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There’s an idea. I believe that same concept was used on the Mule VX build, if you guys recall. I think it belonged to “TheDonkeyCRX”? Anyway, he was ordered to get a side view mirror so he made a fake one that was actually a ducted air intake for the cabin. I feel like a roof-mounted intake could be sleeker and I know from rallycross info that it would get cleaner air. My dad’s Oldsmobile ‘88 had a vented intake in the fender well that delivered lots of cold air but it came with dust.
Haha, that’s not my civic! I do have an EG hatchback, but it is not carbon fiber nor is it nice looking. That image comes from a rallycross chassis build. Very cool. I don’t have the budget for carbon fiber but I’m learning how to get good with fibreglass for the same reason.
Frontal area is a big one. I guess it’s a matter of what costs more energy. For instance, I have aftermarket windows louvres on my 2006 civic coupe. They increase frontal area and drag. On the flip side, they let me keep my window cracked while driving and eliminate fogging/frosting that would normally require the heater or blower. Mechanical or aerodynamic drag? That’s the question. I’d think mechanical would be worse.
And exhaust is indeed important. I’ve read that the Honda EF chassis platform cars had a system like this, notably the ‘88-91 CRX HF. Sadly, nobody really takes pictures of it or talks about it. But it did have a ducted intake and exhaust for airflow through the car without having to roll the windshield down.
The practical solution is just side window louvres, but why not have something different? My friend, who works in the aerospace industry, was thinking of a sort of hinged NACA duct system. Sounds like it would have issues with sealing.
Food for thought.
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