[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Oldsmobile

Lots of interesting ideas. I should mention, that some of the more radical ideas of re-shaping the body will probably backfire, as changing things completely will probably ad more weight.

Done properly, even additional weight is more than offset by the efficiency gains of drag reduction - unless of course you spend all your time below 20 mph.

• I wonder if you have seen... http://metrompg.com/posts/xfi-aero-car.htm

• Or: the EV World article about Phil Knox' pick-up truck

• Or: Another crazy aero-modded Metro - chopped & teardropped

• Or: Fantastic home-built aeromodded 1930's car

• Even adding a small partial Kammback, (Mighty Mira's car), while it adds a small amount of weight, will help.

The aerodynamic problem facing the Escort wagon (and any similarly shaped van or 2 box style car) is that the maximum projected (frontal) area happens very near the back of the car. If no body mods are planned, an Escort sedan would have been a better choice.

The wagon can be made better than the sedan. But you're right - it will have to be a radical change.

The problem as I see it isn't going to be added weight. A chopped/teardropped roof would actually remove weight, since there'd be both less glass and metal in the car.

The biggest problem is the sheer difficulty of a mod of that magnitude.

(Photoshop image coming, XFi...)