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Old 08-11-2010, 12:37 PM   #14 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

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90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChazInMT View Post
If you add only 1 foot or less to it, the chances of you getting it right are pretty darn slim, at best you could equal the Cd, but it's a 80% chance you'd make it worse.
I'm curious how you came up with those conclusions?

I would have said it's not too difficult to extend the roof/sides of the hatch above the tail lights - continuing the existing plan & profile taper would be the conservative design approach.

The result will be a smaller base area where flow detaches and likely a lower Cd.

I'd agree there's probably a very small (~1-2% at 55 mph would be my guess) improvement in fuel economy with a short extension. The builder would have to decide how much effort is justified for a small gain.
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