Photos of bottom of front bumper?

bwilson4web · 03-15-2009, 06:25 AM

I didn't get any photos of the area under the front bumper. In particular, I'm curious if there is a front air dam, regardless of size, or does the under body cover extend from the bumper smoothly towards the back?

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

ken1784 · 03-15-2009, 03:09 PM

Hi Bob,
I don't have a picture, but following video shows some air flow...

Ken@Japan

YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius Essential Efficiency

bwilson4web · 03-16-2009, 07:20 AM

Thanks Ken,

I'm still looking for front air dam photos. Julian Edgar has an interesting article about an air and tire dam for the NHW10, Browser Warning. I'm looking for photos like these. Inspired by Julian, I'm thinking about getting some rolls of duct tape and doing some road tests. <GRINS>

That is a nice video but I remember one just like it at the January 12, Detroit presentation of the 2010 Prius by Toyota. I must have missed seeing attribution of the source.

Bob Wilson

ken1784 · 03-16-2009, 09:15 AM

OK. I think it's called spats.
Prius Aerodynamic Under-covers

Ken@Japan

bwilson4web · 03-16-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken1784

OK. I think it's called spats.
Prius Aerodynamic Under-covers

. . .

Yesterday I was standing on a street corner waiting for the traffic light to change and about 1/3d of all cars had them. None of the pickup trucks and very few SUVs had them.

Bob Wilson

Rokeby · 03-16-2009, 01:27 PM

Bob,

I can extend your casual inquiry. Some six months ago, I too did a
visual survey at a busy urban intersection. I would guess that the
survey sample was some 3-400 cars in an hour's time.

Cars most likely to have an air deflector in front of the wheels include
almost all Japanese cars and the sportier German cars, BMW, Audi,
some VWs, and if I remember correctly, Pontiacs. Most American
cars... Well, forget about it.

The dams are never more than 3 inches in height and flat. They are
somewhat wider than the tire. There are usually mounted somewhat
inboard so that some 2 or 3 inches of the outer portion of the tire is
not masked. I take this to mean one or both of:
* As is, the dams accelerate the air sufficiently to arc out only just
enough to clear the tire.
* Air flow under the body, even this far forward, is not directly fore-
and-aft, but has an outward, sideways component. The dam is
positioned off-center to the tire to get max deflection from the
smallest horizontal dimension while fully masking the tire.

One man's take on this intriguing bit of aerodynamics.

warrior · 03-16-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken1784

Hi Bob,
I don't have a picture, but following video shows some air flow...

Ken@Japan

YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius Essential Efficiency

Thank you for the info

200Volts · 03-16-2009, 07:34 PM

No, there is no air dam on the 2010. The bottom of the front bumper is flat. The front wheels have "spats" like the other models.

03-15-2009, 06:25 AM	#1
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 7,495 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 783 Thanked 1,393 Times in 846 Posts Friends: 31	Photos of bottom of front bumper? I didn't get any photos of the area under the front bumper. In particular, I'm curious if there is a front air dam, regardless of size, or does the under body cover extend from the bumper smoothly towards the back? Thanks, Bob Wilson

03-16-2009, 07:20 AM	#3
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 7,495 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 783 Thanked 1,393 Times in 846 Posts Friends: 31	Re: Photos of bottom of front bumper? Thanks Ken, I'm still looking for front air dam photos. Julian Edgar has an interesting article about an air and tire dam for the NHW10, Browser Warning. I'm looking for photos like these. Inspired by Julian, I'm thinking about getting some rolls of duct tape and doing some road tests. <GRINS> That is a nice video but I remember one just like it at the January 12, Detroit presentation of the 2010 Prius by Toyota. I must have missed seeing attribution of the source. Bob Wilson

03-16-2009, 09:15 AM	#4
ken1784 SuperMID designer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yokohama, JAPAN Posts: 2,858 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: G Thanks: 51 Thanked 1,106 Times in 502 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Photos of bottom of front bumper? OK. I think it's called spats. Prius Aerodynamic Under-covers Ken@Japan

03-16-2009, 01:27 PM	#6
Rokeby Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ballamer, Merlin Posts: 2,890 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 589 Thanked 591 Times in 407 Posts Friends: 6	Re: Photos of bottom of front bumper? Bob, I can extend your casual inquiry. Some six months ago, I too did a visual survey at a busy urban intersection. I would guess that the survey sample was some 3-400 cars in an hour's time. Cars most likely to have an air deflector in front of the wheels include almost all Japanese cars and the sportier German cars, BMW, Audi, some VWs, and if I remember correctly, Pontiacs. Most American cars... Well, forget about it. The dams are never more than 3 inches in height and flat. They are somewhat wider than the tire. There are usually mounted somewhat inboard so that some 2 or 3 inches of the outer portion of the tire is not masked. I take this to mean one or both of: * As is, the dams accelerate the air sufficiently to arc out only just enough to clear the tire. * Air flow under the body, even this far forward, is not directly fore- and-aft, but has an outward, sideways component. The dam is positioned off-center to the tire to get max deflection from the smallest horizontal dimension while fully masking the tire. One man's take on this intriguing bit of aerodynamics. Last edited by Rokeby; 03-16-2009 at 01:34 PM.

03-16-2009, 07:34 PM	#8
200Volts Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 386 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Photos of bottom of front bumper? No, there is no air dam on the 2010. The bottom of the front bumper is flat. The front wheels have "spats" like the other models.

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