Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-16-2011, 12:22 PM   #1 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
GM describes 2013 Chevy Malibu ECO aerodynamic tweaks (Cd ~0.28)





Quote:
[The designers] achieved the lowest wind drag for a Chevrolet midsize car in the past 100 years.
Detail optimization removed 60 counts (0.006) from the drag coefficient, making the shape "nearly as efficient" as the Chevrolet Volt .28 Cd.

Some of the improvements, quantified:

Quote:
  • 11 counts: Outside rearview mirrors are specifically designed to deflect wind without “upsetting” the airflow
  • 10 counts: Rounded front corners – from the bottom of the fascia up through the headlamps – help air flow smoothly along the Malibu’s body sides
  • Seven counts: Shutters in the lower grill opening on select models open and close automatically to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. This increases cooling airflow to the engine under certain conditions, such as under high engine loads at low speeds, and reduces aerodynamic drag when extra cooling is not needed.
Those are 28 counts of the total, all of which result in "up to 2.5 miles per gallon more on the highway."

(NOTE: see post #18 for the rest of the modifications, quantified.)

A quote about working within government regs:

Quote:
“The Malibu was my first assignment on a truly global program, so I spent a lot of time researching the different standards around the world,” said Bednarchik. “For example, smaller mirrors could improve aerodynamics further, but each global market has requirements for mirror size that must be met.
Source: Chevrolet News - United States - News

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2013-chevrolet-malibu-eco-images-504x336.jpg
Views:	53
Size:	26.3 KB
ID:	9268   Click image for larger version

Name:	2013-chevrolet-malibu-eco-wallpapers-504x312.jpg
Views:	59
Size:	25.3 KB
ID:	9269  
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
aerohead (08-16-2011), BamZipPow (08-17-2011), Cd (08-17-2011), fusion210 (08-16-2011), jime57 (08-17-2011)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-16-2011, 12:24 PM   #2 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Should I be rewarding slow, incremental improvements by regurgitating corporate press release tidbits about cars that "almost" get to .28 Cd?

I feel kind of dirty.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 03:13 PM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
Don't feel dirty. This looks a lot better than the frumpy American sedans of the 90s that drove people to SUVs
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 04:55 PM   #4 (permalink)
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 530 Times in 356 Posts
MetroMPG -

Quote:
Improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the new Malibu wasn’t easy. Bednarchik and Cody’s testing is detailed and exhaustive, at times requiring midnight shifts in GM’s wind tunnel in Warren, Mich. They test aero changes as small as 1 millimeter at a time, and they may test one part of the Malibu multiple times until they are satisfied they’ve achieved the most efficiency possible.
One mm at a time? I'll stick with one M&M at a time.

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 05:04 PM   #5 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
...as the beggar said: "...well, I'm ALMOST rich..."

...l'd like to *see* those 1mm adjustments! Made with a sledge hammer on the metal stamped body panels?
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to gone-ot For This Useful Post:
aerohead (08-17-2011)
Old 08-16-2011, 05:28 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 491

OurInsight - '06 Honda Insight
Thanks: 170
Thanked 69 Times in 44 Posts
Well, I've been as hard or harder than most on GM, and particular their use of numbers, but lets give them a little credit when due. It is a decent looking car and they are actually concentrating on some of the important aero details. Hucho made the point, in fact an entire chapter, on how attention to details could add up. If I had a family of five and needed a soft riding long trip car, I'd consider it.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 06:28 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
aerohead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 15,861
Thanks: 23,922
Thanked 7,207 Times in 4,640 Posts
yes Please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Should I be rewarding slow, incremental improvements by regurgitating corporate press release tidbits about cars that "almost" get to .28 Cd?

I feel kind of dirty.
Darin,it's all a move towards greater knowledge.I appreciate the ears to the rails big-time! Thanks!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 10:27 PM   #8 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Good point. When EcoModder was new, I recall seeing more than a couple of threads on traditional "enthusiast" forums along the lines of how crazy we (EcoModders) were to be partially -- or mostly -- blocking our grilles, for example.

With companies like GM, Ford, BMW and others now doing this as original equipment on some production cars, that blather has subsided.

Educating the masses.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
99LeCouch (08-21-2011)
Old 08-16-2011, 10:29 PM   #9 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfg83 View Post
MetroMPG -

One mm at a time? I'll stick with one M&M at a time.
I'd go for Hershey Kisses, but whatever floats your boat (in the most hydrodynamically efficient manner)!
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2011, 02:26 AM   #10 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Victoria , Australia.
Posts: 499
Thanks: 20
Thanked 46 Times in 33 Posts
Can't help thinking the wheelarch "ears" are NOT helping !

Sorry to be cynical here but .28 is not all that good.

Citroen managed .29 in 1974...also on a 4 door , 5 seater production sedan ;the CX model.
The original version had .30 but later variants had .28 / .29 depending on equipment and specs etc.

Panel fit was somewhat umm... variable (yes we'll call it that to be kind) and there were gaps you could put your fingers through (between the headlight and the bumper for example) so some "tweaking" should be able to drop the numbers even further.

Peter.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com