Auto-Labo streamlines the Prius, aesthetics be damned
When we find modded cars such as the Smart or the Tesla, we always raise an eyebrow about the impact this might have on fuel economy. However, this is not the case with the Aerocivic or the vehicle you see above: a modded Prius that is supposed to have an even lower aerodynamic drag than the original. According to AutoLabo, the creators said the current build opens the door to more "eco-tuning," leaving aside questions about the look of huge fenders and nearly-impossible additions that cover the rear wheels. Does it really work? We're not sure, since CO2 figures were not released. But, if you'd like to tune your Prius and see for yourself, the kit is currently being shipped from Japan.
Gallery: Aero-modded Prius
[Source: Auto-Labo via Le Blog Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Barry 4:28PM (12/09/2008)
Who cares about CO2? What most people care about is the potential MPG improvement and cost savings. CO2 is 1/2 of one percent of the atmosphere. That's .005%. Global temperatures have cooled at least the last two years and some say since 1998.
Barry
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BoneHeadOtto 9:01PM (12/08/2008)
Actually makes it look more futuristic. The rear under spoiler is more attractive than a Corvettes IMO. A production quality version of this same thing could look a lot better. But question... why go to all this trouble and then replace the aerodynamic Prius wheels with those. Prius have those 1/2 hubcaps to improve aerodynamics.
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Finisher 9:09PM (12/08/2008)
I have a friend... an engineer who is working in "Solar Impulse" project in Zurich. This friend was always telling me a wise sentece...
"Five yars and a half are spent in a wind tunnel by docens of engineers in Toyota/Mercedes/Honda headquarters only to improve air friction one or two percentual points and... when the car comes on the market, there is always a silly guy putting on it a rear wing".
I think this is some of that kind, trying to fool all of us.
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Mike!!ekiM 10:25PM (12/08/2008)
Which only proves maximum aero-efficiency isn't really the goal. Aesthetics seems to come first.
But, yes, wings only add drag. No one's really going fast enough to need more down force. Especially funny is downforce on a front wheel drive ricer.
BoneHeadOtto 11:16PM (12/08/2008)
quite wrong mike. Many of the spoilers reduce lift. This is adding downforce and making it so your car does not take to the air when going fast. Obviously adding a downward force creates drag. This drag is often far greater in higher performance cars. That is why a car like a Ferrari Envo has such high drag for such an aerodynamic car. But some spoilers can improve aerodynamics like the one on the trunk of the hybrid civic.
Joe 11:09PM (12/08/2008)
Aesthetics will always come before Aerodynamics. People still have to buy the thing. And it has to be safe.
Also, this looks like more of a performance mod than anything else. Oversized exhaust, aftermarket wheels to reduce weight (but probably increase drag) and that rear diffuser in the body panels is going to provide down-force at the expense of drag.
This Prius is designed for speed, not fuel economy.
Also, you still need rear down-force if you plan on driving a FWD car quickly, otherwise you are just asking to spin out. The rear diffuser here accomplishes this. Of course you need down-force in front as well, but the rear is still needed.
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Joe 11:10PM (12/08/2008)
One more note, it also looks like it has been lowered. This reduces drag and generates some amount of down-force. It also would improve the performance of the rear diffuser.
tankd0g 7:59AM (12/09/2008)
So Honda copies the Prius with the new Insight and no people are trying to turn the Prius into the old insight?
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bigglesworth 12:35PM (12/09/2008)
Reply to Post#2 (by: Finisher)
Your friend seems a bit narrow minded...Its not ALL about the drag coeficient....its all about the car selling...period...They design the car as radically as they can without scaring people away...
To your "friend's" same point, dont you think the big carmakers, with ALLLL the research you claim they invest, already know the rediculously low drag the Aptera design has? But they didnt design the prius or whatever after that design did they....they scrapped the idea because its too "radical" and wont sell as well as a somewhat "normal" looking hatchback design...(pruis for example)..
So tell your engineer friend to keep working on this solar project and leave the design upgrades to the silly guys...
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Finishero 4:11PM (12/09/2008)
To your or whoever's concern, I was (and my friend was) talking about technical specs only, not about selling cars. I was only referring to the Xavier Navarro's question ("Does it really works?"). Sorry if I wasn't clear enough.
And... Aye, I'll tell him to keep working in that project, because I really believe that if he works in such a project, in the desing of such a plane ( http://www.solarimpulse.com/ ) is due to he has a wide knowledge of he was speaking about.
bigglesworth 4:42PM (12/09/2008)
Well I want to speak technically too, I do not think cars are made using all of the research that is collected on drag efficiency...They use as much as they can without sacrificing other key areas such as marketing and sales, as previously mentioned, or safety for example...obviously a lighter car would be a more efficient car but its a trade-off for safety, etc..ALL aspects of the car play a role in its creation.
Technically, the research may be done by these big corporations but that doesnt mean it was executed...therfore leaving some room for the DIY'er to come along and improve it...So to Xavier Navarro's question, I say YES it can really work, please see Ecomodder.com for additional informaion related to this type of modification. And most importantly Xavier, dont let anyone tell you it cannot be done...
I wish your friend luck on the solar plane project. The more clean energy information that is spread around the more we can educate the ignorant masses.
Noah 3:30PM (12/09/2008)
It looks like the changes here may have helped, though I'd like to get some more specs. E.g. - did they make the bottom of the car covered (and flat) so that air doesn't get trapped around suspension and other components? Are those wheels lighter? Are the tires still low-rolling resistance? If so, then I imagine that it would get better mileage (perhaps 10%?)
And when the car is engineered, they can't have the optimal drag co-efficient. They have to think about ground clearance, cost, and space. They do get the best compromise for making it sellable. Not everyone who buys a prius would buy this prius, even if it gets 10% better mileage.
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bigglesworth 4:45PM (12/09/2008)
Barry you are correct, lets not concentrate on CO2 because thats not going to sell cars, or conversions, what sells is the bottom line...MPG...
with MPG savings comes emissions savings, so lets not worry about it as it comes with the other more "consumer friendly" variable....
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