Looking to sponser Prius for free prototype products

[Hybrid Effects]

Yes I agree.
I think that during the process a fabing up the rear wheel skirts that there should be around a 1/2" space between the wheel/tire and rear fender skirt and let the form take on its own shape.

[bestmapman]

I just talked to Frank on the phone and he said that he would need the Prius for at least a week to start the fabrication for the wheel skirts. He has to make molds with the car jacked up and the wheels off. This is a little longer than I can spare my car right now, so if anyone else can meet with him please jump at it. He also said that he can come out to someone's house if they had an empty garage.

Frank said he has been in the car modification/auto body business for over 20 years and I believe that after talking with him he is very knowledgeable of the subject.

I beleive that the product will be very professional looking and painted to match the OEM paint job. A first class product.

He also mentioned making aero or flat hubcaps painted to match the car color out of carbon fibers.

So, if someone can spare a Pruis for about a week, we all can get rear wheel skirts.

[Flying White Dutchman]

Originally Posted by Hybrid Effects

Yes I agree.
I think that during the process a fabing up the rear wheel skirts that there should be around a 1/2" space between the wheel/tire and rear fender skirt and let the form take on its own shape.

side panels are for better aerodynamics
and you can only cover halfway because after that the wheels realy are wider then the body panels on the prius's lower part.
and when these side panels stick out just a bit i think it not good for the aerodymanics
the honda insight is designed for a reason with a less wider body on the back.

[Bob64]

Dang, A week sounds a bit rough - especially if we depend on the car for daily commutes to work...

Anyway to piecemeal it with multiple sessions?

[zenMachine]

I vote for fender skirts too. And subwoofer enclosures for the rear cubbies also.

Too bad this thread didn't start around Xmas time, as many of us would be on vacation and could loan the car for at least a week...

[Hybrid Effects]

Have no worries we will get side skirts on the Prius shuttle soon.
I am going to go ahead and start stocking some materials to do the side skirts. I have not found any one that is local but I have found someone that is willing to work with me and plan starting work on the side skirts with in a few weeks or sooner it is still touch and go at this time.

I am thinking so far that I can incorporate exstensions into the lower part of the skirts that point forward and rearward that will make up for the wheels protruding. That way maybe the wheel skirts will cover the whole wheel But until I acually get to work on the protoype I will not realy know what to do.

[treehggr]

Sounds very interesting. I'd definately purchase some wheel skirts.

[jukeboy]

I was actually thinking of the wheel skirts myself, like they have for low-riders as well as the more modern throwback PT Cruisers, something like this:

[Hybrid Effects]

Look at the way the wheel skirt bulges out where the front of the rear wheel is. There is not much you can do to keep the panel flat. I plan on only giving half inch clearance from wheel to skirt at any givin point I believe thats all you can do.

[Flying White Dutchman]

Originally Posted by jukeboy

I was actually thinking of the wheel skirts myself, like they have for low-riders as well as the more modern throwback PT Cruisers, something like this:

<IMG style="; WIDTH: expression(this.width > 800 ? 800: true); max-width: 800px" alt="" src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/phantomatrix/mybrid/racing-lashow112207/racingprius112207a.jpg" border=0>
<IMG style="; WIDTH: expression(this.width > 800 ? 800: true); max-width: 800px" alt="" src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/phantomatrix/mybrid/racing-lashow112207/racingprius112207b.jpg" border=0>

WAUWWWWW

i want 2

edit
you can clearly see the wider body needed for these side skirts