Air Curtain

[Frank Lee]

Perhaps the Cd value well tell what value these ducts have.

[curv872]

Stated in post #7, a reduction cd of .01

[euromodder]

Maybe they're underdoing it for esthetic reasons.
Looks like only 1/3rd of the wheel is covered.

How about a scoop that ranges from top of the wheel arch, down to as low as the body is.
Obviously without going much beyond the original width of the car.

[curv872]

"inlets at either side route air in front of the wheel openings creating a boundary layer of air, reducing drag around the wheels and tires. Not that the 1M is slippery with a drag coefficient of 0.37. At least the "air curtains" drop that by about 0.01." - interwebs

[botsapper]

The BMW air curtain is a very subtle corner canard as compared to very extravagant front corner versions from the Japanese racing aftermarket. These external examples are corner box canard/splitters. Note the horizontal winglets are angled flat, collecting front air pressure flow and narrowing it down just before the well opening, probably with similar hopeful results.
http://www.gtrblog.com/wp-content/up...02-540x405.jpg
Other concept cars with these devices.
http://theblogaboutcars.com/wp-conte...citroen-GT.jpg

[lunarhighway]

brand new audi S1 ....air curtains?



they look like it might be just cosmetic, but on the last picture if you look closely you can see trough the left duct meaning it's really open and might do a little more than just be for looks.

since this is a fast version of the A1 it might be more for stability than economy

[Bill in Houston]

ooo, yeah, look at that... it looks like it is helping the air turn the corner...

[Phantom]

On the way to work today I saw a Subaru sedan but not sure on the year or model but it had something similar to this after the front wheels. It looked like there was a slit inside the wheel well that vented about 2-3 inches back from the wheel, I assume this is to give the air a place to escape reducing the amount of turbulent air shooting out from the wheel.

[lunarhighway]

think it might have been this model you saw

seems to have vents in front and behind the wheels

[Phantom]

The one I saw was not a hatch but that is what I was talking about, I did not notice the vent in the front but it could have had one and just blended in since it was dark blue. I wonder if having the vent only after the wheel well if it would reduce cd.