Reducing Aerodynamic Drag

Reducing a vehicle's aerodynamic drag can improve a car's fuel economy, say automakers. Not only can designers make it easier for a car to push through the air, automakers report drivers can also pull their weight by removing unused bike, ski or luggage racks off the vehicle's roof. Available video includes general views of the Chevrolet Volt and other aerodynamically designed cars, soundbites on improving fuel economy and an edited package on how to save on gas by reducing a car's wind resistance.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• GM
• Aerodynamics
• Auto
• Video
• News
• Car
• accident
• crash

[stormthorgerson]

you dont reduce aerodynamics, you improve it

[rhedges]

Having the same coefficient of drag a corvette means nothing. The larger car will still have more drag because of its larger cross-sectional area. The wing of a fly could have the same coefficient of drag as that corvette, but in the end of course since its much smaller it has less drag. A coefficient is non-dimensionalized by area, air density, and dynamic pressure. These guys are def. not engineers, and sound like idiots. They probably misused turbulent and turbulence about ten times.

[catalinaumbert]

Citroen came out with this desing in 1955. Even though it is a full size 4 doors sedan, it has a drag coefficient of 0,25,slighly better than the 2012 Prius.

[sahaja75]

0:28 Could someone tell me - what's the position of this person (Nina Tortosa) ?

It says - an Aerodynamic Engineer, but is it possible, someone like me to do this job ?

It's so hot in Philippines :D I need some blow...

Joking of course - i'm an Engineer too (from Europe) and a big fan of Aerodynamics.

If someone knows more about such position - pls, don't hesitate to write me.

Thanks

[BitterCanuck]

Bravo on the audio...

[deuctewelle]

@ginjopowder , my dog usually go sleep in my car's roof, after waxing my car, my dog can't go up the roof anymore as it slips incredibly and my fuel consumption also went down almost by half...it'll really pays to wax your car

[thomaskokthomaskok]

@stormthorgerson You reduce drag

[jovas14rocks]

anyone notice chris hansen is talking?

[Ferrariman601]

Keeping the car clean does have an effect, but it has to be incredibly miniscule when compared to other factors such as cross-sectional area, etc.

Something as simple as keeping your windows closed can also improve a vehicle's aerodynamics.

Unless you're a composites engineer however and can custom-make new body panels for your car though, your car's aero properties are what they are.

[itsmefergal]

Looking at your air foil video and looking at the roof box on my car I was wondering have the manufacturer got it facing the wrong way i.e. with the largest end at the rear of the roof (probably causing drag) and the wedge shape at the front of the car. I know it will look stupid with the big end facing forward and if will take a brave man to drive his car down the street and with it facing like an air-foil. Am I missing something with this air foil thingy!!