2025 Frunk Review! By a Frunk Lover!

[markboris]

Aw...right!!! That's a very special case. I bet the hood pins are really functional.

Sweet!

Yes they are and for the reason you commented on what S550 hoods look like at speed. They found at around 145 mph and above, they would lift up close to 1" on the sides.

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[Jimrpa]

Yes they are and for the reason you commented on what S550 hoods look like at speed. They found at around 145 mph and above, they would lift up close to 1" on the sides.

Ok, I’ll ask the stupid question: what do they do? I’ve seen some cars with cables on the hood where your pins are, and I thought they were just a safety feature to keep the hood closed?

 

[A-A-Ron]

If it will hold smelly chinese takeout or a couple large pizzas, it's still worth having.

I swear I use the frunk once a year when my wife buys 50lbs of movie theatre popcorn to give to all the teachers and staff at her school. It'll fit just fine in the cargo area, but it smells like popcorn in the car for a week if I do that.

 

[markboris]

Ok, I’ll ask the stupid question: what do they do? I’ve seen some cars with cables on the hood where your pins are, and I thought they were just a safety feature to keep the hood closed?

The hoods on most cars are held down by once latch up front in the center. There are also two hinges in the rear on each side. At a high rate of speed, and in this case on S550 Mustangs (2015-2023) that very large hood tends to lift up or shutter on the sides next to the fenders. Those hood latch pins keep the sides from lifting up. It does this more on the GT500 because the hood (plus fenders and front end support) are made from a carbon fiber composite and are very light. The hood sides start to flutter lifting up at speeds over 145 mph. The fastest I've gone is 155 mph in this car and never saw the hood move.

You pull the hood latch release handle inside the car, then push each of the pins which releases the sides, then lift the hood a bit and move the lever over from the main latch to open the hood. I can show you in a video if you want but think you have the idea....

 

[azerik]

The Nissans are starting to lift around 40 mph. I thought the rentals hood was going to open its self daily. (Rogue and Altima/maxima) I hope the new z doesn’t, I like that one, reminds me of my 240, 260’s and 280’s from the days of yore.

 

[Jimrpa]

The hoods on most cars are held down by once latch up front in the center. There are also two hinges in the rear on each side. At a high rate of speed, and in this case on S550 Mustangs (2015-2023) that very large hood tends to lift up or shutter on the sides next to the fenders. Those hood latch pins keep the sides from lifting up. It mostly does this because the hood (plus fenders and front end support) are made from a carbon fiber composite and are very light. You pull the hood latch release handle inside the car, then push each of the pins which releases the sides, then lift the hood a bit and move the lever over from the main latch to open the hood. I can show you in a video if you want but think you have the idea....

Cool! Yeah, I get what you mean now. I honestly thought that, on “real” racing cars, the hood was bolted shut or something for exactly the reasons you describe.

 

[markboris]

Cool! Yeah, I get what you mean now. I honestly thought that, on “real” racing cars, the hood was bolted shut or something for exactly the reasons you describe.

Most race cars have some type of latching mechanism to keep the hood shut during extreme conditions. They are either push latches like mine or latch and pins with few that are actual bolts at least from what I've seen. This car was built for track use and those pins are not for show, they serve a purpose.

 

[JeffGo]

It woudn't be able to hold my 5 gallon gas can now, which was a near perfect fit on my '21 and '24 (generator & pressure washer). Still would fit the chinese takeout (maybe).

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Ford is in a tough spot with the current-gen Mach-e, in my opinion. The market has determined that a heat pump is necessary, even if it makes little difference efficiency-wise. In addition, the changes to the radiator (larger? Inclined? Both?) added to the frunk issues. Given the other issues related to cars in general and the MME (tariffs), it might be difficult to see if the smaller frunk has a sales impact.

For me, it’s an issue. On the other hand, if a mad UPS driver flattened my MME, just what would I replace it with? Tesla? Yeah, that’s not happening even if Lightning-sized frunks suddenly became standard. Kia? It’s a shelf. BMW? “What’s a frunk?” best describes theirs. I’ve looked at the last year of no heat pumps Model S side by side with a heat pump Model S at an EV show here. The cars were otherwise identical. The no heat pump MS has an enviable frunk. The heat pump version? Not so much.

It’s quite unfortunate that a great feature has been impacted. I’d genuinely not miss auto park; I’ve used it twice in 4 years. I find the “kick to open trunk” little more than a worthless physical therapy exercise, but I actually use the frunk. Silly me.

 

[Ahlarict]

Ford is in a tough spot with the current-gen Mach-e, in my opinion. The market has determined that a heat pump is necessary, even if it makes little difference efficiency-wise. In addition, the changes to the radiator (larger? Inclined? Both?) added to the frunk issues. Given the other issues related to cars in general and the MME (tariffs), it might be difficult to see if the smaller frunk has a sales impact.

Ford prolly has extensive research on how many sales are lost due to heat pumps vs “shrunkenfrunken” and placed their bets accordingly

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Ford prolly has extensive research on how many sales are lost due to heat pumps vs “shrunkenfrunken” and placed their bets accordingly

I disagree but only in how we got here. Ford did their research on heat pumps and made a marketing based design and content decision. The radiator (inclined, larger, both) was an engineering decision to resolve an issue (HVBJB?). Everything in a design is a trade off.

They couldn’t get a heat pump that didn’t impact the frunk space in time for this model year. Heat pumps are going to impact frunk space. I’ve looked at a last year of no heat pumps Model S next to a first year of heat pump Model S side by side at an EV show here. The cars are otherwise identical. The no heat pump MS has an enviable frunk. The heat pump version, not so much.

In the end though @Ahlarict, you’re correct regardless of how they got there.

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

If it will hold smelly chinese takeout or a couple large pizzas, it's still worth having.

This is my favorite frunk use - I hate when my car smells of takeout the next morning.

I love the irony of Ford finally adding a frunk button to the fob while simultaneously making the frunk nearly unusable.

 

[ipca204]

This is my favorite frunk use - I hate when my car smells of takeout the next morning.

I love the irony of Ford finally adding a frunk button to the fob while simultaneously making the frunk nearly unusable.

"nearly unusable"???!!! Love it!
#frunkster

 

[Chuck]

In 4 years I've never used the frunk.

 

[ipca204]

In 4 years I've never used the frunk.

Nooooooooooooooo!

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