[Blacktree]

I've heard of some cars (from Mercedes, I think?) that have metal mesh on the underbody, to act as a belly pan of sorts. In a way, it makes sense. Because the mesh is slicing through the air edgeways, instead of hitting it full-face. Thoeretically, that would make it act as a "virtual solid" aerodynamically.

I doubt the mesh would be as effective as a solid surface, though. But it should be better than nothing. And expanded aluminum mesh can be had at the hardware store pretty cheap (and lightweight).

The idea here wouldn't necessarily be to build a complete belly pan from metal mesh, just the parts that are near hot spots, like the exhaust system.

Has anyone tried this yet? A search didn't yield anything.