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Old 02-24-2009, 10:03 PM   #3 (permalink)
donee
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
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- - '10 Toyota Prius III w/Navi
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Hi All,

You know, if they put those rear wheel out on struts and with wheel pants like the Apterra, it would probably be quite a bit more stable and aerodynamic.

The problem with shapes like this is cross-wind steer. The Center of Pressure, Cp is well forward, and if its in front of the Cg (Center of Gravity/Mass), the car will cross-wind steer. This is why its common to see center vertical fins on the rear of shapes like this. The fin pulls the Cp backward near the Cg. Front wheel drive, forward mounted -traverse oriented engine, would pull the Cg foward and minimize the size needed for the rear fin.

The rear mounted engine in the Dynaxion was probably the reason its prototypes crashed in high speed driving.
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