"Aero" wheels - a new car design trend?

[CDP]

PomBstard said:

I think at launch (1982?) all Sierras had these wheels/caps - maybe not XR4i or Ghia - for the reason of ‘aerodynamics’...



Audi 100 of that time was the same, complete with Cd noted in the rear quarterlight IIRC

The Ghia had similar wheels but with three sets of "vents" instead of two. Not to mention the smooth front.

Ford were king when it came to creating range hierarchies.

Grey radiator grille meant scum class...

[Haltamer]

There's a fantastic, very well informed video on this:
https://youtu.be/G5ZdyG1HHKU

For a quick glimpse on OE optimisation, have a look at the Porsche wheel chart ~2:58 - With ~10% of total drag caused by the wheels, a nice aero set is a piece of engineering you can appreciate.

[PorkInsider]

Matt Cup said:

I love the fact that Tesla are hiding some pretty nice looking alloys behind the aero hubcaps on the Model 3 rather than some steelies.

Shame they can't do the same with the rest of the car - a cover you can remove to reveal something less gopping underneath?

Everyone laughed at the Fiat Multipla and yet here we are...

[Super Sonic]

darreni said:

Moon discs. Smooth!

[Super Sonic]

Blib said:

I'm WAAAY ahead of the curve on this. I had these on my '30 Ford back in the 90s.

Reminiscent of centerlines. Lovely car btw.

[Zad]

PomBstard said:

I think at launch (1982?) all Sierras had these wheels/caps - maybe not XR4i or Ghia - for the reason of ‘aerodynamics’...



Audi 100 of that time was the same, complete with Cd noted in the rear quarterlight IIRC

The Sierra being based on Ford's Probe III concept car.



Amazing how many aero concepts have wheel arch covers, and (understandably) how few make it to production. I've also just realised how much the nose looks like the Passat B3 from the late 1980s.

[georgeyboy12345]

I quite like em, providing they aren't black

nothing worse than black wheels

[Baldchap]

georgeyboy12345 said:

nothing worse than black wheels

AIDS?

[SSBB]

Baldchap said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

nothing worse than black wheels

AIDS?

Checkmate georgeyboy

[Zad]

Baldchap said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

nothing worse than black wheels

AIDS?

You can at least get Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) that protects you from acquiring HIV...

[Riley Blue]

'Aero discs' new? They're getting on for a hundred years old.

[georgeyboy12345]

Baldchap said:

AIDS?

Not really since AIDS is treatable these days and people with it now have a life expectancy of 78 years. So yeah, worse than AIDS.

[Doofus]

CDP said:

PomBstard said:

I think at launch (1982?) all Sierras had these wheels/caps - maybe not XR4i or Ghia - for the reason of ‘aerodynamics’...



Audi 100 of that time was the same, complete with Cd noted in the rear quarterlight IIRC

The Ghia had similar wheels but with three sets of "vents" instead of two. Not to mention the smooth front.

Ford were king when it came to creating range hierarchies.

Grey radiator grille meant scum class...

As did those door mirrors, which weren't remote-adjustable.

[vikingaero]

The best looking alloys, in the world... Saab vikingaeros:

[LuS1fer]

My father had a 1982 Citroen GSA Pallas SE in silver which had a lovely set of narrow alloy wheels. All Citroens had aerodynamic wheels, even the 2CV, despite being largely brick-like.





My 1986 R5 GT Turbo had the popular turbine style wheels



And my 1985 Corvette

[NoAdverseDevelopments]

Pica-Pica said:

No, and no.
On my E36 and Volvo with steel wheels the covers stayed on and were very hard to get off. The steel wheels were not heavy - current ordinary alloy wheels are pretty heavy.

My Fabia has the then-current design of alloys they used on the Greenline version, so the most aero-efficient design they offered. The steel spare is the exact same size and, with a decent wheel trim, must be more fuel-efficient. The steel wheel is also over 1kg lighter!

[thiscocks]

Do these count?

[Pica-Pica]

LuS1fer said:

All Citroens had aerodynamic wheels, even the 2CV, despite being largely

Indeed. My Escort Mk1 had steel wheels with centre caps, the original hub cap (as opposed to wheel cover). They were pretty hard to get off.

[CDP]

Doofus said:

CDP said:

PomBstard said:

I think at launch (1982?) all Sierras had these wheels/caps - maybe not XR4i or Ghia - for the reason of ‘aerodynamics’...



Audi 100 of that time was the same, complete with Cd noted in the rear quarterlight IIRC

The Ghia had similar wheels but with three sets of "vents" instead of two. Not to mention the smooth front.

Ford were king when it came to creating range hierarchies.

Grey radiator grille meant scum class...

As did those door mirrors, which weren't remote-adjustable.

No, that is the third class Sierra - the 'L'.

This is proper Scum Class, complete with naked steelies:



From https://sierrabase.wordpress.com/author/sierrabase...

(Nothing to do with me)

[ajprice]

CDP said:

No, that is the third class Sierra - the 'L'.

This is proper Scum Class, complete with naked steelies:



From https://sierrabase.wordpress.com/author/sierrabase...

(Nothing to do with me)

Seat Bocanegra edition