Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-17-2011, 01:16 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Lemon Grove
Posts: 41
Thanks: 0
Thanked 20 Times in 6 Posts
Air Curtain



"The new Air Curtain is the latest innovation BMW aerodynamics. First introduced in the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, Air Curtain now would be a standard feature on the 128i Convertible. Air curtain increase airflow around the front wheel arches with the benefits of turbulence are significantly reduced."

I would love to see some DIY takes on BMW's latest innovation.

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 05-17-2011, 11:21 PM   #2 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 26
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
My impression is that it is more of a marketing too. Sorta like hood scoops that are not connected to the intake or most rear located spoilers on sports cars. Just my humble opinion but I am always open to being shown different.

Randy
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2011, 11:27 PM   #3 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
I have those suspicions too. Ducts generally don't increase aero efficiency, even if these things aren't exactly long ducts. There is a chance they are on to something- they have the wind tunnel after all. We'll see if this strategy becomes commonly implemented...
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2011, 03:20 AM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
euromodder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belgium
Posts: 4,683

The SCUD - '15 Fiat Scudo L2
Thanks: 178
Thanked 652 Times in 516 Posts
Corner scoops / air guides are fitted to just about all European cab-over-engine trucks.
This looks like it's doing the same on a smaller scale, then using the scooped air to blanket the wheel arch like an invisible front skirt.

I don't see why it should be disregarded.
These guys have their own pretty modern windtunnel.
__________________
Strayed to the Dark Diesel Side

  Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2011, 03:50 AM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
vtec-e's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ireland
Posts: 507

De Yaris - '04 toyota yaris T2
90 day: 69.55 mpg (US)
Thanks: 111
Thanked 32 Times in 22 Posts
Most new cars around here have them. But the scoops are blanked off! lol!!
I expect the drag created on the functional ones will be offset by the drag reduced by the air curtain. Watching this space.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2011, 05:06 AM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: belgium
Posts: 663

vectra a - '95 Opel Vectra GLS
90 day: 37.51 mpg (US)
Thanks: 14
Thanked 61 Times in 44 Posts
Quote:
Corner scoops / air guides are fitted to just about all European cab-over-engine trucks.
my observation on these is that they are near the sides of the grill only wich makes me think they're there either get more air into the grill or less at speed when you might want the air to go round them. i think the primary goal is cooling however, given the overall lack of attention to aero on these trucks with square corners sticking into the airflow everywhere.

that said i wouldn't just dismiss the bmw setup as just marketing, it's usually little details that cause little changes in drag. in fact the new ford fiesta over at the parking lot at work has two open side scoops that lead into the bumper and i think there's some vents in the front fender too. could be the same thing.

when looking at the bmw efficient dynamics concept there's something interesting too


the car seems to have some sort of scoops on the front and this picutes shows theres actual clean ducts to the wheel wells and not radiators or whatever


seems like the same thing going on there
__________________
aer·o·dy·nam·ics: the science of passing gass

*i can coast for miles and miles and miles*
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to lunarhighway For This Useful Post:
mcrews (01-06-2016)
Old 05-18-2011, 10:32 AM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Lemon Grove
Posts: 41
Thanks: 0
Thanked 20 Times in 6 Posts
The air curtain is pretty small but effective in reducing drag at speed (albeit .01%, but every bit helps)

Euromodder is spot on, the scooped air is being used to blanket the wheel arch like an invisible front skirt.

View of the slots on the M Coupe.


Reverse angle.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2011, 04:07 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 269

The Wife's Hot Rod - '09 Pontiac G8 GT
Last 3: 23.22 mpg (US)

Big Outback - '13 Subaru Outback 2.5i

Little Outback - '02 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport
Thanks: 0
Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by euromodder View Post
Corner scoops / air guides are fitted to just about all European cab-over-engine trucks.
This looks like it's doing the same on a smaller scale, then using the scooped air to blanket the wheel arch like an invisible front skirt.

I don't see why it should be disregarded.
These guys have their own pretty modern windtunnel.
Somewhere on internet I have seen these mounted on big rigs. I think the theory is that they turn the air around the corner, preventing separation & the drag associated. The ones I saw were mounted on the front corners & above the windshield.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2011, 07:41 PM   #9 (permalink)
PSmodder lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Chino
Posts: 1,605
Thanks: 26
Thanked 908 Times in 522 Posts
The Iveco ECOSTRALIS & Scania hi-box trucks have these corner deflectors that help cut side aero resistance. It is supposedly more important on crosswind aero and yaw dependance drag. The side deflectors work to diffuse the tall vertical bluff-cornered boxes.
Maybe it works like a race car side ducts, 'in front'. Wheel wells traps so much turbulent air from counter tire rotation, engine bay & brake heated air. Opposite a typical corner canard, the front vertical airflow reduce the pressure difference & air stagnation inside the bay.

ECOSRALIS Aerodynamic Kit

Last edited by botsapper; 05-18-2011 at 08:07 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 05:22 PM   #10 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
aerohead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 15,852
Thanks: 23,907
Thanked 7,199 Times in 4,637 Posts
claim

Quote:
Originally Posted by curv872 View Post


"The new Air Curtain is the latest innovation BMW aerodynamics. First introduced in the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, Air Curtain now would be a standard feature on the 128i Convertible. Air curtain increase airflow around the front wheel arches with the benefits of turbulence are significantly reduced."

I would love to see some DIY takes on BMW's latest innovation.
There might be a specific context in which the full spirit of their claim is captured.
If you're burning,and someone throws gasoline on you,there will be a localized cooling effect,but you're still on fire.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com