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Photos: Aerodynamics is back
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By Paul A. Eisenstein ,
msnbc.com contributor
Aerodynamics is back.
In the 1980s, faced with rising fuel costs, automakers focused on improving aerodynamics as a way to increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, producing cars such as the now-famous Ford Taurus.
Today, with higher requirements for vehicle fuel efficiency on the horizon, automakers are trying it again, squeezing as much power as they can from every drop of fuel by reconfiguring car shapes, reducing drag, using lighter materials and redesigning front grilles.
Here’s a look at how automakers have optimized aerodynamics over the years to help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency in their cars.
(Ford / Wieck)
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The 1934 to 1937 Chrysler Airflow proved to have a tremendous impact on the automotive industry, revealing just how much a streamlined body could yield in terms of performance and fuel economy. Today, aerodynamic designs are all the rage as carmakers look for ways to meet tough new fuel economy standards without pricing their products out of the market. (Behind the Airflow is a “coffin-nosed” Cord, the first American car to introduce wind-cheating pop-up headlamps.)
(Paul A. Eisenstein / TheDetroitBureau.com)
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Critics derided the 1986 Ford Taurus as the “jellybean car,” but the automaker had the last laugh. The sleek, aero-styling gave the first-generation Taurus a radically distinctive look at a time when most car designers focused on sharp angles and creases. The midsize sedan’s softly rounded shape was eventually mimicked by most of Ford’s competitors. The so-called “aero look” lost momentum through the 1990s as millions of American motorists shifted to brutish-looking pickups and SUVs.
(Ford)
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The world’s first mass-produced gas-electric powered vehicle and still the most popular, the Toyota Prius introduced mainstream motorists to fuel-saving hybrid power. But the reality is that much of the fuel-economy gains that the Prius gets over more conventional cars are not the result of its advanced, battery-based drivetrain. Toyota officials acknowledge that the rounded shape and sealed underbody substantially reduce energy normally lost to wind resistance. The Prius also uses special, low-rolling resistance tires to further improve mileage.
(Mark Ralston / AFP - Getty Images)
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If the Chrysler Airflow revolutionized the way automotive designers looked at their products, a series of Mercedes-Benz race cars -- known as the Silver Arrows -- revealed that aerodynamics are even more important on a high-speed track. The streamlined models dominated the European race circuit through much of the pre-War decade. The Silver Arrow name reportedly came by accident. Legend has it that the 1934 Mercedes W25 came in just over the target weight of 750 kilograms (1650 pounds), so team manager Alfred Neubauer came up with the idea of scraping off the original white paint.
(Paul A. Eisenstein / TheDetroitBureau.com)
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Over the years, the motor sports world has rapidly exploited aerodynamic design in a quest for ever-higher speeds. That’s especially important in the Formula One series, where teams spend much of the off-season testing their latest aero concepts on track and in wind tunnels. The Ferrari team dominated much of the last decade. While former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was clearly a force to be reckoned with, Ferrari’s aero work was arguably almost as important.
(Bertrand Guay / AFP/Getty Images)
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Aerodynamic design does more than just reduce wind resistance -- it can also provide downforce to hold a car on the road, especially at higher speeds, while improving brake and engine cooling. The 2011 BMW 1M adopts the “Air Curtain” system originally introduced on the carmaker’s wildly popular Vision Concept vehicle. The system is used to compress and smooth out the airflow around the 1M’s wheels. The impact is a small but measurable improvement in aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, as well as a modest increase in brake cooling.
(Paul A. Eisenstein / TheDetroitBureau.com)
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An aerodynamic design that works at 40, 50 or maybe 60 mph might not be so effective at higher speeds, automotive developers have come to recognize. As a result, the industry is developing a variety of “active aero” technologies that can adapt accordingly. The wing on the rear of the Porsche Cayman -- and several other models from the German marque -- will adjust itself depending on how fast you’re driving.
(Porsche)
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Active aerodynamic technology has traditionally been used on race cars and high-end vehicles from the likes of Porsche, but as mainstream carmakers compete to break through the critical 40 mpg barrier, new active aerodynamic technologies are appearing on even some small, lower-priced models like the new Eco version of the Chevrolet Cruze and its competitor, the Ford Focus, shown here. These cars use special shutters mounted behind the grille to reduce wind turbulence under the hood. When the engine heats up, however, these grilles open to allow more air to flow past the radiator.
(Ford)
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An aerodynamically efficient design yields “free fuel economy,” according to Chris Theodore, a former chief engineer at both Chrysler and Ford. To maximize the wind-cheating potential of their designs, most major carmakers now operate wind tunnels (like this one at Chrysler) that can simulate speeds in excess of 150 mph. The car industry is also borrowing a tip from animated film companies like Pixar and installing advanced computer systems that can simulate real world situations with amazing accuracy.
(Chrysler)
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Car designers contend that aerodynamics is a “black art,” rather than a science, so even the seemingly best computer simulation needs ultimately to be proven out in a wind tunnel. GM discovered this when it tested the original concept version of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, which had sharp creases in the front bumper and a rounded tail. By simply reversing those shapes, designers increased the Volt’s range on battery power by more than 10 percent.
(Martin Klimek / AFP - Getty Images)
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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