Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
Hi,
I see that the (newest?) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII has what appears to be a radiator heat vent in the top of the hood:
While it is not ducted, do you think this either helps the cooling and/or helps the aerodynamics? |
Kamm's lowest drag car had the radiator extractor at the base of the windshield.While this cowl area is at a relatively high static pressure,it is lower than the forward stagnation point,so the air does flow out,and Kamm used this flow to help energize the flow which might be prone to stall over the windshield header.This allowed his roofline to work better.He's remembered for the 'Kamm-back' but the accomplishment was the energetic flow which made the roof work.
Mitsubishi has positioned their vent forward,in a higher velocity/lower pressure area and it will provide an outlet.And it should cancel some lift,although most of that is produced just forward of the windshield header.
In a four-season climate,snow might enter,as well as rain.They may have internal guttering to carry precip away,it's hard to tell from the photo.
If the outlet was 'tuned' in the wind tunnel,it might have some potential for drag reduction but as others have mentioned,it may be more of a boy racer sort of thing.If it was tuned,then folks better leave the entire grille area alone.
Mitsubishi remains a player in aerospace.You may remember their products from December 7th,1941,at Pearl Harbor.
Mitsubishi also manufactures submarines for the Japanese navy.So they're not unacquainted with fluid mechanics and I would give them the benefit of the doubt when it came to aerodynamic prowess.
My opinion about cooling system efficiency is that Alberto Morreli(sp?) has set the standard in 1978 with the CNR 'banana' car.