Boattail the most aerodynamic car... an Insight

[Cd]

Adding a boat-tail to that car would be a huge amount of work.
( If you wanted it to look 'factory' )
Why not just go with a single wheel trailer and make the trailer into a removable boat-tail ?
When I first researched them, I didn't look more than a few seconds at them, and didn't realize that the trailer does not turn with the car - that single wheel does. What this means is that you could have the trailer as close to the back of the car as you want without having to worry about turning corners.
The main problem is the LEGAL mess of having the plates of the car and the tail lights of the car visible.
We have all driven behind trucks pulling trailers full of junk that completely block their plates and tail lights ( of the truck ). We wouldn't get so lucky as these guys do though if we got pulled over.

[Cd]

As MetroMPG pointed out on an earlier posting dealing with the same subject, the Insight has horrible blind spots. That's too bad, because those huge mirrors are a major problem.
And yah ... plug those holes in the grill ( sizzle )

[Christ]

I once heard that if you plug half of your grill, your chicken will cook faster with the same temp setting... maybe that's why they use aluminum foil?

LOL - Ok, how about following the example of the thread going on right now discussing a removable boat tail? (Trailer hitch kinda thing.)

Fact is, no matter how large your trailer is, if it has a tire that touches the ground, it's supposed to be registered and have it's own lights. You can get away without the lights if it doesn't obstruct the lights of your car, but it still needs to be registered if it's touching the ground, except farm equipment and other "off-road" or "utility" type pull-arounds.

This is at least how it works here in PA, I'm not sure about the rest of the world.

[RobertSmalls]

Though I haven't gotten my Insight out of the driveway yet, I expect the biggest gains vs EPA to come from driving technique. Conserving momentum, DWB, and EOC will drastically boost FE around town.

There are two reasons this car will be a P&G champ. One, it will roll very well due to low rolling and aero resistance. Two, check out the sweet spot on the BSFC plot. It's at 4000 RPM, and probably around 50HP! So it's not only okay to accelerate quickly, it's encouraged (as long as you put 100% of your newfound kinetic energy to good use). Google the Insight 1-2-5 shift.

An Insight's boattail can be much shorter than on most cars, because Honda already tapered the body down to a small area where the car abruptly ends. However, due to the small cross sectional area of the rear wake, the benefit of a boattail would also be smaller than on a Civic hatch. Still maybe worth doing.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by basslover911

While doing a boattail and adding a lot of space, why not move the radiator back there and completely seal off the front?

I've thought about this. But why bother, since the back is going to be completely sealed off as well? Besides, you'd need long, large-diameter (so you don't have to upgrade the water pump) radiator hoses to relocate the radiator, and they'd have to be filled with heavy coolant. Nah, the radiator belongs by the engine.

[swoody]

I would love to see an aero-modded Insight. That would be such an amazing gas-sipper it would be crazy! I wish a car company would come out with a super-aero gas saver already. It's too bad the 'public' would just think it's ridiculous

[Daox]

Originally Posted by swoody

I would love to see an aero-modded Insight. That would be such an amazing gas-sipper it would be crazy! I wish a car company would come out with a super-aero gas saver already. It's too bad the 'public' would just think it's ridiculous

Aptera!

[SVOboy]

I fully support the addition of a boattail to this magnificent vehicle. Even though it has a good shape, there is room for improvement and we need to get all those silly insight owners to start aeromodding, too

[Cd]

[QUOTE=Christ;119628]
Fact is, no matter how large your trailer is, if it has a tire that touches the ground, it's supposed to be registered and have it's own lights. You can get away without the lights if it doesn't obstruct the lights of your car, but it still needs to be registered if it's touching the ground, except farm equipment and other "off-road" or "utility" type pull-arounds.
QUOTE]

Right - I meant that the car has to have its plates and tail lights visible. Otherwise, you would just be able have the trailer set flush with the back of the car.

I would love to see an Insight with a boat-tail in something other than Photoshop.

I think it would destroy it's future collectable status though if you mess up the body.

[swoody]

Originally Posted by Daox

Aptera!

Wow, that thing is pretty nice! I may have to start saving up my spare change