Best base aero car?

[ChazInMT]

Okay, throwing a brown flag on this thread. NickleB has not responded to anything, his car appears to be European based and we're all going on about American cars. Having spent a fair amount of time in Germany and Poland, I can say there are a ton of European cars which are fantastic aero base models compared to a relative few here in the States. I can't say which cars are best aero efficiency wise, but I did see a lot of hatch style cars which followed the ideal template well and all seem to be offered with miserly little diesel engines as an option.

If this thread goes anywhere it should be related to why the heck doesn't GM or Ford give us the diesels here in the states that they do in Europe? My hunch is they're saving them for when they need to meet US Fuel Efficiency fleet standards in the future, then they'll be available so they can increase their FE average. God forbid we get a 52mpg Diesel Cruze now.
New Chevy Cruze Wagon

I mean who in America would want piles of crap like these that get 52 MPG (dripping sarcasm)


Full Size Image of 2013 Cruze Line Up (Europe Only)

I'm going to start a new thread based on this, hope that doesn't breach some ecomodder rule.

[kach22i]

For a dream based project car, I've always used an older Honda Civic CRX or first gen Honda Insight for fitting the aero template to.

These are small cars, so the low Cd comes with a low CdA (Area cross section).

I've driven a Geo Metro before, you can feel it being sucked under trucks/tractor trailers when driving along side. It's very unnerving and I hope to never drive one again.

I cannot say if the Honda's are any better, but I cannot imagine them being worse.

[NickelB NL]

Here in the eu we have a lot of economical cars, the new focus with 1.6 econetic and auto grillblock does 65 mpg standard. The fiesta with the same engine and 115hp does 71 mpg standard. Even the current mondeo does 55mpg with that engine. But even that fiesta costs 23.000+ dollar. But the "old" diesels do good if you drive em well. To bad ford didnt put de 2.0 diesel in the cougar.

[RiderofBikes]

If time and Luxuries were of no concern, I'd opt to home-build my ECO car... MOST simple/practical Sand rails and dune buggy kits top out at $5k... Make your own template based frame, make a sleek shell and drop your own powerplant in.
^^^
I could only dream right now.

Of course my preferred car would be a 1976 mini 1.3s! up to 40mpg stock
in style

[NickelB NL]

Btw the euro ford escort isn't the same as the us. The eu version aint so good aero wise, but stil the old diesel does 45 mpg. Sorry im a ford nut who drive a citroen. Btw some people have jobs an little time to react every day, so hold your brown flag

[NickelB NL]

Originally Posted by RiderofBikes

If time and Luxuries were of no concern, I'd opt to home-build my ECO car... MOST simple/practical Sand rails and dune buggy kits top out at $5k... Make your own template based frame, make a sleek shell and drop your own powerplant in.
^^^
I could only dream right now.

Of course my preferred car would be a 1976 mini 1.3s! up to 40mpg stock
in style

My dream to. But no space and time, i think with the small vw 1.2 tdi in a 1000- lbs car with real good aero has to do around 80 to 90 mpg. Dreams are dreams becouse they are dreams.

[Sven7]

Seeing as we're talking aero and frontal area is a huge part of that I'll suggest a kei car.

With its minuscule frontal area and low roof what could do better than an Autozam AZ-1 with a 90% boat tail?



For size comparison

[aerohead]

I just put the 2006 Mitsubishi i,kei car(Japanese market only) under the 'Template'.It's Cd 0.35 with only 15.5% of roof length.21.9% of total aft-body,and a Length/Height ratio of only 2.086.
With some of Hucho's "elongation" this puppy might really sing.
Mitsubishi has had gasoline direct injection for 20-years or so now (laboratory anyway).Toyota is looking at 43.7% thermal efficiencies with their concept-2 engines.Short of the Diesel,this powerplant,an 8-speed trans,the light weight,low frontal area,and improved Cd could make a really fine crisis-fighter.

[RiderofBikes]

for more practicality how about the Diahatsu Cuore/Suzuki Mira?