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NEWS
Road-ready DeltaWing rendered
Aerodynamic oddity could have a future ahead of it on 21st Century roadsIt may look like a Reliant Robin built for Monty Burns, but this rendering suggests someone's serious about bringing DeltaWing design to the adoring masses.
According to DeltaWing Technologies, the company that developed the unusual 'footprint' for race cars in IMSA, the image presents a possible street-legal four-seat car offering a major reduction in aerodynamic drag.
Additionally, the company claims, there are further fuel efficiency gains to be made through the car's lower kerb mass, which is partly due to the car's inherent design qualities and partly the use of lightweight materials – high-tensile strength steel, aluminium and carbon composites.
The company anticipates that manufacturers intending to use the design parameters could settle for smaller, more efficient alternative-energy drivetrain systems; everything from diesel to compressed natural gas, hybrid and battery/electric power.
Mounting the engine at the rear of the race car has shifted the centre of gravity rearwards, lifting weight off the narrow front wheels. Allied with the front track and aerodynamic design, the car's rolling resistance at the front is reduced considerably, leading to improved fuel economy. The company claims that this has not been to the detriment of handling, as the race car has proved.
"Many of the aerodynamic, lightweight and handling benefits of the race car can translate to the street," said Don Panoz, chairman of DeltaWing Technologies.
"We are competing at the highest levels of road racing with half the weight, half the horsepower, and nearly half of the fuel consumption. We believe we can deliver similar results on the street without compromising safety, comfort and performance. We have a formula that's highly efficient and still fun to drive."
Even if road car manufacturers don't take up the DeltaWing offer – to co-develop the design for passenger car applications – Panoz believes the DeltaWing design future in motor sport is assured anyway.
"Design, technology, efficient use of lightweight materials, lower horsepower and lower fuel consumption is a winning formula. I believe this is the future of motorsports, and key to meeting the next decade's fuel economy and emissions standards."
The targets set for a DeltaWing-based road car design to meet the 2025 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements would typically be 35 per cent lower weight and 35 per cent less power for a 35 per cent lower fuel consumption. This would translate to a four-cylinder car capable of reaching 100km/h in a standing start from "around" six seconds with an engine producing no more than 110hp (about 82kW) – all the while achieving fuel economy of less than 3.4L/100km.
Nissan looks set to take advantage of the delta wing concept, with product exec Andy Palmer telling motoring.com.au last month that its BladeGlider concept would go into production, although that may be cause for further legal ructions between Nissan and DeltaWing Technologies.
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Written byCarsales Staff
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