Reduce lift and drag on fastback cars (and toppers)

[JulianEdgar]

Reduce lift and drag on fastback cars, and the approach is likely to work on SUV toppers too.

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

[COcyclist]

Thank you for another great video Julian. Now I wish I had requested that you do more testing of the Skoda Roomster before it went to it’s new home. I have a Golf TDI and I feel I have optimized aero everywhere except the back. I wonder if there are some gains to be had there? I have your book, but from page 134 it seems that your results from the roof extension mpg improvements were somewhat inconclusive.

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by COcyclist

Thank you for another great video Julian. Now I wish I had requested that you do more testing of the Skoda Roomster before it went to it’s new home. I have a Golf TDI and I feel I have optimized aero everywhere except the back. I wonder if there are some gains to be had there? I have your book, but from page 134 it seems that your results from the roof extension mpg improvements we’re somewhat inconclusive.

Well, I didn't want to make silly claims as to precise mpg improvements, as you so often see people do. I am pretty confident it worked.

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by JulianEdgar

Reduce lift and drag on fastback cars, and the approach is likely to work on SUV toppers too.

I meant to ask, what is meant by SUV “toppers”? Here in some parts of the U.S. a “topper” is an aftermarket shell that covers the bed of a pickup at the same height as the cab.

(Edited for clarity) And an SUV does not have an open bed like what we call a “Pickup Truck” here in the US. I believe I have heard the vehicles in your next post referred to as a “Ute” in Australian English usage? Or it that reserved for the unibody pickups like the Chevy El Camino?

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by COcyclist

I meant to ask, what is meant by SUV “toppers”? Here in some parts of the U.S. a “topper” is an aftermarket shell that covers the bed of a pickup at the same height as the cab.

Actually here in Australia they're called 'canopies'.

I meant that the approach taken in the video could, I would think, be used to reduce drag and lift on people modifying their trucks like this:

[freebeard]

I've always wondered why the NASCAR Camping World race trucks don't have an aerocap instead of those big spoilers.


https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedsport-...88-300x180.jpg

You'd think Camping World could sell a few race-inspired canopies.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I've always wondered why the NASCAR Camping World race trucks don't have an aerocap instead of those big spoilers.


https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedsport-...88-300x180.jpg

You'd think Camping World could sell a few race-inspired canopies.

They don't reflect the body templates NASCAR uses to qualify vehicles for competition.
Only Cybertruck would have anything approaching such a shape.

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I've always wondered why the NASCAR Camping World race trucks don't have an aerocap instead of those big spoilers.

Race on Sunday, sell on Monday. Here in America we love big tough looking pickup trucks.

[Piotrsko]

Regarding race trucks: might be the rules trace back to amateur truck racing in Bakersfield at Famoso, in the '80's whereby the truck had to remain a truck, no aero, because the truck went to work Monday in the oil fields.