Why Is The Prius Such A Drag?

[Smooth Operator]

I have always had pride in the low coefficient of drag (Cd) of the Prius.

Then I took a look on Wikipedia at the Cd of various cars. According to that source, there is a surprising array of vehicles that outperform the Prius on this criterion.

0.26 - Toyota Prius, 2004
0.26 - Vauxhall Calibra, 1989
0.25 - Dymaxion Car, 1933
0.25 - Honda Insight, 1999
0.24 - Audi A2 1.2 TDI, 2001
0.212 - Tatra T77 a, 1935
0.20 - Loremo Concept, 2006
0.20 - Opel Eco Speedster Concept, 2003
0.195 - General Motors EV1, 1996
0.19 - Alfa Romeo BAT Concept, 1953
0.19 - Dodge Intrepid ESX Concept , 1995
0.19 - Mercedes-Benz "Bionic Car" Concept, 2005 [2] (based on the boxfish)
0.16 - Daihatsu UFEIII Concept, 2005
0.16 - General Motors Precept Concept, 2000
0.14 - Fiat Turbina Concept, 1954
0.137 - Ford Probe V prototype, 1985

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeffic...s_and_examples)

So with all of the work by Toyota on Cd, it appears that we still have room for improvement. Maybe there will be a "new look" Prius. And maybe it will look like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Tatra_T_77a.jpg

[azzieo]

It seems like the Insight and the A2 are the only mass production cars that are a lil' better... Everything else is concept or old.. or both.

[hyo silver]

A perfectionist would say there's always room for improvement. As good as the Prius is in many ways, it could be better. Note most of the cars listed are design concepts, not production cars. Buckminster Fuller's 1933 Dymaxion is my favourite. It's amazing how far we *haven't* progressed in 70 years.

[rfred]

[quote]
I have always had pride in the low coefficient of drag (Cd) of the Prius.

Then I took a look on Wikipedia at the Cd of various cars. According to that source, there is a surprising array of vehicles that outperform the Prius on this criterion.

0.26 - Toyota Prius, 2004
0.26 - Vauxhall Calibra, 1989
0.25 - Dymaxion Car, 1933
0.25 - Honda Insight, 1999
0.24 - Audi A2 1.2 TDI, 2001
0.212 - Tatra T77 a, 1935
0.20 - Loremo Concept, 2006
0.20 - Opel Eco Speedster Concept, 2003
0.195 - General Motors EV1, 1996
0.19 - Alfa Romeo BAT Concept, 1953
0.19 - Dodge Intrepid ESX Concept , 1995
0.19 - Mercedes-Benz "Bionic Car" Concept, 2005 [2] (based on the boxfish)
0.16 - Daihatsu UFEIII Concept, 2005
0.16 - General Motors Precept Concept, 2000
0.14 - Fiat Turbina Concept, 1954
0.137 - Ford Probe V prototype, 1985

I'm not sure what your point is; how many of those cars listed above the Prius are actually sitting in someone's garage and are regularly driven? Or does the concept of "concept car" escape you?

[Scott_R]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Smooth Operator @ Aug 11 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]301786[/snapback]</div>

Then I took a look on Wikipedia at the Cd of various cars. According to that source, there is a surprising array of vehicles that outperform the Prius on this criterion.

0.24 - Audi A2 1.2 TDI, 2001

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Tatra_T_77a.jpg
[/b]

According to here and here the A2's Cd is 0.25

[Godiva]

Seems to me I see a lot of 'concept' and 'prototype' on that list.

Mind reducing it to cars that exist that you can acutally buy? (That eliminates the EV1 right off.)

[daniel]

The Prius could have had a lower CD if it had been a lower car. Do you want to give up a foot of head room to reduce the drag a bit? Or do you want to sit with your butt 6 inches off the pavement and have to struggle to get out of the car? The point of the Prius is that it achieves phenominal mileage and cleanliness without sacrificing comfort or performance!

[Tideland Prius]

You forgot the LS430 at 0.25 with air suspension

What about the Saturn GM EV1?

[jimmyrose]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Smooth Operator @ Aug 11 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]301786[/snapback]</div>

Then I took a look on Wikipedia at the Cd of various cars. According to that source, there is a surprising array of vehicles that outperform the Prius on this criterion.
[/b]

I'm not sure Wikipedia is an accurate or reliable enough source to base such claims on...

[Autosmiler]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Smooth Operator @ Aug 11 2006, 06:21 PM) [snapback]301786[/snapback]</div>

So with all of the work by Toyota on Cd, it appears that we still have room for improvement. Maybe there will be a "new look" Prius. And maybe it will look like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Tatra_T_77a.jpg
[/b]

I don't see how that car in the last link would have a better Cd than the Prius. Or is that not what you were implying? Maybe I just don't understand aerodynamics...