Low Cw value
When you think of fairings and cars, you might think of the post-oil crisis fairing wonders of the 1970s, such as the Audi 100 and the Ford Sierra, or recent examples such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Mercedes EQ models. Nevertheless, a low Cd value has played a role in the car world for a hundred years. Every decade had its models that beautifully combined streamline, aesthetics and relevance.
Rumpler Tropfenwagen (1921)
The ‘drop car’ conceived by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler is considered to be the first series-produced car in which low air resistance played a prominent role in its development. The Cd value of 0.28 is excellent even by today’s standards.
Tatra T77A (1935)
Together with the Chrysler Airflow of 1934, the most important smooth boy of the 1930s. With its drag coefficient of 0.21 (!) This Czech was not only bizarrely well streamlined, the underlying technology was also very modern for that time.
Saab 92 (1949)
Aircraft manufacturer Saab started experimenting with cars in 1945, which led to the slim prototype Ursaab 92001. Aerodynamics logically played a major role, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.30 for the 92, Saab’s first production car.
Citroen DS (1955)
Not the most impressive of this list in terms of Cd value (0.36), but unsurpassed in terms of aesthetics and relevance. And the DS looks streamlined with its tapered butt, which is also worth something.
Alfa Romeo Giulia (1962)
Believe it or not, this square Italian box has a Cd value of only 0.34, thanks to the wind tunnel. The model is low and narrow, the corners are rounded, the bonnet rises slightly at the windscreen and the roof extends far back.
Lamborghini Countach (1974)
It looks nothing like the most aerodynamic shape possible (a droplet), but is nothing short of impressive in all its extreme wedge-shaped angularity. With a drag coefficient of 0.42, the Countach scores worse than a Fiat Ritmo… Didn’t you think?
Vauxhall Calibra (1989)
The textbook example of the aerodynamic 1990s. With a Cd value of 0.26, the slender Manta successor was very smooth on paper and in person. Record holder for ten years, until the arrival of the Honda Insight.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl