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Old 04-05-2015, 11:32 AM   #47 (permalink)
wdb
lurker's apprentice
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: the Perimeter
Posts: 942

PlainJane - '12 Toyota Tacoma Base 4WD Access Cab
90 day: 20.98 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob View Post
To me, the big news on this item is breaking 50% thermal efficiency on the road. That used to be the province of ship's diesels.
Has anybody seen a picture of the back end, or the detailing between tractor and trailer?
Freightliner SuperTruck has a lot more details but it is so loaded with gimmickry that its driving my aging pooter a bit bonky. It does mention camera mirrors. The images I've managed to load also suggest that the back of the trailer has rounded corners.

EDIT: I got one of the videos to run. The back of the cab is very conventional. It appears as though the magic is in the fairings, and perhaps the front surface of the trailer.

ANOTEHR EDIT: Oh wow, now they're saying that over 2/3 of the improvement in fuel economy came from the trailer! Talk about bang for buck...

FINAL EDIT, I PROMISE: Found an image of the back of the trailer. It has the foldout extensions very much like I've seen on trucks around here. It also says the fairings on the cab between the cab and trailer are 'articulating', which implies that they move in response to some input or another.

Last edited by wdb; 04-05-2015 at 11:44 AM..
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