How hard would it be to make an aero hardtop?
 

I am planning on buying this car as my next "mpg project/fun" to drive car;

http://www.digi-go.biz/rgf1aaa/dsc_0001.jpg

They already get awesome gas milage (like 40mpg) and I already found a transmission with much lower gearing for even better mpg.

Thing is, they dont have the best aero (cd. 35), how hard would it be to make a teardrop fibreglass hardtop?

This car has the perfect shape for it since there is A LOT of space in the back (engine is in there)... and with that I could easily boost mpg up to 50mpg if not more (the stock shape "sucks" with the cloth top up- and oem hardtops are not teardrop and cost above $2k!)

Oh, btw, anyone want to photoshop how it would look like with the teardrop hardtop?

I say pretty amazing actually and would also save weight by removing the soft top!

You want a Carson Top!

Build A Carson Top

It's sort of the lazy hot-rodder's solution to chopping a top without reengineering the car, but the same sort of construction could help you here. Rather than having it upholstered, you could fiberglass it.

Nice MR2, by the way. I'd love to have one, but I really enjoy having a wagon (the 1 cubic foot trunk wouldn't do me much good).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/...75c00f7c_b.jpgPersonally, I would go with a soft top. I would think that it would be easier to build.
It would also look more like a convertible top and would 'blend in' more to the look of the car.
On a sunny day, you could throw aero to the wind and easily remove it and drive as a convertible.

If I had one of these cars, the first thing that I would do would be to drop it. Dropping a car not only looks so much better, but it also makes the car handle better and lowers the cars fontal area all at he same time :) .

Next, I would take those awesome looking wheels and add clear plexi inserts to make them flush like you see on some Mercedes show cars ( and on MetroMPGs car - although he painted the inserts black.) I would leave a small hole to cool the brakes - this is a sports car, and sometimes you will want to drive sporty !
I would add wheel 'boattailing' all around, and install a nice diffuser and downturned spoiler ( which in this case would not 'spoil' the airflow, but improve upon it )
Next I'd start looking for some smaller mirrors. Besides lowering frontal area, it makes the car look more balanced.

I should have added that actually the very first thing that I would do would be to block that grille opening - this is a rear engine car is it not ??

I really like the look of the car with a teardrop top - from the side it resembles an Audi TT.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...ighway/1-1.png
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...rhighway/2.png
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...rhighway/3.png

couple of loose ideas

i think the last configuration could be interesting
a short kamback that will allow the flow to reattach at the trunk... not ideal but perhaps more practical and non intrusive to actually make

i added some more aero bits just for fun.



http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...rhighway/4.png
this ones just for fun

Ease of construction is inversely related to fit and finish, giving a range of at least an order of magnitude in effort required.

I Really like the low profile of this one but I dont know about the downturn spoiler ....??

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/...75c00f7c_b.jpg

I would think that a falt spoiler like this would be better... or no? (and they actually make them like this (flat) aftermarket so it would be very easy to implement it).

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...ighway/1-1.png

^^ But I dont like how its curved on top, I would think just flat like the first one would be more aerodynamic...

Plus I think the flat spoiler looks better :D

But again, airflow? Better flat or down?

Basslover, you need to talk to EM member kimer6. He made a fiberglass hardtop for his diesel Metro convertible:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ving-5571.html

Hmmm.... here it is. Link to his top build thread on teamswift.net

TeamSwift • View topic - Convertible hard top...probably.

LunarHighway : Wow ! I love how the curve of the window echos the curve of the scoop below it. Style !
Well done !
I'm really liking the look of that hard top !

As far as a down turned spoiler, the idea is that you want the airflow to follow the ideal shape as long as possible. By having a flat of upturned spoiler, you are kicking the airstream out of the ideal downward angle.

( But that is just my un-educated guess. )