If you are into motorsports or like exotic cars then you may have encountered the Chaparral 2J. It was a race car that had wrap around skirts and a fan beneath the car to aid in aerodynamics. It looked funny but it turns out that the design was revolutionary. Now, Ariel is introducing a concept car that has the same technology.
Meet the Ariel Aero-P concept car.
The Ariel Aerodynamic Efficiency Requirements and Optimization Project or Aero-P for short is a prototype car that showcases the technology that was in the Chaparral 2J some 30 years ago. The project has been done in collaboration with TotalSim and Delta Motorsports.
Photos via Diariomotor
What is interesting about the Ariel Aero-P concept car is that it does away with the traditional rear wing to provide downforce. Ariel engineers recon that the fixed rear wing increase drag, fuel consumption and reduces top speed. The increase in drag is estimated to be at around 15% for the larger fixed rear wings.
In place of the passive aerodynamic features is an active system. Underneath the carbon fibre tub of the Aero-P is a big skirt. In between the skirt is a gap with high-speed fans that suck air into the centre of the car. This creates a vacuum underneath the car which provides downforce that allows the car to stick to the road even at a standstill. Passive systems like fixed rear wings only work efficiently at high speed but the system in the Aero-P can work at low speeds.
The Aero-P active aerodynamic system can be turned on and off as needed. This is good for providing downforce for cornering, braking or accelerating. Turning off the system on straights conserves energy. The system runs on independent batteries and can be run manually or automatically.
Photo via Top Gear
Doing away with the fixed aerodynamic features lessens the drag on the car and provides up to three times the downforce of traditional passive systems. The active system increases the straight line speeds of the Aero-P. Reducing drag also improves fuel economy and carbon emissions.
The Aero-P is still a prototype and it does not yet have a drivetrain. It would be interesting if the choice of engine would be a hybrid or pure electric. We hope that this technology would trickle down to production vehicles eventually. For now, we can only hope.
Stay tuned for more news on the Aero-P and other upcoming concept cars here.
Leave a reply