Do AERODYNAMICS Effect MPG?

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:38:42 +0000

Of all the factors contributing to poor gas mileage; your car’s drag co-efficient is probably not at the forefront of your mind. Well the shape of your auto determines whether it cuts through the wind like a hot knife in butter or plunges through like a big square brick. Countless hours and millions of dollars are spent in the wind tunnels of the largest car companies trying to lower that drag co-efficient to minimal levels. A vehicle like a hummer is at the very high end of the scale with a drag coefficient of 26.5! While the compact gas sipper Honda Insight is at the low end with a paltry 5.10. So all things being equal….the body style of the Insight is much suitable for a car that can get more than 40 miles per gallon without breaking a sweat.

How many times have you heard that as a truck owner it is beneficial to drop the tailgate when driving on the freeway? Well let me tell you my friend that the best way to save gas in a pick-up truck is to get a tonneau cover. The slicker the surface area and the less amount of direction the wind has to change the better for your drag coefficient. I know the wheel covers on the rear of the Insight is UGLY. But you don’t drive a Hybrid for the looks do you?

The design of the Old Skool Insight was so 90’s. Fast forward to today and with the release of the redesigned Insight, we get a familiar wedged shaped hybrid with almost the same drag coefficient as the ultra slippery 1-st generation Insight. Thank God the Honda engineers took looks into consideration this time around!

Source: Wikipedia Automobile Drag Coefficient

Honda Certified Hybrids » 1999

Do AERODYNAMICS Effect MPG?