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Old 10-02-2012, 10:33 AM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Tuft testing video: Honda Insight (2000) front wheel well design



I've always been intrigued by the effort Honda put into the bodywork around the front wheel well of the 1st generation Honda Insight.

It's definitely not conventional.

1) There's pronounced taper in the quarter panel leading back from the wheel well arch. From above:



Another view of the taper from the front, plus 2) how the tire/wheel is close to flush with the side face of the front bumper:



3) The smooth radius of the aft edge of the wheel arch - to promote flow attachment of air coming out of the well & off the wheel:



4) The sharp edge of the forward/top edge of the wheel arch to promote clean separation there:



5) ... and of course the relatively smooth/flat wheel itself. (Though it could be better ... note to self: needs a 100% smooth disc.)

All this would lead a person to think the air flow immediately aft of the wheel well is pretty good, compared to a car without these design elements.

One way to find out: To the poor man's wind tunnel, Batman!



The video includes a tuft testing comparison to the wheel well on my 1998 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro), which does not have these design features. Not surprisingly, on the Firefly you can see much more turbulence (and separation at times) in the first column of tufts immediately behind the the wheel arch. While on the Insight there's much less turbulence and no sign of separation (tufts reversing direction or lifting clear off the body).

(For a more detailed look at the Firefly wheel arch & front wheel skirt tuft test see: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...etro-5403.html )

Detail optimization for the win!

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