Interesting Aerodynamic Cars (Mike Vetter's ETV, also Avion)

[aerohead]

The best of the two flavors constructed was reported as low as Cd 0.18.
Andreau's Peugeot 400-series car was also reported @ Cd 0.28.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

Which is ironic considering the Airflow only had the appearance of being streamlined, without the actual streamlining that the prototypes had.

Yes, Airflow is credited with Cd 0.51 according to Alex Tremulis, compared to around Cd 0.64 for the 1933 DeSoto.
The 1937 Ford/Lincoln Zephyr was lower, at Cd 0.47, but Ford was reluctant to even mention 'aerodynamics', after the sales disaster of the Airflow.
John Tjaarda had pitched a lower drag Chrysler body to Walter Chrysler, in the wake of Airflow. He said, 'Forget it, streamlining's dead, no one will ever buy it. All we want are conventional silhouettes.' ( or something close to that )
Around 2010, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the head of truck design for Daimler-Chrysler-JEEP said to the effect, ' We're not about to build the most aerodynamic vehicle that no one will buy.' ( 'guess they're still stinging from 1934 )
Enter Greta Thunberg

[kach22i]

Polestar O₂ Concept revealed with autonomous drone footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93jwh0wkcjs&t=114s

The Polestar O₂ Concept is the company’s new fully-electric hero car. Yes, it features a drone that follows you as you drive to film your exploits, but the real science behind it is in its construction. The car uses bonded aluminum for its spaceframe, marked by grade so that it can be better disassembled and recycled when the car’s usability comes to an end. Likewise, the interior uses new “mono-material” thermoplastic rather than a mix of plastic, leather, wood, and so on, making separation before recycling unnecessary. It’s all part of Polestar’s goal to build a carbon neutral car from wheel to well by 2030.

The Polestar O2 EV is a modern Lancia Stratos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcpE1J3xwqE

No specs for the car were released, but the construction of the production ready aluminum platform is one you could only find in exotic sports cars a few years back. That, in combination with these Lancia Stratos proportions should make this one fun car to drive.

[kach22i]

Sony, Honda team up to develop and sell electric vehicles
https://www.reuters.com/business/aut...es-2022-03-04/

[freebeard]

Coincidentally, while you were posting that, i was watching:

The Lotus Elise is unlike any other car ever made | Revelations with Jason Cammisa

Glued joints at youtu.be/h0jXhOmL7Xg?t=360

I like the splayed fences on the Second Edition.

[Bicycle Bob]

Gad, it's depressing, hearing so much brag about a 2-place car that weighs more than a 60 year old, mild steel Mini. I read the trade press, and there is a constant stream of features on this new, lightweight component or that which has managed to offset bloat elsewhere, but generally at the expense of ruggedness, repairability, and cost.
If these people would just start with a velomobile and add what is needed, instead of trying to pare down a monstrosity evolved from locomotive technology to maximize profits, they'd have a chance of making something rational.

[freebeard]

If these people would just start with a velomobile and add what is needed,]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuXdaLc0byQ

[Bicycle Bob]

Yeah, the first Morgan trike used the exhaust pipes for frame members. This one is the heaviest yet. <sigh>

[C4Evermore]

Just finished making these fiberglass wheel covers for my RX7... Thought some of you might get a kick out of it. I know the increased frontal area of the front covers isn't great, but hopefully the decrease in drag makes up for it... and I just think they look cool 😁

[freebeard]

Cool

One mold or two?

As for the increased drag, you can't help the frontal area but the backsides will provoke a lot of turbulence. There may be a fix like horizontal strakes or something. It would be easy to monitor the driverside flare for A-B tuft testing.