I've been wondering what else could be done to improve the MINI's aerodynamics (very little in reality I suspect), and what sorts of things would make the biggest differences. It seems to me (not that I know anything) that some of the biggest benefits would come from increasing downforce on the front wheels. Looking around the net for various ideas, I found these pics of the 2006 Subaru WRC car which has a couple of interesting features. Now I know these aren't features exclusive to this car, but they illustrate them well.
http://www.auto-show21.com/motershow...05/subaru.html
(Scroll down for the Sti pics)

The two things that stand out are the rubber skirt along the front bumper, and the angled wing like splitter in the lower air intake.
Does anyone know if either of these would add anything of benefit to the MINI? The front air dam seems like it would be reasonably easy to fabricate - just attach something cheap and flexible to the existing air dam beneath the bumper. I would assume that it would help in diverting more air around the car than under it.
The angled intake 'wing' doesn't seem too hard either... a couple of brackets coming down from the bumper, with a nice curved piece of CF attached should do the job, and visually it looks like it would add a decent amount of downforce.

Would these make any difference? Is there any good way to measure downforce to test effectiveness? Would they just be bling?

 

here you go:


Valley View
Diamond-Lok "T" Shape Brick/Paver Edging

Model DLF-6

Price: $7.13/ea

 

Looks like that would do the trick. Trim down the tabs on one side, and remove them from the other, then mount in front of the existing air dam. Air pressure would keep it vertical, but it would be able to pivot forwards if you caught it on something.. Nice find.

Does anyone have any recommendations for books on car aerodynamics? I'm sure there's lots more stuff that could be done, the downside being that the MINI might start to look like a bit of a rice rocket with all sorts of fins attached.

 

Isn't MINI Aerodynamics an oxymoron?

 

Yeah, pretty much, but everything helps, right?

Reducing airflow under the car and creating a little down force can't be a bad thing though? It's never going to be an Exige, but it's a fun mental excersize to see what could help it's brick-like qualities.

 

What about those under car little wings?? Im not really sure what thier called but they help funnel out air from under the car...would those work?

 

Front end splitter?

 

A splitter adds downforce on the front wheels= better grip.

An air dam to divert air around the bottom would helf, but at stock height I'm already scraping the ground as it is.

If you really want to improve airflow on the MINI, the biggest gains are from cleaning up the airflow on the rear end. Rear divierter and anything to clean up the air coming off the sides of the car. 50% of air resistance is how the air comes off the back of the car, clean up that turbulance and the MPG and stability at high speed will increase, I'm currently thinking EVO type srark fins on the sides.

Also sooth out the bottom. get what air is under the car too move out quickly.

Just be 100% if you track your car you aren't throwing yourself in a class where you're in over your head.

 

^^ yeh, MISFITOY, where's that dang rear diffuser you said you were going to do??!!!

 

better yet where is that surface data we're looking for so we can fix up all the aero and do actual windtunnel equivalent testing of ideas.

 

It worked for me in 1991...it'll work today...full skirt

 

The original was known as "the flying brick". Drafting/tailgating a humvee or semi should do the trick. Or what motor on said. Oh, & loose the 2 extra rearview mirrors

 

rear diffuser!!!

 

Something like this?



MISFITOY, that's the first Honda I've seen that I can really say I love the look of. You obviously choose your career well.
Did the skirts make a percievable difference at street (ish) speeds?

bmweater, those undercar wings apparently made a difference to Randy Webb's car. I'd be curious to know how they'd compare to a whole under tray that smoothed out the bottom of the car. That coupled with a rear diffuser would probably give the best gains.

motor on, good idea with the Evo style fins on the sides. Would look kinda ugly though. I'm sure I remember someone adding splitters of some sort on the rear windows to help in the same sort of way.

 

Yes...it really stuck to the pavement Not very practical as it was so close the ground all around and it hit everything taller than a sleeping hamster...touch to jack up too:impatient

That's a nice CAD diffuser you found...if only I had surface data for the Mini I could stop talking and show something:impatient

 

The diffuser was something I put together last night for fun. It's only based on the low res 3D model I bought from Turbosquid, and that's far from accurate unfortunately. If you had the surface data, would have have the capability to do proper CFD sims? That is obviously the best way to test if any of this stuff works the way it should...

 

Very impressive...what kind of software are you using?

 

..g00d werk man.

 

O'Tay let's stop talking about this & somebody make it, I've got my check book out

 

All i have to say is that grafic is so sick!

 

I didn't mean to get anyone's hopes up; I can design stuff like this fairly easily, but fabrication is far beyond my means.
Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see it happen though!

It's done in Lightwave, so it's not exactly high end CAD software, but it's good for knocking stuff like this together quickly.

Here's another pic so you can see how it looks from behind.