Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
The steep slope tends towards a flow separation-induced vortex-pair, with downwash and induced drag/ lift.
The outboard segmented roof spoilers might help mitigate some of the vorticity.
A remaining weak downwash might help prevent back-soiling of the rear windshield, allowing the driver better outwards vision, while allowing traffic behind the Lotus to see when the third brake-light illuminated, avoiding rear end collisions.
And perhaps, kill a bit of the lift/drag. Something of greater concern with faster, high-performance vehicles, antecedents of all Lotus Cars.
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On some of my roof wing studies (
link in signature below) you once suggested roof cab outer corner treatments (
various forms studied) would at best "delay" vortex formation.
If the case here is one of vortex delay, that would mean swaths of air swishing sideways/diagonally over the rear window may be avoided, but the drag would be still trailing the vehicle.