Reducing Fuel Consumption By Means of Aerodynamic ‘Add-On’ Devices

The scope for reduction of aerodynamic drag of passenger cars by ‘add-on’ devices has been examined by MIRA in a study sponsored by the U.K. Government. On a car of the popular ‘hatch-back’ style the drag was reduced by up to 31 per cent by these means without detriment to other aerodynamic characteristics. Fuel consumption tests with a similar car showed that with a combination of ‘add-on’ devices giving a 14 per cent drag reduction an overall fuel saving of 6 per cent could be obtained in mixed road conditions.