Automotive aerodynamics

Automotive aerodynamics is the study and design of airflow around road vehicles. It shapes vehicle bodies and components to manage drag, lift, stability, cooling, and noise.

Aerodynamic drag: Aerodynamic drag is the force opposing an object’s motion through a fluid, including air. It is the main aerodynamic force limiting a car’s efficiency at speed.
Drag coefficient: The drag coefficient is a dimensionless measure of an object's resistance to fluid flow. It allows vehicle shapes to be compared apart from speed and frontal area.
Active aerodynamics: Active aerodynamics uses movable vehicle components to change airflow behavior during operation. Adjustable wings and vents adapt drag or downforce to changing driving conditions.
Vehicle styling: Vehicle styling is the design of a vehicle’s visual form and appearance. Styling preferences can conflict with smooth airflow and low drag.
Tatra 77: The Tatra 77 is a 1930s Czech luxury car known for its streamlined rear-engine body. Its form made aerodynamic streamlining a visible feature of a production road car.
Lift (force): Lift is the component of fluid force perpendicular to an object’s direction of motion. Vehicle lift can reduce tire loading and impair high-speed stability.
Frontal area: Frontal area is the projected area of an object facing the direction of motion. Drag depends on both a car’s drag coefficient and its frontal area.
Downforce: Downforce is an aerodynamic force that presses a moving vehicle toward the road. It increases tire loading and cornering grip, especially in high-performance cars.
Automotive packaging: Automotive packaging is the arrangement of occupants, components, and systems within a vehicle. Cabin space and mechanical layout constrain ideal aerodynamic proportions.
Chrysler Airflow: The Chrysler Airflow is a 1930s automobile designed around streamlined bodywork and passenger comfort. It was an early American attempt to apply aerodynamic thinking to mass-market cars.

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