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Old 02-04-2010, 05:07 PM   #5 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,532

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 Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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The underside of the Flea's boat tail angled up to 6.5 degrees, and retained attached, if turbulent flow to the trailing edge, documented in the tuft testing video.



I think basjoos is right: you can get away with steeper angles if you have adequate radii between sides/top and sides/bottom plus taper in both plan and profile. That would permit pressure recovery from the sides, and the bottom angle can be increased.

My taper used predominantly straight lines on the top & sides, but if you arc gently through the taper, you can go up to 22 degrees and retain attached flow, says Mair (says Phil). The Insight has decent enough upstream aero that I bet it's possible on your cars.

The challenge in construction for you guys will be the unusual cross-sectional shape at the rear of the car. You've got a lot more taper already in progress in the greenhouse at the transom than you do at the height of the rear wheels.
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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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