Ferrari 458. Drag coefficient is 0.33
Mini hatchback. Drag coefficient is 0.33.
Posted on 06/21/2018 2:18:38 PM PDT by Rummyfan
It’s not incredible that so many cars look so similar. It’s incredible that cars look different at all.
Maybe you’ve seen it: three lanes of midsize crossovers that could trade badges and nobody would notice. Those shapes are dictated by interior space, powertrain packaging, federal regulations, and production feasibility. But most of all, they’re designed for aerodynamic efficiency. When we started asking manufacturers around the country how that works, we realized that it’s not incredible that so many cars look so similar. It’s incredible that cars look different at all.
There is a basic tension between aerodynamic engineers and car designers. Each side will say that their missions are in harmony, that good design should not preclude good aerodynamics, and that aerodynamics should not limit design. But that’s not really true. The wind doesn’t care whether your grille is distinctive, or even whether you have one at all. The wind wants your car to look like a raindrop, and anything else is a compromise. Yes, every percentage of miles per gallon or range per charge matters, but visual distinction sells cars.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
Does aero really matter much if you have a Mr. Fusion under the hood?
There are companies out there doing that in very limited, expensive numbers.
Ferrari 458. Drag coefficient is 0.33
Mini hatchback. Drag coefficient is 0.33.
When I was a kid lots of guys could look at a car and tell you make, model, and year. I couldn’t do the year. I was a kid. Now I can’t tell you the make for sure.
Thanks!
That’s a pretty good set of data given how the Internet has become less quantitatively oriented over time.
Ha ha ha! hahahahee! Oh, very good take on this! I guess they were so keen on science that they didn’t look at it from an engineer’s eyes — or a product manager’s, either . . .
What hood? I don’t remember them having one . . .
Yeah ... I went and read the rest of the article. Much more interesting than that throwaway line.
I couldn’t do model years, but it was easy to distinguish a GM from a Ford from a Beemer from a Benz from a Japanese model. No more. Now I have to see the badge or bow tie or star .... Not to mention we now have Korean imports in the market too.
Just as an aside, long story, but I drove a late model Hyundai Accent for three years. That was a great little car and it just ran and ran and ran. I never did anything more than change the oil and filter. I sold it when i moved up to a late model BMW. I saw it around the base for a couple of years afterward - I think it was on its third owner after me!
I couldn’t do model years, but it was easy to distinguish a GM from a Ford from a Beemer from a Benz from a Japanese model. No more. Now I have to see the badge or bow tie or star .... Not to mention we now have Korean imports in the market too.
Just as an aside, long story, but I drove a late model Hyundai Accent for three years. That was a great little car and it just ran and ran and ran. I never did anything more than change the oil and filter. I sold it when i moved up to a late model BMW. I saw it around the base for a couple of years afterward - I think it was on its third owner after me!
I was a 50s kid and vividly recall the excitement each Fall as the new cars were rolled out.
They all looked different and each had their loyal followers. Great days, great times, I miss them.....
It’s a figure of speech for American Iron.
Note that it’s not that safe to be sitting at the extreme front of a vehicle. I always sit way back in the plane.
The 500hp in my Jeep really overcomes poor aerodynamics.
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