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Old 11-15-2010, 04:43 PM   #6 (permalink)
rkcarguy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by euromodder View Post
It does, but maybe not in the way you expected.
Splitting the air so it goes over or aside the streamlined vehicle rather than underneath helps (with an aerodynamically dirty underside) is beneficial.


There's no point in aggressively tapering the front, as it's worse than a blunt spherical shape (at low airspeeds).

Weird as it may sound :
If you have to streamline a brick, you'll gain the most by streamlining the rear !


A bulge adds frontal area, which should be reduced as much as possible.
Even streamlined bulges add to the drag.

But reducing the rear track width reduces stability, so sometimes (as in the Insight picture) the upper body tapers in, reducing wake area, while the lower is bulged or continues almost straight aft (Insight) to keep sufficient track width.
I realize the rear is where the game is won, got that covered. So styling on the nose is trivial for the most part, choose a look I like?
I'm skeptical of ramping the air sideways by angling the sides of the bumper/body. I would think the air would be disturbed at the end of this "ramp" near the front wheelwells?
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