New mini cars coming over

[botsapper]

Why not package the Kammback as 'K-wings' similar to large WRC hatchback wings. Instead of performance downforce reduce rear wake drag. It is disguised as one but there is clear top to continue clean flow. Hopefully it is not too alien to young gearheads approval. And how about outer diameter wheel covers over OEM/alloy wheels. Brake cooling and 'cool' factor somewhat left intact.
I speculate the Fiat/Chrysler 500 will be a sales winner for many performance/economy buyers so why not start there.

[cfg83]

botsapper -

Very nice (photoshop?). Also, it looks like your wing "cuts away" a horizontal bar that is about 1-2" thick at most.

From my POV you could design a "downforce wing" that could be dual-purposed to act as a mount for a clear aero-cover. Maybe a movable horizontal section for "downforce mode" and "aero mode".

CarloSW2

[botsapper]

Thnx CarloSW2

Don't understand wing 'cuts away' horizontal bar.

The K-wing could have a movable flap for fine tuning the trim. But the clear section needs to be conformal to the vehicle's optimal downstream shape and terminates to a different yet 'conventional-looking' wing hoop. Pragmatically, it would be difficult/impossible to open & have access the rear hatch when inside a typical garage and its low ceiling. So any practical (sale-able) K-wing designs need to address typical ceiling heights.
The two-tone paint jobbie highlights the 'conventional' winged profile.

[cfg83]

botsapper -

Originally Posted by botsapper

Thnx CarloSW2

Don't understand wing 'cuts away' horizontal bar.

The K-wing could have a movable flap for fine tuning the trim. But the clear section needs to be conformal to the vehicle's optimal downstream shape and terminates to a different yet 'conventional-looking' wing hoop. Pragmatically, it would be difficult/impossible to open & have access the rear hatch when inside a typical garage and its low ceiling. So any practical (sale-able) K-wing designs need to address typical ceiling heights.
The two-tone paint jobbie highlights the 'conventional' winged profile.

Yeah, I didn't explain it very well. I mean this, a spoiler "horizontal part" that pivots :



Or maybe you could swap out the pivoting part with a section that would "harmonize" with the sides of the "hoop" spoiler but still look/perform well for the performance crowd.

PS - The Fiat 500 is an eco-wiener :

Fiat 500: Tiny Car Packed with Technical Wizardry - Technology & science - Tech and gadgets - TechNewsDaily - msnbc.com

... It has a gas pedal, but no true throttle per se. ... The innovation in the 500's turbocharger is that it's a a variable geometry turbocharger, meaning the turbine blades are not fixed, but are variable in pitch angle, just like the vanes on large jet engines ... Combined with the Fiat's very light weight (about 2200 lbs ... Another innovation used in the 1.4-liter engine, direct fuel injection ... But in 2012 Chrysler will unveil one more "trick" from the Fiat 500: An all-electric version ...

CarloSW2

[botsapper]

There's no turning back, OEM aero is a marketing requirement. Hybrids and EVs are making aero shapes palatable to the major buying demographics. Eco-modders here are applying their garage-tinkering & tweaks to gain efficiency performance from decades-old vehicles!!! So there are plenty of relatively newer vehicles to apply your eco/aero lessons. Hopefully the aftermarket will soon catch on to your aero projects and make it readily available. Smooth wheels, wheel-well covers, aerolids (tm?), adjustable grill blocks, etc. and even boat-tails?!
The K-wing could look good, gain easy acceptance and some real aero efficiency on plenty of applicable vehicles.

[Angelus359]

boat tails are never going to be main stream, mostly for parking reasons
smooth wheel covers with fancy decals could go well

Plastic wheel covers with videogame characters or other popular things could go well
make it a fashion statement

[lunarhighway]

boat tails are never going to be main stream, mostly for parking reasons

most cars with good aero have some sort of boattail withing the cars lenght, most carmakers cleverly desguise it, but when you look at the true dimentions or from above, the difference between the front and back are often quite dramatic.

the fact remains the longer you can make a car the easier it is to get better aero.


here's my own car


the new opel insignia

mercedes cl

[Sulfuric]

Originally Posted by botsapper

Why not package the Kammback as 'K-wings' similar to large WRC hatchback wings. Instead of performance downforce reduce rear wake drag. It is disguised as one but there is clear top to continue clean flow. Hopefully it is not too alien to young gearheads approval. And how about outer diameter wheel covers over OEM/alloy wheels. Brake cooling and 'cool' factor somewhat left intact.
I speculate the Fiat/Chrysler 500 will be a sales winner for many performance/economy buyers so why not start there.

That looks awesome. Even without my ecomodder bias, I think that there was a version that looked like that, it would sell just as much as the other models.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by botsapper

There's no turning back, OEM aero is a marketing requirement. Hybrids and EVs are making aero shapes palatable to the major buying demographics. Eco-modders here are applying their garage-tinkering & tweaks to gain efficiency performance from decades-old vehicles!!! So there are plenty of relatively newer vehicles to apply your eco/aero lessons. Hopefully the aftermarket will soon catch on to your aero projects and make it readily available. Smooth wheels, wheel-well covers, aerolids (tm?), adjustable grill blocks, etc. and even boat-tails?!
The K-wing could look good, gain easy acceptance and some real aero efficiency on plenty of applicable vehicles.

Perhaps the boat tail could be marketed as the 'mother-in-law' compartment?

[Cd]

Love the design - it could sell !