Has anyone considered this before? Audi were able to change the aerodynamic coefficient of the A2 from 0.28 for the standard model to 0.25 for the 3L by making some subtle bodywork alterations.
One of these was closing the gap a fair bit at the front grille for engine air intake. They could do this because the engine in the 3L was rated at lower power. Some cheap bits of plastic blanked off half the grille leading to considerably improved aerodynamics.
So how about this for a cheap/easy mod to improve highway mpgs for the Insight?
Run two bicycle brake cables through from the dashboard to the front of the vehicle. Pulling on one closes off the aperture for engine air intake in front of the radiator. Pulling the other one opens it up. This mode could be called ‘Manual Aerodynamic Enhancement’ (MAE)?
If things get too hot, then just open it up (most of the time I think Insight would be fine with half the flow-through air for cooling – it has been designed to work in the desert etc after all). If everything OK and driving at speed, close it up a bit. In future, the opening / closing could be made automatic with a simple engine coolant thermostat (‘Automatic Aerodynamic Enhancement’, AAE?).
Could be a fairly cheap/easy mod!
Would be interesting to see if it improves mpgs at highway speeds.
One of these was closing the gap a fair bit at the front grille for engine air intake. They could do this because the engine in the 3L was rated at lower power. Some cheap bits of plastic blanked off half the grille leading to considerably improved aerodynamics.
So how about this for a cheap/easy mod to improve highway mpgs for the Insight?
Run two bicycle brake cables through from the dashboard to the front of the vehicle. Pulling on one closes off the aperture for engine air intake in front of the radiator. Pulling the other one opens it up. This mode could be called ‘Manual Aerodynamic Enhancement’ (MAE)?
If things get too hot, then just open it up (most of the time I think Insight would be fine with half the flow-through air for cooling – it has been designed to work in the desert etc after all). If everything OK and driving at speed, close it up a bit. In future, the opening / closing could be made automatic with a simple engine coolant thermostat (‘Automatic Aerodynamic Enhancement’, AAE?).
Could be a fairly cheap/easy mod!