The most Aerodynamic car in the market?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ByWire @ Mar 1 2007, 11:19 AM) [snapback]398492[/snapback]</div>

Yes, and the most fuel efficient car in Production. It happens to be a mid-size sedan with excellent power response thanks to the Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Dennis

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ByWire @ Mar 1 2007, 11:19 AM) [snapback]398492[/snapback]</div>

I've seen it advertised and reviewed as having the lowest coefficient of drag on the market so I would presume so. What did you find that was lower? was it the EV1?

 

Be advised that a vehicle with the lowest "Coefficient of Drag" does not necessarily have the lowest overall aerodynamic drag. Lowest vehicle aerodynamic drag (whether a car or airplane) is a combination of lowest coefficient of drag, frontal area, and overall surface area. For example, a Boeing 737 has a much lower coefficient of drag than my little single engine airplane. However my little airplane has considerably less drag because of it's smaller size.

Keith

 

They crushed the MOST low drag coeficient car . . . the EV1. But another one pretty close to the Prius (and strange that it's so low) is one of the smaller Mercedes, which always reminded me of a box, in shape.

 

For real? Gotta do some research about Lexus.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 1 2007, 12:13 PM) [snapback]398652[/snapback]</div>

Well, it's the lowest drag coefficient car I can afford. Anyway, they may be some sports cars that have a lower Cd. At least I'm sure some racing cars do. Although I suspect not a great deal lower.

Dave M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 1 2007, 03:13 PM) [snapback]398652[/snapback]</div>

It gets the same 0.26 cd as Prius with regular suspension. Only if Prius comes with air suspension.

LS430 doesn't look too aerodynamic at all. It looks like a plan traditional sedan with trunk! How come it achieves the same as or better than Prius?

Dennis

 

I was pretty amazed to find that my Prius had a better cd than my old 2000 C5 Vette. :blink:

Pretty cool for a short little thing to do so well in a world where longer objects tend to be faster.

 

Hmm... I seem to remember having read (many years ago) that the Lamborghini such and such had the lowest Cd of any car, and it was the same as that of an F15, which is 0.16 or something to that effect?

I could be wrong... anybody care to research that?

It is true what has been said however that the Cd alone says relatively little about the effect that's going to have on your mileage. Your speed and prevailing winds are going to make a big difference.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 1 2007, 04:13 PM) [snapback]398652[/snapback]</div>

Sorry, but my bubble stands:

0.195 - General Motors EV1, 1996

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Balt @ Mar 2 2007, 06:17 AM) [snapback]398969[/snapback]</div>

Hi Balt,

.16 is not all that low as far as Aircraft go. The F15 has those very large intake ducts (there actually about 5 feet tall), which really messes up the sub-sonic Cd. The F15 was designed to exceed a Sukhoi fighter top speed that was walking away from the F4's of the day. Which is why it is compromised for sub-sonic drag, and optimized for supersonic flight.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Mar 2 2007, 10:46 AM) [snapback]399135[/snapback]</div>

No, it was burst. He said "on the market". Good luck finding an EV1 to buy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 2 2007, 12:20 PM) [snapback]399121[/snapback]</div>

There is an idea for a mod for Prius. Any cheap way to flatten out Prius underbody? It looks pretty flat to me when I do oil changes. Maybe I havn't seen Lexus underbody yet. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Mar 2 2007, 03:45 PM) [snapback]399179[/snapback]</div>

Errr, no he didn't say "on the market" ... if being picky-you-nie is important. Let me cut and past to help you :

"With a Coefficient of Drag od 0.26, is the Prius the best? I found the Insight was the only one better with a Cd of 0.25 but it's not in production anymore. Can anyone confirm the Prius is the most aerodynamic car in production?"

I see, "is the Prius the best?" . . . and a question of whether "the Prius is the most aerodynamic car in production". So David, with that burning issue resolved, used cars are "on the market" . . . so for your benefit, beside the Honda Insight mentioned already:

0.25 - Audi A2 1.2 TDI, 2001

So, that one fits in your "on the market" pigeon hole, I guess . . . but not ByWire's.

Also for ByWire's benefit (and to fit in his pigeon holed question ... ), one Mercedes is CURRENTLY in production matching the Prius:
0.26 - Mercedes-Benz W221 S-Class, 2006 (virtually the same as this year's I've heard)

Regarding the Lexus 430 that had 0.25 ~ it was "in production" in 2001. So if you're still need'n to be splitt'n your hairs . . . you can decide for your own benefit whether that car is in production ... or on the market ... or what ever. It doesn't fit in ByWire's pigeon hole, I guess.

As for the poster above inquiring about the Lamborghini? wikipedia show a couple models with drag coeficiency between 0.4 / 0.6 which sees kinda dismal for the money IMHO. As for the Ev1 . . . it WAS the lowest drag coefficient car put into production (lease only). Didn't mean for the words and thoughts to be such a stumbling block.

 

I wonder what the effective Cd is on people who do extreme drafting?

Specifically in 2000, someone from Car & Driver drafted a Ford Explorer averaging 58mpg and got 124mpg (see story > http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ting-much.html )

It's not everyday driving, nor do I recommed it for anyone with high blood pressure.

I'd like to see what a Prius could do, esp. if they went at 40mph.

 

Some examples on wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_o...es_and_examples