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1LizardWizard t1_iyctdsl wrote

Reply to comment by ProFoxxxx in The solar-powered Aptera's unique design addresses common EV barriers by cartoonzi

Well depending on how technical you want to get… DRS is a change in the car’s shape which certainly helps it “cut” through the air faster. Also the current generation largely relies on ground effect to produce downforce rather than wings, but that’s neither here nor there. Ultimately, the cars are aerodynamically optimized insofar as any drag they do produce is going towards the production of downforce.

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ProFoxxxx t1_iycvw9m wrote

Yep, F1 cars are just a bad example.

Aero efficiency, as I'm sure you're aware, is a different thing altogether.

Something like the McLaren Speedtail is a better analogy

https://cars.mclaren.com/gb-en/ultimate-series/mclaren-speedtail

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1LizardWizard t1_iycwqwy wrote

Oh 100%, just splitting hairs. I agree with you, and think generally any comparison of an economy vehicle against a high performance vehicle will fail. Cars traveling at high speed need to produce some downforce, to remain stable, even where minimizing drag is their aim. I think a VW XL1 would be an even better comparison to that end, but that’s way less sexy of a comparison than F1, or the speedtail.

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