Why don't new cars have spats?

[Gizmo!]

I've been thinking. With all the hoohah about increasing economy leading to low rolling resistance tyres, stop/go engines, eco modes and suchlike, why don't new cars have spats over the rear (or even front, but that's more difficult) wheels to reduce turbulence?









See? Cooler than a polar bear's pole.

[Patrick Bateman]

Cause they look fking awful.

[y2blade]

Gizmo! said:

I've been thinking. .

oh dear!

[Codswallop]

Good question. The original Insight had them;



What with designers desperate to make hippy mobiles look futuristic and what not, I would have thought spats would have been more popular on economy minded cars, especially given the air flow benefits.

[Gizmo!]

Patrick Bateman said:

Cause they look fking awful.

Look up.

Look down.

You're back in the room.

I'm on a horse.

You're wrong.

[Perd Hapley]

First Honda Insight did. But I think everyone's tried to make their Hybrids look as conventional as possible so that probably did it for Spats.

[Vocal Minority]

For the same reason shoes don't any more?

In all seriousness, I see your point on the basis or aerodynamic efficiency (I believe the original insight had them*). But I guess something means its not worth their while.

I can imagine that someone in a design team somewhere has played with the idea and discarded it again

• missed the boat rather here....

Edited by Vocal Minority on Wednesday 14th December 13:23

[Buff Mchugelarge]

The Crack Fox said:

Chick in the second pic looks scared of the Citroen.

I think it was that year, could've been the later ones, but they were known to eat women.

[Nick3point2]

There's not a huge benefit on cars with enclosed wheels (as in within the wheel arch vs open wheeled) so its probably just that people wouldn't buy a car that looked like that.

IMO they look horrfically dated, not futuristic. A bit like the robots on TV in the 70s that would be doing all our household work for us by the turn of the century.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Honda Insight has them, not new I know but new-ish edit: bang up to date eh!

I was thinking, wouldn't enclosed lower bodywork and covered rear wheels be good on trucks in cities, maybe prevent people/cyclists going under the rear wheels?

[anonymous-user]

They look fine on the right car, but which modern car would they look good on?

Get photoshopping Gizmo, and give us an idea of what's inside that mind of yours

[browno]

Not that I'm in any way experienced to comment, but could it be a balance between extra cost/weight of the spat vs aero benefit vs other things we haven't thought of like reduced airflow to cool brakes?

[J4CKO]

Imagine your average punter seeing spats, bad juju, not want !

[groomi]

I love cars with spats, but they're from a bygone era. These days car manufacturers want the wheels at each corner for handling and packaging reasons. Not to mention the trend for ever wider wheels meaning you'd soon end up with a single steamroller spindle across the back.

Anyway, gratuitous spats picture:

[5lab]

on a slightly related note, citroens from time gone by always have the rear axle 'way out there' behind the passenger compartment (the wheels don't cut into the doors at all). why isn't that done any more?

[Ozzie Osmond]

5lab said:

on a slightly related note, citroens from time gone by always have the rear axle 'way out there' behind the passenger compartment (the wheels don't cut into the doors at all). why isn't that done any more?

Good question. Was it because they were front wheel drive and so could have the rear wheels waaaay back without a long, heavy prop-shaft or a big differential sticking up into the boot?

[SWoll]

1) Restricted brake cooling?
2) Pain in the arse when changing a wheel/tyre?
3) Pain in the arse when cleaning your wheels/tyres?
4) They look bloody awful?

I'm sure I remember Brabus adding them on one of their recent super quick E-class models.

Checked - Brabus EV12

[Gizmo!]

yellowbentines said:

They look fine on the right car, but which modern car would they look good on?

Get photoshopping Gizmo, and give us an idea of what's inside that mind of yours

I was thinking about the E92 BMW actually...

Quick and dirty, but you get the idea:

[Monty Python]

Think - it means the manufacturer can't sell you a set of ridiculously massive alloy wheels, and even then you'll only really be able to see two of them.

[VR6 Turbo]

J4CKO said:

Imagine your average punter seeing spats, bad juju, not want !