Active aerodynamic engine cover grilles

A specialist Midlands design engineering business, MarchantCain has redesigned traditional engine cover grilles for the automotive sector, and is introducing an alternative solution to the market built upon active aerodynamics.

The grille can be triggered and deployed through a mechanism due to certain engine temperatures, and quickly creates air flow to move heat away from the engine. Unlike other products of this kind, MarchantCain’s invention does not hide the mechanics, instead it houses them in the middle of the grille with glass covers. The product has been specially engineered to ensure that each grille opens concurrently for maximum operation. Furthermore, each glass grille is adjustable to achieve fit and finish requirements.

Traditional cooling grille solutions would typically be fixed engine covers, or would use perforated material, but these provide little protection from rainwater and poor weather conditions.

Rob Marchant, managing director of MarchantCain, said: “We’ve been hearing from a lot of vehicle manufacturers about the problems they are experiencing with engine overheating, particularly with vehicles that have rear-mid engines. While there are solutions on the market, many tend to be unreliable, or prone to rain and bad weather.

“We spent a lot of time looking for a way that we could deploy a more responsive solution through active aerodynamics, and have finalised a completely new design which really demonstrates the capabilities this business has in automotive design engineering.”

MarchantCain is fast becoming a recognised leader in active aerodynamics, particularly in the niche vehicle sector. Recently the company introduced a new underbody diffuser, which has been fitted to the Porsche 918 Spyder model.

The Marussia B2 on track fitted with the MarchantCain engine cover grille