheel-to-wheel racing.
Final Product
The result is a set of carbon fiber fender vents that not only meet but exceed expectations. These vents are now available for enthusiasts who share Shane's passion for performance and aesthetics, allowing them to experience the benefits of improved aerodynamics and a striking new look for their vehicles. They are available in gloss and matte finishes to match any existing carbon aero or aesthetics on the car.
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