Gen 4: ugly

Toyota claims a drag coefficient of .024 ........ and I have no reason o doubt the figure.

But as a layman, I wonder what contributes to such a low number (especially considering all of the "creases, edges, nooks, and crannies")
You would think they would trap air, and raise the drag coefficient. I suppose the predominant factors contributing to the low drag is the overall shape of the vehicle, and the flat belly shrouding?

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Yeah I don't think the angry look and the various nooks and tweaks are instrumental to the aerodynamics. Who knows though: there's some jets that have similar sharply angular shape. Oh I don't know, lol.

 

There is an answer, but it might be too complicated to understand without a wind tunnel demo. Just go with the aeroflow on this one.

 

Trapping air can be beneficial if the trapped air enhances the overall envelope. Just a guess. It's been a while since I watched the Mythbusters episode re: pickup truck fuel efficiency with tailgates up versus down.

Second source at autoblog.com with video.

 

I appreciate the above comments.

Aerodynamics is an interesting topic. I wish I was more knowledgable.
OK, I can see where "tapped air" might be beneficial, but it would seem that below a specific (unknown) speed ... it would be negligible.
Does it not seem that below a certain speed, aerodynamics would have little if any measurable impact?
Also, I wonder what impact on fuel efficiency a difference of say .024 to ,025 would have at 75 mph?

 

Some three seaters are quite alright...




(Female press photographer friend of my mum had one like this).

 

Yep beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When i watch prius i see aerodynamics technology research for a better mpg and whatever it helped the wallet these days are pretty !!!

Naa. The prius itself hold a kind of beauty hard to explain. The only prius i hated was the 1th gen. I have had 2 2nd 2004 and 2008 then 2011 now 2016. Ihave lne week with my gen4th and people complaining all the way about ugliness. I don’t care because i like it. And i made changes positive indeed. Tint windows 17”rims. And whatever you suggest will be welcomed. Mine is base but I think its a beauty. Still can’t stand the white urinary thing but maybe in time

 

I like your red!! Enjoy it.

I considered it, but it was going to be a 4 month wait to get one. Samantha is white.

PRIUS is very rare here - but it's by far nowhere near the ugliest car on the road. Personally, I like it.

When you realise that the black gloss needs dusting almost daily, you'll get to love the white highlights - mine hasn't shown any dust in 26 months. Have a look at a few other adventurous models - BMW i3 and i8 for a start - and PRIUS looks quite "normal". Passengers in mine have commented about how bright and airy it looks, not grey/black and sombre like many cars.

 

Ah, guessing your not a golfer.
The golf ball with its Bucky ball similarities flies far because of its dimples, Toyota has a billion hours in a wind tunnel becoming as effiecient as possible, an egg is not as fast as a golf ball, ha, the prime has no rear wipers.

 

I thought I'd seen a video of a PRIUS in a wind-tunnel - maybe a delusion?

All I could find in TOYOTA publicity is:
"The body height has been reduced by 20mm and the high point of the roof has been moved 170mm forward, ensuring plenty of headroom for front seat passengers while also contributing to excellent aerodynamics and an impressive 0.24 coefficient of drag (Cd). The lower center of gravity has also allowed the nose height to be brought down by 70mm and the rearmost section of the hood by 62mm, improving the driver’s forward view."

AND

 

What's that little "fin" for that is scabbed on to the rear fender lip on both sides of the car? It is hardly noticeable, but once seen, it cannot be unseen.

 

You mean this little one - which is on my previous car, FORD FIESTA - I have no idea:

 

Yes, it looks like they're getting bigger in a hurry

 

I find the interior to be beyond repulsive. I bought my car last week and have extremebuyers remorse. The multi color interior and the comfort are the issue- I was told the amount I lost in a week with under 200 miles on it is no different than the amount I will lose in a year. I’m actually embarrassed at my age driving something that looks pasted together with drapery by a kidnin home ec class. Wish it didn’t take until the morning after to realize it.

 

Miniature mud flap maybe?

 

You could be right - the Design Rules are "double dutch" to me, talking about:

"... horizontal plane ... axis of rotation of the wheels ... projection - situated in the vertical plane of the tyre axis ...depth of outer edge of the wheel guards ...vertical longitudinal plane ...".

All terminology which probably means something to someone - but could mean that the bodywork needs a little help with a flap to comply?

 

You'll get used to the interior - it's far better than many other boring cars on the road with all grey/black. Or worse, some with so many variants of grey that you wonder how many suppliers they used. PRIUS is supposed to be avant-garde - check out BMW i3 & i8 interiors - they make PRIUS look restrained.

As for the seats, I took a while to adjust it to suit me - steering wheel, height, lumbar adjustment etc - I'm mostly comfortable now. But, they're not the best seats out there.