Aerodynamism: We take for granted

The study of aerodynamics has influenced the way cars cut through air, aiming to reduce their drag while at the same time adding downforce. After scale production, the elements are tested in state-of-the-art wind tunnels after which final production can start. On the Abuja- Kaduna highway many of the drivers hitting the 200km/h mark are […]

The study of aerodynamics has influenced the way cars cut through air, aiming to reduce their drag while at the same time adding downforce. After scale production, the elements are tested in state-of-the-art wind tunnels after which final production can start.

On the Abuja- Kaduna highway many of the drivers hitting the 200km/h mark are often users of the Peugeot 406 or 407, at times some hit 230km/h which the 2 liter engine can do. Honda Accord user often don’t stay long at that mark perhaps because the car seems to float a lot on the uneven surfaced highways. With the 406 its pinifinarian design which, also shared with the prestigious Ferrari 599, keeps it controllable at high speed which is a challenge the 408 will have to beat. But with the Honda Accord, a lot is stripped of for less weight and easy maneuvers unlike its younger sister, the Civic is better in generating down force.

Actually, economy cars have more in common with race cars than you might think and we’re not talking about tuned or tricked out Fits or Corollas. Right out of the factory, car racing technology has influenced production of cars in some surprising ways.

Car racing teams have always sought to build the fastest and best-performing cars possible. They’ve enlisted some of the top car designers and engineers to help with the job. When car racing has a breakthrough, it is almost always applicable in some form to mass-produced cars, as a result, race technology has influenced many of the components of the car sitting in your driveway from the basic engine design, to the position of the ignition, and even the rearview mirror.

For instance, more rounded designs and shapes on the exterior of the vehicle are crafted to channel air in a way so that it flows around the car with the least resistance possible. Some high-performance cars even have parts that move air smoothly across the underside of the car. Many also include a spoiler also known as a rear wing  to keep the air from lifting the car’s wheels and making it unstable at high speeds. Although drag reduces top speed somewhat, the increase in cornering speeds makes for faster lap times, so some drag is acceptable.

The experience of the spoiler is it can create unstable behaviours for other cars at high speed. Cars that exhibit this kind of behaviour are Toyota Corollas with spoilers and sometime the 406 prestige.  We were able to find out that some drivers find it quite a drag in trying to overtake car with spoiler and they often need a distance or need to get very close which is very dangerous because most Nigerian drivers are unpredictable. The problem is that the air flow is scattered when it passes over the spoiler making it difficult for the car behind to over take.