THE AERODYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROBE IV ADVANCED CONCEPT VEHICLE

The aerodynamic development and characteristics of a four-passenger advanced concept automobile are described. An overview of the areas of the vehicle design which were dealt with to obtain a drag coefficient value of 0.153 is provided. The interior packaging philosophy is outlined which led to the potential for packaging four to six passengers within an extremely low drag automobile. Parametric shape studies of the major surface design elements are documented from the contributing development testing. The particular design treatments adopted and the rationale behind the choice of design are examined for each of the aerodynamically-sensitive areas of the vehicle. Examinations of the unique solutions to vehicle cooling, ramp and curb clearance, front wheel skirting and vehicle attitude are presented. Full scale wind tunnel data is shown for the configurations examined and vehicle stability parameters compared with conventional vehicles.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vehicle Aerodynamic Developments SP-545; Passenger Car Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, June 6-9, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Santer, R M
  • Gleason, M E
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 23-50
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Pergamon Press Limited
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Coefficients; Drag; Mechanical stability; Motor vehicles; Vehicle design; Vehicle tests; Wind tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Concept vehicles
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381766
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 831000, HS-035 561
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM