How Aerodynamics Affect The Top Speed Of Your Car (And What Carmakers Do To Minimize Drag)
How Aerodynamics Affect The Top Speed Of Your Car (And What Carmakers Do To Minimize Drag) In nature, the most aerodynamic shape is that of a drop of water, which has a coefficient of drag (Cd) of 0.05. Unfortunately, this is not a practical shape for a vehicle. An object’s Cd, or how much drag it has, is calculated by determining its frontal area and its speed squared. A vehicle’s Cd is directly related to how aerodynamic its shape is, how much frontal area it has (larger vehicles usually have more frontal area), and its speed — such that doubling the car’s speed will produce four times the drag....