Quote:
Originally Posted by Cd
So it's a style thing and nothing to do with crash test height legislation ?
Personally, I think that the sleek lines of the Prius would have looked better with a sleek looking nose ( especially the second generation cars. ) even if they function the same in the windtunnel.
O.K. I was just curious.
( Let's talk about something else now  ) |
Cd,I found my timing slips from Bonneville for another thread and wanted to post the data for you on its nose.
The original nose I built was only good for 0.47 mph additional top speed.
By adding a chin spoiler of about 1.5 inches to limit air under the nose,I gained another 1.056 mph,for a total 1.526 mph.
The tail got me 5.51 mph.
The entire kit got me a top speed of 97.339 mph,compared to 89.77 mph( 85.5-degree DB,62.5-degree WB,27% RH,4,300-ft elevation) with the car stripped of everything but rocker panels and partial bellypan which I had no way to remove at the track.
Later,the car was tested by CAR and DRIVER's Don Schroeder at Chrysler Proving grounds.At a cold 42-degrees F DB, she went 98 with the kit.
At warmer temp and lower elevation she pulled an even 100-mph on four occasions,up from the original 93-mph when tested under similar conditioins at Tochigi,Japan.
The cardboard and duct tape mods stayed on the car until I got back home,and I averaged 60.6 mpg compared to 52.0 for the "naked" car.
I had hoped the nose would do more,and was very surprised to see most of the "speed" and " mpg" from the tail.