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Old 11-12-2009, 11:29 PM   #89 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

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

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 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: 65.39 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cd View Post
If dimples really don't work, why did Audi, VW, and Lexus put them on the underside of their cars body panels ?
( Not being 'smart' with this question guys. I'm really sincere. I want to know why that they would go through all the trouble of adding them. )
Good question.

From an aero standpoint, dimples don't make sense underneath the car. You can be pretty sure the flow underneath is already turbulent.

Could it be for structural stiffening to prevent otherwise flat panels from oil-canning?

Could it be for favourable acoustic properties?

Could it be a styling exercise that looks neat-o and gets the nerdy people excited? (proof: we're talking about it!)

Wouldn't it be great if we could actually ask the designers/engineers questions like these?
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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
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