Drag Coefficient
Drag coefficient (Cd) is a commonly published rating of a car's aerodynamic smoothness, related to the shape of the car. Multiplying Cd by the car's frontal area gives an index of total drag. The result is called drag area, and is listed below for several cars. The width and height of curvy cars lead to gross overestimation of frontal area. These numbers use the manufacturer's frontal area specifications from the
Mayfield Company Homepage.
Some examples:
| Drag area ( Cd x Ft2) | Year | Automobile |
| 3.95 | 1996 | GM EV1 |
| 5.10 | 1999 | Honda Insight |
| 5.40 | 1989 | Opel Calibra |
| 5.54 | 1980 | Ferrari 308 GTB |
| 5.61 | 1993 | Mazda RX-7 |
| 5.61 | 1993 | McLaren F1 |
| 5.63 | 1991 | Opel Calibra |
| 5.64 | 1990 | Bugatti EB110 |
| 5.71 | 1990 | Honda CRX |
| 5.74 | 2002 | Acura NSX |
| 5.76 | 1968 | Toyota 2000GT |
| 5.88 | 1990 | Nissan 240SX |
| 5.86 | 2001 | Audi A2 1.2 TDI 3L |
| 5.92 | 1994 | Porsche 911 Speedster |
| 5.95 | 1994 | McLaren F1 |
| 6.00 | 1970 | Lamborghini Miura S |
| 6.00 | 1992 | Subaru SVX |
| 6.06 | 2003 | Opel Astra Coupe Turbo |
| 6.08 | 2008 | Nissan GTR |
| 6.13 | 1991 | Acura NSX |
| 6.15 | 1989 | Suzuki Swift GT |
| 6.17 | 1995 | Lamborghini Diablo |
| 6.24 | 2004 | Toyota Prius |
| 6.27 | 1986 | Porsche 911 Carrera |
| 6.27 | 1992 | Chevrolet Corvette |
| 6.35 | 1999 | Lotus Elise |
| 6.77 | 1995 | BMW M3 |
| 6.79 | 1993 | Corolla DX |
| 6.81 | 1989 | Subaru Legacy |
| 6.96 | 1988 | Porsche 944 S |
| 7.02 | 1992 | BMW 325I |
| 7.10 | 1978 | Saab 900 |
| 7.13 | 2007 | SSC Ultimate Aero |
| 7.48 | 1993 | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 |
| 7.57 | 1992 | Toyota Camry |
| 8.70 | 1990 | Volvo 740 Turbo |
| 8.71 | 1991 | Buick LeSabre Limited |
| 9.54 | 1992 | Chevy Caprice Wagon |
| 10.7 | 1992 | Chevrolet S-10 Blazer |
| 11.63 | 1991 | Jeep Cherokee |
| 13.10 | 1990 | Range Rover Classic |
| 13.76 | 1994 | Toyota T100 SR5 4x4 |
| 14.52 | 1994 | Toyota Land Cruiser |
| 17.43 | 1992 | Land Rover Discovery |
| 18.03 | 1992 | Land Rover Defender 90 |
| 18.06 | 1993 | Hummer H1 |
| 20.24 | 1993 | Land Rover Defender 110 |
| 26.32 | 2006 | Hummer H2 |
Read more about this topic: Automotive Aerodynamics
Famous quotes containing the word drag:
“Keeping up with the Joneses was a full-time job with my mother and father. It was not until many years later when I lived alone that I realized how much cheaper it was to drag the Joneses down to my level.”
—Quentin Crisp (b. 1908)