2nd Gen front side air intakes - what are the benifits

[chipmunk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The size of those intakes mean a few squirrels could be saved as well!

And my chipmunk brethren too!

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The front intakes are part of the whole system. To efficiently pull the air out you need to push some in.
As Niki said earlier the aero effect will probably be totally valueless under most driving conditions. The cooling effect will be even less.

This will probably be noticeable on highway speeds, reducing the drag on the wheel well.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Stonehorsw

This will probably be noticeable on highway speeds, reducing the drag on the wheel well.

I don't know that "noticeable" would be the word but yes it would have the most effect. It will relive some drag but there is still a pile of wheel well left.

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by Transport3r

Actually on some cars the vents behind the front wheels reduce drag enough to bump it up 1mpg on the highway, BMW made a big deal about it on the F3X 4 series.

I think some Mustang also have that. For the mpg reduction, there are so many ticks being pulled, on commercial vehicles, you can see spats on the front (european vehicles), some cuts on the rear bumpers and so on...

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I don't know that "noticeable" would be the word but yes it would have the most effect. It will relive some drag but there is still a pile of wheel well left.

Good thing is that this type of feature is easy to be validated. Block that and run on highway.

For brake temperature, i would not expect if not combined with a feature to direct the airflow to the center of the rotor

[timurrrr]

Just to make sure our discussion is based on the same facts, I took a few screenshots from

.

1) Inside of the intake on the sides of the BRZ bumper (~8:21 in the video):


2) The holes in front of the wheel, BRZ (~3:41 in the video):


3) The holes behind the wheel, GR 86 (~11:18 in the video):


My take:

• I don't see any evidence of additional airflow behind/inside the wheel. I'm not ruling out a possibility that there are other holes inside the fender liner that we can't see yet. But based on what I've seen so far, I don't think it's going to help with brake temperatures at all.
• It might help a bit with drag, but probably not due to extra airflow (the holes are just too small) but rather maybe helping guide/re-shape the primary airflow that goes around them.
• These will surely help create nice splashes on the doors in the rain

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Just to make sure our discussion is based on the same facts, I took a few screenshots from

.

1) Inside of the intake on the sides of the BRZ bumper (~8:21 in the video):


2) The holes in front of the wheel, BRZ (~3:41 in the video):


3) The holes behind the wheel, GR 86 (~11:18 in the video):

My take:

• I don't see any evidence of additional airflow behind/inside the wheel. I'm not ruling out a possibility that there are other holes inside the fender liner that we can't see yet. But based on what I've seen so far, I don't think it's going to help with brake temperatures at all.
• It might help a bit with drag, but probably not due to extra airflow (the holes are just too small) but rather maybe helping guide/re-shape the primary airflow that goes around them.
• These will surely help create nice splashes on the doors in the rain

Yeep! All that Borg implant like fender garish for very tiny vents. At least nobody can call the fake.
That ain't going to cool no brakes and your sure as hell not going to feel a difference even at highway speed.

[mazeroni]

It gives the salesperson something to talk about.

It validates the sports car image.


Potential shoppers will get all in a tizzy taking photos for social media and pointing out how cool and great their car is.

Dealers can add decals, stickers, or plastic inserts into the area that cost $5 but they will be charged to customers for $700... Like this:



The benefit is that dealer and marketing people won.

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Yeep! All that Borg implant like fender garish for very tiny vents. At least nobody can call the fake.
That ain't going to cool no brakes and your sure as hell not going to feel a difference even at highway speed.

Serious question: Are they "tiny" for a mass produced consumer car?

They do appear small, but are the vents on a WRX any bigger?

Do other mass produced consumer cars have bigger wheel vents?

I am not suggesting these vents accomplish great things... rather I am curious if they are atypically small compared to other mass produced consumer cars.

EDIT: I am of the opinion these are to reduce turbulence/improve gas milage... but I have NOTHING to back that opinion up with other than intuition.

[timurrrr]

They sure are bigger than those on A90 Supras

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Just to make sure our discussion is based on the same facts, I took a few screenshots from.

1) Inside of the intake on the sides of the BRZ bumper (~8:21 in the video):

2) The holes in front of the wheel, BRZ (~3:41 in the video):

3) The holes behind the wheel, GR 86 (~11:18 in the video):

My take:

• I don't see any evidence of additional airflow behind/inside the wheel. I'm not ruling out a possibility that there are other holes inside the fender liner that we can't see yet. But based on what I've seen so far, I don't think it's going to help with brake temperatures at all.
• It might help a bit with drag, but probably not due to extra airflow (the holes are just too small) but rather maybe helping guide/re-shape the primary airflow that goes around them.
• These will surely help create nice splashes on the doors in the rain

What I can see from here is that there are only vent holes inside the wheel fender for the lower half, so potentially the top half does come in from under the hood.

Aerodynamic effects at speed are pretty interesting, and the tire well is a particularly poor part of a cars aerodynamics. I'm a little more positive about the potential to add efficiency and cooling effect with that airflow, even with holes that size.

I'll note that the front intake exit into the wheel arch is not _that_ much much smaller than the hole the NSX uses to add break cooling, they both start with a bigger opening and have the air sped up into a smaller exit into the wheel arch.

The NSX also uses a thinner more elongated approach to apparently direct some of the air as a sheet to the outside of the wheel to reduce turbulent wheel arch from effecting the the air coming from the side of the car.

Its zoomed in pretty heavy here, but you can see its not a huge opening.

[Rampage]

Who are they trying to kid? Aero benefits? Better engine and brake cooling? Better MPG? Pfffft! They are obviously in cahoots with manufacturers of car cleaning products, car wash operators and even clothing manufacturers.

Those side vents will route slush, road salt, street grime and mud out behind the fenders and right along that nice aero(?) ridge they have grafted onto the body below the doors. It will collect all the grime and grit so it will look terrible and will ruin your slacks, dress clothes and the ladies dresses when they try to get in or out of the car.

It is brilliant! They can make some money on car sales and even more on side deals with the manufacturers who are going to benefit from cleaning products and replacement apparel.

[Sport-Tech]

^ No doubt you'll be able to get aftermarket solid grommets to plug those vent holes a few weeks after the cars hit dealers.

[chipmunk]

Jokes aside, I personally think this is more for aftermarket installations. You wanna put a turbo intercooler? Sure, just open up this vent! Need an oil cooler? Here's the other side vent!

On a side note, slight aero adjustments to front fascia can save 1-2 mpg at most, maybe enough for EPA bragging rights. But these vents don't seem to be that, given how much turbulence can be generated. Sure they'll reduce the stagnation points, but the wake can cause just as much drag.