Sport Auto: Aerodynamic Figures

[Bruce]

This is the follow up to my Drag Coefficient thread, this shows what a number of various vehicles develop at 200 km/h in the Daimler-Chrysler Wind tunnel.The list isn't a long as you might expect, but it was only until recently Sport Auto started measuring both the front and rear aerodynamics (before, only rear)


Essentially there are four categories, and they follow as: Vehicles with all-around downforce, vehicles with neutral downforce, vehicles with mixed (half lift/half downforce) and lastly vehicles where there is lift all-around. Vehicles will be listed alphabetically.

*Please note there are vehicles missing (987 Boxster S and etc)

Front end = Rear end

Green Lettering will indicate downforce

Red lettering will indicate lift

Grey lettering will indicate netural


Vehicles with downforce all-around



Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2: 34kg= 1kg

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, optional spoiler 34kg= 11kg

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: 19kg = 35kg

Pagani Zonda C12S 7.3: 8kg = 53kg

Pagani Zonda F: 1kg = 25kg

Porsche Carrera GT: 49kg = 40kg


Vehicles with all-around neutral aerodynamics:



Porsche 997 GT3: 0kg = 0kg



Vehicles with mixed aerodynamics



AC Schnitzer 6er Tension: 9kg = 8kg

Alpina Roadster S: 2kg = 40kg

Dodge Viper SRT-10: 15kg = 18kg

Ford GT:44kg= 2kg

Koenigsegg CCR:13kg= 11kg

Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale: 10kg = 21kg

Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM: 37kg = 12kg

Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG: 2kg = 33kg

Porsche 996 GT3: 13kg = 0kg

Porsche 996 GT3RS: 19kg = 25kg

Porsche 996 Turbo:7kg =6kg

Porsche 997 GT3 RS2kg =10kg




Vehicles with Lift all-around



AC Schnitzer V8 Topster: 65kg = 30kg

Audi B7 RS4: 34kg = 15kg

Audi 2.0 TT TFSI: 23kg = 24kg

Aston Martin V8 Vantage: 48kg= 13kg

Aston Martin DB9 Coupe: 42kg= 18kg

BMW 335i: 48kg = 28kg

BMW M6: 15kg = 26kg

BMW E46 M3: 5kg= 18kg

BMW E60 M5: 13kg= 19kg

BMW M3 CSL: 1kg = 10kg

BMW Z4 3.0CSi: 28kg = 43kg

Chevrolet Corvette C6: 54kg = 28kg

Ferrari F430 Berlinetta: 11kg = 6kg

Ferrari 575M Maranello: 61kg= 40kg

Jaguar XKR, 2007: 18kg = 22kg

Lamborghini Gallardo: 15kg = 18kg

Maserati GranSport: 50kg = 29kg

Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG: 23kg = 31kg

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG: 29kg= 33kg

Porsche Cayman S: 30kg = 19kg

Porsche 997 Carrera S: 20kg = 7kg

Porsche 987 Boxster S: 25kg = 20kg

Renault Megane Trophy Sport Auto Edition: 2kg =15kg

Volkswagen R32 MK2: 2kg= 34kg

 

[ree]

Wow!! The "Lift all-around" data are very impressive. It most be horror to drive these cars at top-speed!

 

[Imhotep Evil]

So now do I want uplift+uplift, downforce+downforce or neutral ?!

 

[Bruce]

So now do I want uplift+uplift, downforce+downforce or neutral ?!

The best situation would be downforce all-around, but neutral isn't bad either.

EDIT: For high speed driving like the Nurburgring the above is most likley best.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

So now do I want uplift+uplift, downforce+downforce or neutral ?!

Good question. My guess is that it depends what type of car you want when you're travelling at high speeds. I presume that cars with significant downforce in the front will make very good high speed cruisers because the steering will feel very "weighted", giving a sense of "stability".

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Another issue to keep in mind is that these numbers were obtained in a wind tunnel, which simulates flowing air around a stationary car. In essence it is measuring downforce or lift when the car is traveling at a constant velocity of 200km/h.

When a car is accelerating, there is shifting of weight towards the rear of the car, so this will add to "downforce" to the rear wheels.

 

[Zonda]

When a car is accelerating, there is shifting of weight towards the rear of the car, so this will add to "downforce" to the rear wheels.

Well, not aerodynamic downforce. When you accelerate the center of gravity is moved towards the back giving more weight to that area. Aerodynamic downforce does the same but using the air instead of forces.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Well, not aerodynamic downforce. When you accelerate the center of gravity is moved towards the back giving more weight to that area. Aerodynamic downforce does the same but using the air instead of forces.

Yup, agree 100%....that's why I put "downforce" in quotes. The bottom line is there will be more weight on the rear wheels when accelerating.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

No Z06 numbers ?!

 

[Bruce]

No Z06 numbers ?!

Not yet.. These figures are exclusive to Sport Auto's supertest so each of these vehicles has been through the test

 

[Osnabrueck]

Wow!! The "Lift all-around" data are very impressive. It most be horror to drive these cars at top-speed!

It's amazing to look at these numbers, because it gives us insight into the minds of the engineers who put work into designing these things.

The need for lift or downforce is dependent upon the car, and its particulars. It's great that a powerful, light track car like the Carrera GT would have lots of downforce. The same amount of downforce, however, cold be a disaster for a car like the Golf R32 or 335i.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Bruce]

It's amazing to look at these numbers, because it gives us insight into the minds of the engineers who put work into designing these things.

Glad you like the thread

The need for lift or downforce is dependent upon the car, and its particulars. It's great that a powerful, light track car like the Carrera GT would have lots of downforce. The same amount of downforce, however, cold be a disaster for a car like the Golf R32 or 335i.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sounds right to me

Maxinum downforce on Volkswagen R32 or a BMW 335i as you said wouldn't be correct and i'd simply say because those cars do not require that type of force generated upon the body. In the exotics, like the Carrera GT and Zonda which are vehicles which generate huge power and are capable of over 320 km/h it's obviously very important to have downforce.

 

[donau]

Great thread and really interesting information. Bruce, you are turning this forum into an encyclopedia Just kidding....but what is true is that this kind of information really adds a lot of value for all of us. So, thanks again

 

[klier]

Very cool thread. I'd love to see the numbers of a Formula One car

 

[Bruce]

Great thread and really interesting information. Bruce, you are turning this forum into an encyclopedia Just kidding....but what is true is that this kind of information really adds a lot of value for all of us. So, thanks again

My brain is an encyclopedia.. I'm a number bod, so you can expect even more of these threads in the future

Very cool thread. I'd love to see the numbers of a Formula One car

Glad you like the thread!

Sport Auto has never tested an F1 car before, but maybe i can find some numbers.

 

[Bruce]

I've obtained the Porsche 987 Boxster S aerodynamic figures thanks to Stefan (st-anger) at Jabbasworld

Porsche 987 Boxster S: 25kg = 20kg

 

[Bruce]

Just updated:

Aston Martin DB9 Coupe: 42kg= 18kg

 

[Matt]

I think the cars to look are both the GT3 and the M3 CSL considering their power to lap time ratio. Ok i just made that up but still aerodynamics probably has a lot to do with how well those light cars perform.

 

[Bruce]

Ok, just updated:

Jaguar XKR, 2007: 18kg = 22kg

 

[Bruce]

Ok i'm just updating a few that were missing,

Renault Megane Trophy Sport Auto Edition 2kg = 15kg