Quote:
Originally Posted by sl2eggplant
Here are pictures of my aero mods. Please share opinions because I'm trying to break 45 mpg, currently at 38. Is there any way that I can improve on the "nose" of the car (see pic) that won't appear to "abnormal".
Links to aero mods pics. Ignore the HAI pics, those are old.
Below is a quick list.
Already installed did the following
Passenger side mirror delete
Sealed hood to bump gap
Grill block
Smooth hub caps
Full belly pan
Hood gap sealed
Others that I plan to do are
Rear wheel skirts
Divert air away from front and rear wheels
Turbulator tape (need to find the zig zag scissors)
Smaller driver side mirror or make current mirror more aerodynamic |
sl2,I was playing with some simple numbers.If you're at 38 and going for 45,that's roughly a 18% improvement.To get that you'd need a 36% drag reduction.
For the sake of simplicity,if you were sitting at Cd 0.30 right now,then you'd have to get to Cd 0.19 to get 45 mpg hwy.
So we're talking about an EV-1 body on the SL2 platform.
GM did it with one of the best windshields ever on U.S.roads,and the backlight was pretty sweet too! And you may also be aware,that the EV-1 body began a teardrop plan taper at the center of the doors.
Short of a $3,000 GTP windshield,complete remodelling of the Saturns roof,with a mid-1990s Camaro/Firebird backlight,you're looking at significant extension to the rear to get the drag down.
Maybe think of a top quality bicycle rack which would non-destructively attach to the trunklid,to which you could attach various prototype structures for testing.
You can go the 'other' direction,but I think you're looking at active suspension at a minimum and completely sealing the front of the car while moving the cooling system and air conditioning to the back,as Ford did with PROBE-IV and V concept cars.( really low front ( bordering on illegal ) while at hwy speed ).
If the powertrain is low-time and you plan to marry yourself to the project and devote mass quantities of energy you can get there.And you'll work for every bit of it.
P.S. And all this is predicated on the BSFC of the engine not changing,saving a gear change as well.