Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn From: dcn@ihuxl.UUCP (Dave Newkirk) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Drag Coeff Information Message-ID: <947@ihuxl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 2-Mar-84 09:48:06 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxl.947 Posted: Fri Mar 2 09:48:06 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 3-Mar-84 11:03:50 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 12 The drag coefficient is the total aerodynamic drag of a car divided by its frontal surface area. It shows how well a car is designed to reduce its air resistance independent of its size. Some cars that look very sleek have poor drag numbers, such as the Porsche 928 (~.45) and the old Chevy Corvette. Good drag coefficients for new cars are between .35 and .4, and some are even lower. Graphs that depict all the sources of resistance to forward motion in a car clearly show that air resistance becomes important at 40 mph and increases rapidly with speed. A low drag number also means reduced wind noise and better fuel economy at highway speeds (as well as higher top speeds!). But don't place too much importance on the drag coefficient - it's only one way to improve performance. Dave Newkirk, ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn