What about a Lotus Elise-like hot air outlets in the hood?

[Big time]

Will they improve aerodynamics?
They have some cutouts in the hood to allow hot air from the radiators to exit.
Lotus Elise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[jimepting]

This is the approach to that Hucho says is lowest in Cd. Hucho points out that the approach is not appropriate for street cars because it dumps the engine compartment air at the same point as the cabin fresh air intake. I saw an Elise recently but didn't note how Lotus solved that problem. Their cabin vents must be somewhere else.

[euromodder]

It's like a configuration seen in Hucho's book on car aerodynamics, and also tried out by forum-member Vekke on his Seat.

[Old Tele man]

...similarly, it's like the dual hood vents on the Ford GT40's etc.

[drmiller100]

if you do it this way, you have to be very careful to keep the outlets far enough in front of the windshield, and also to keep the windshield at a very steep angle.
For most cars, air stacks up in front of the windshield creating a high pressure, stagnant area, which is why the fresh air intakes are located in this place for most cars.
If you look at all the examples, they try to keep the radiator outlets far to the front of the hood, and the windshields are all steep.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...similarly, it's like the dual hood vents on the Ford GT40's etc.

Ford originally had just one large opening hood vent on the GT40.
But they found out that adding a vertical splitter in the center, it sped up the exiting hot air considerably. Which in turn, made it more efficient and effective.


Another more contemporary example, and my personal favorite, is one I brought up in a different post. The new ZL1 Camaro.

[Ladogaboy]

My car also has those hood vents... The windshield is pretty steep, though.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by Ladogaboy

My car also has those hood vents... The windshield is pretty steep, though.

That may just mean that they designed them for looks, and not function.

[jimepting]

Originally Posted by euromodder

It's like a configuration seen in Hucho's book on car aerodynamics, and also tried out by forum-member Vekke on his Seat.

Where is this build thread to be found. I searched using several different methods and could not find it. Thanks.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

That may just mean that they designed them for looks, and not function.

No, it's definitely for function, but the purpose might not primarily be aerodynamics. I know it vents heat a way for sure, but it might also lower the CD.