Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Dream Prius (aerodynamic mod exercise for 2nd gen.)

Nerys · 05-02-2008, 07:10 AM

Wow what a car. Thats pretty (the red dream prius) some questions and concerns. First I would fear driving that car. Its aerodynamic but possibly in the wrong way. IE LIFT. its scarily like an airfoil. How heavy is a prius? I know on some porsches at speed the spoiler comes up for a reason. While the car will never "lift" off the ground it can get loose on the rear wheels to where its dangerous so they added that auto spoiler to kill this lift and prevent that. How do we get aerodynamic but also prevent too much lift from being generated?

I want to work toward seriously aeromoding my Voyager. From the front it has a very nice shape just dirty (protrusions) the rear is gonna be more difficult. IE attaching a rear bubble butt would not be hard but it might be awful large :-)

Mirrors. They are the first things I am going to eliminate and replace them with 2 camera's and miniatures LCD's inside (same with the boat tail ie camera to let me see)

I am also considering REMOVING the tailgate door all together. Getting another from the junkyard and hacking it up so this "new" boat tail can "bolt" right up and function normally as a tail gate. I was also considering an inflatable boat tail. IE deploy it on the highway but stow it in the city since it would add considerable length to the vehicle.

Another question. Shelling the wheel wells. How do I do this? The rear wheels is not big deal but how do you handle the front wheels since they protrude when you turn?

I was thinking the "aeroshell" for the front wheels could also "move" so when the wheels turned enough that the tire was about to hit the aeroshell the shell itself would MOVE to accomodate this. Would ruin the CD but this would never happen at highway speeds. BUT that sounds awful complicated. Is there a simpler solution I am missing?

Roof Racks. I am trying to find a way to aero the roof rack without removing it since I DO use it sometimes. Maybe make the cross spars removable and mold a cap to make the longitudinal runners smooth.

Any other suggestions? I REALLY hope he gets that Red Prius built. Thats gonna be one kick butt looking car :-)

05-02-2008, 07:10 AM	#51 (permalink)
Nerys Grrr :-) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Levittown PA Posts: 800 Cherokee - '88 Jeep Cherokee 90 day: 19.44 mpg (US) Ryo-Ohki - '94 Geo Metro Xfi 90 day: 50.15 mpg (US) Vger 2 - '00 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE Ninja - '89 Geo Tracker 90 day: 30.27 mpg (US) Thanks: 12 Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts	Wow what a car. Thats pretty (the red dream prius) some questions and concerns. First I would fear driving that car. Its aerodynamic but possibly in the wrong way. IE LIFT. its scarily like an airfoil. How heavy is a prius? I know on some porsches at speed the spoiler comes up for a reason. While the car will never "lift" off the ground it can get loose on the rear wheels to where its dangerous so they added that auto spoiler to kill this lift and prevent that. How do we get aerodynamic but also prevent too much lift from being generated? I want to work toward seriously aeromoding my Voyager. From the front it has a very nice shape just dirty (protrusions) the rear is gonna be more difficult. IE attaching a rear bubble butt would not be hard but it might be awful large :-) Mirrors. They are the first things I am going to eliminate and replace them with 2 camera's and miniatures LCD's inside (same with the boat tail ie camera to let me see) I am also considering REMOVING the tailgate door all together. Getting another from the junkyard and hacking it up so this "new" boat tail can "bolt" right up and function normally as a tail gate. I was also considering an inflatable boat tail. IE deploy it on the highway but stow it in the city since it would add considerable length to the vehicle. Another question. Shelling the wheel wells. How do I do this? The rear wheels is not big deal but how do you handle the front wheels since they protrude when you turn? I was thinking the "aeroshell" for the front wheels could also "move" so when the wheels turned enough that the tire was about to hit the aeroshell the shell itself would MOVE to accomodate this. Would ruin the CD but this would never happen at highway speeds. BUT that sounds awful complicated. Is there a simpler solution I am missing? Roof Racks. I am trying to find a way to aero the roof rack without removing it since I DO use it sometimes. Maybe make the cross spars removable and mold a cap to make the longitudinal runners smooth. Any other suggestions? I REALLY hope he gets that Red Prius built. Thats gonna be one kick butt looking car :-)