Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw
I understand that the hatch in Peakster's test was wide open, as in almost vertical. Has anyone tried a test with the hatch halfway closed? If the hatch was horizontal or sloping slightly downward, then would it act like a boattail? Maybe opening the hatch only slightly (and keeping it there with a string) could improve FE?
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That idea could work, depending on the car, but not on the Metro.
The top portion of the hatch forms the last 6 inches or so of the roof, so opening it even part way raises up a drag-inducing "spoiler" at the end of the roof line that also increases projected area. That would negate any benefit from trying to extend/taper the roof line with the "rear" portion of the hatch.
It would have to be
just the right kind of hatch design to use as a basis for tapering the rear of the vehicle.