Re: 2010 Prius same drag coefficient as original Insight
I think it shows that aerodynamics is a lot more complicated that it might appear at first glance.
For example, the Prius and Insight II are longer than the Insight, so their rear wheels are further back. The distance from the front of the car to the rear wheel is about 3 meters on the Insight and about 4 meters on the Prius. According to a chart in an aerodynamics book I have, the turbulent boundary layer at 3 meters is perhaps 4 cm thick, while at 4 meters it's about 5.5 cm thick. That might be enough to put the wheel well on the Prius into an area where the boundary layer is thick enough that the spats don't help very much.
|
