Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatt
It would have been nice if they would have rounded the wheel wells like on the Gen1 Insight. According to this picture, it would have improved the Cd by about 0.007 (probably a little less), or take it from 0.189 to around 0.182. Not insignificant when there are so few improvements left to be had.
|
The aerodynamic gains available by such a mod will vary vehicle to vehicle, and will also be totally dependant on the airflow leading into that area. It is quite possible that VW has set up the front end to direct airflow outward off the nose so that it doesn't contact the side of the car again until after the front wheel well opening.
I would imagine this is why GM added small deflectors (not sure what they're actually called) to the front of the front wheel well openings on the C6 Z06 (and later kept them on the ZR1)... even though the car already has generously sculpted edges on the rear of the front wheel wells. These would keep air from hitting the tires and getting forced into the wheel well, but may also keep air from hitting the wheel face and rear edge of the wheel well.
You can see the deflectors very clearly on both sides in this photo:
Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 Exotic Car Image #010 of 44 : Diesel Station