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Old 11-03-2010, 12:18 AM   #61 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,530

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)
Thanks: 4,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmgolfer View Post
Much attention to detail in all aspects of design including instrumentation and aerodynamics.
When I read about the headlight shape/mirror aeromodding, I was encouraged that they were focused on the details.

Then I read Nissan's own aero specs for the car and was seriously underwhelmed:

Quote:
Cd: 0.29
Frontal area (m2): 2.27
(source)

Cd 0.29 is remarkably unremarkable, considering its "head start": the vehicle has minimal cooling requirements (compared to an internal combustion car) and no exhaust system to interfere with a theoretically smooth undertray. (I don't actually know how well designed the Leaf's underbits are.)

To add insult to injury, the location of the tail lights makes it more difficult for owners to mod the car to clean up the aero back there.

I'd still like to try one if I ever get the chance.

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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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