Anyone see Mythbusters Dirty vs. Clean Car* episode last night? The put large golf ball-like dimples on a car and showed that they reduced drag enough to increase mpg by 11% at 65 mph.

So, I'm wondering, when will someone come out with a dimpled aero kit?

*See "Dirty vs Clean Car High Speed-3"

 

I did see the episode last night. Although the car was about 10% more efficient, I don't think I'd drive around in a dimpled car

 

What about Smart Cars - they already look like golf carts.....

 

I've seen a company that sells a vinyl film for this application. They're targeting commercial vehicles right now because it will pay for itself quickly.

I would love to cover a sport bike in it...

 

Um....
It's obvious to this reader that the obvious car for this treatment is a VW - wait for it......Golf. Used for target practice on the driving range.

How many puns are in that?????

 

Just move to Texas and leave it outside during a brutal hail storm.. and there you have it, dimpled car.

 

Many years ago in the old CAN-AM series ther was a car that was dimpled like a golf ball. I believe it was driven by Sam Posey. Don't think it was driven more than a couple races. Maybe some of the other old-timers can chime in.

 

I could see it becoming very popular in Japan, then working its way over here. Or, as the mythbusters said, "...NASCAR..."

Could become a government mandate to reduce our dependence on Mid-East oil.

I totally saw that coming.

Or, better yet, I have a cousin in Oklahoma...

 

RACECAR Engineering:The International Journal of Motorsport Technology
Dimpled Aerodynamic Surfaces

Very informative F1 Technical forums:
Golf Ball Aerodynamics
How about dimples?
The "Dimple Effect"

FastSkinz Vehicle Wrap Think we gotta let Vinyl Styles know about this. Jeees Keeed.

 

I can't drive 65

 

My son's 2000 Focus got hammered by a hail storm. It has more dimples than Shirley Temple. He has been telling his friends the dimples are a special aerodynamic option. Now he has Mythbusters to back up his BS.

Kevin

 

Remember it just isn't random dimples. It is very evenly distriputed and calculated. Like Mythbusters is

 

Saw the episode as well...

On a moderatly serious take on it, I wonder if there would be a similar effect if just used on the trailing edges (ie along the back edge of the roofline or decklid (for sedans)) I wonder if it is the same premiss that led to the little "wings" on the roofline edge of the EVO. Presumably it would help performance as well as MPG (although I have no idea if it would effect handling.)

I'm sure, if true, it will be looked at more by car makers in this MPG crazed world.

 

"Vortex Generators"

From what I understand they are supposed to disrupt the airflow comming over the car so that it provides greater downforce on the wing. I still can't stand those things.

 

You could do a mid wing like the STi too. But that wouldn't work on the Cooper

 

I think anything that would reduce the "wake" would work. Mythbusters put dimples all over, but I suspect there may be certain locations that are more important. I can't see the dimples on the hood having much effect on the wake. Spoilers or vortex generators in the right places might work as well. A few years study with a wind tunnel might sort it out.

Most of the world has been "mpg crazed" for a longtime. It is just the USA where gas has been cheap. If we were paying for the true cost at the pump (including climate and national security costs) we would be mpg crazed as well, rather than mpg resistant.