Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Why have the Automakers refused the boat tail design?

shovel · 08-10-2012, 03:46 PM

It's not that they don't make "boat-like" tails, it's that manufacturers can't always get people to buy them. Many of the 70s and 80s hatchbacks have awful reputations these days, because some sort of negativity got associated with them and it stuck. The Ford Pinto for example is synonymous with bad reputation because it got stuck in the public's mindset that closing the door too fast would make it blow a crater in the earth... but for its day it was a pretty aerosleek car. I grew up with Pintos (parents had four, I had two more) and not only did none of us die (I was in the car for two hard collisions, we were not injured and there were no fires) - they were fantastic workhorse cars that did quite well on carbureted 1.6L and 2.0L 4cyls.

What else was relatively slippery in the back? This thing was designed with the idea of being slippery, and went a step farther than the Pinto by curving inward in three dimensions - from the sides as well as the roof line. But they were "too dorky" apparently, so again like the Pinto, hated and seen as a joke.

The 80s were like the decade of the hatchback, with all sorts of non-square-backed hatches that may not have been boat tails exactly but had an anachronistic slope to their hatch we barely see anymore - but because they seem endlessly associated with pimple-faced pizza delivery guys and such they'd be a tough sell today:

(kinda has a prius-like profile)

^ that was my first horse... a little vanity here if you'll indulge me

Pontiac tried to aero the tail end of a minivan, but like the Pinto, the Pacer, the Scirocco, the Escort.... the Aztek was a highly functional car that everyone decided they hated because to the buying public automotive coolness is inversely proportional to practicality.

It's not as though there is zero boat action going on today though, many of the newest hot hatches are finishing a bit narrower in the greenhouse than the windshield - leaving the car itself short and easy to park, the cargo area tall enough to easily access and fill, enough head room in the back... yeah it's not a basjoos or anything but it's not ignorant of aero:

I don't think we'll see a full on submarine for the road... cities aren't getting any more spacious and while a few people are willing to make boat tail compromises, it would be naive to deny that the compromises exist.

08-10-2012, 03:46 PM	#19 (permalink)
shovel Master EcoModder Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 593 Thanks: 106 Thanked 114 Times in 72 Posts	It's not that they don't make "boat-like" tails, it's that manufacturers can't always get people to buy them. Many of the 70s and 80s hatchbacks have awful reputations these days, because some sort of negativity got associated with them and it stuck. The Ford Pinto for example is synonymous with bad reputation because it got stuck in the public's mindset that closing the door too fast would make it blow a crater in the earth... but for its day it was a pretty aerosleek car. I grew up with Pintos (parents had four, I had two more) and not only did none of us die (I was in the car for two hard collisions, we were not injured and there were no fires) - they were fantastic workhorse cars that did quite well on carbureted 1.6L and 2.0L 4cyls. What else was relatively slippery in the back? This thing was designed with the idea of being slippery, and went a step farther than the Pinto by curving inward in three dimensions - from the sides as well as the roof line. But they were "too dorky" apparently, so again like the Pinto, hated and seen as a joke. The 80s were like the decade of the hatchback, with all sorts of non-square-backed hatches that may not have been boat tails exactly but had an anachronistic slope to their hatch we barely see anymore - but because they seem endlessly associated with pimple-faced pizza delivery guys and such they'd be a tough sell today: (kinda has a prius-like profile) ^ that was my first horse... a little vanity here if you'll indulge me Pontiac tried to aero the tail end of a minivan, but like the Pinto, the Pacer, the Scirocco, the Escort.... the Aztek was a highly functional car that everyone decided they hated because to the buying public automotive coolness is inversely proportional to practicality. It's not as though there is zero boat action going on today though, many of the newest hot hatches are finishing a bit narrower in the greenhouse than the windshield - leaving the car itself short and easy to park, the cargo area tall enough to easily access and fill, enough head room in the back... yeah it's not a basjoos or anything but it's not ignorant of aero: I don't think we'll see a full on submarine for the road... cities aren't getting any more spacious and while a few people are willing to make boat tail compromises, it would be naive to deny that the compromises exist. __________________ Work From Home mod has saved more fuel than everything else put together. Last edited by shovel; 08-10-2012 at 04:07 PM..