[Grant-53]

The diagrams above appear to be from Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed by Joseph Katz PhD. Lots of good information there. What is unique about the RX8 is the shape of the engine which allows more space between the grill and the engine block than most cars. From fluid mechanics we know fewer bents means less drag. From heat transfer we can calculate fin and tube areas and the expansion of heated air behind the radiator. The old Firebirds had vents in the fenders above and behind the front wheel also. My texts from the 1970's are Fluid Mechanics by Binder and Heat Transfer by Holman. I'd try Google Scholar for papers by Master's students dissertations.