How does the Festiva stack up aerodynamically?

[fastivaca]

A lot has been said about how "boxy" and "brick like" our beloved Festivas are. One measure of how well a vehicle passes through the air is coefficient of drag or Cd. How does the Festiva stack up against some of the most aerodynamic "looking" cars? Well, I'll tell you... very well thank you! With a Cd of 0.36 the Festiva is equal to or better than a couple of Lamborghinis and Paganis.

0.27 – Porsche 997 Carrera S
0.28 - BMW 335i
0.28 - Porsche Cayman S
0.29 - Porsche 987 Boxster S
0.29 – BMW E39 M5]
0.29 – Porsche 997 GT3
0.29 – Mercedes-Benz SL500 02
0.29 – Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
0.29 – Porsche 996 GT3
0.29 – Chevrolet Corvette C6
0.29 – Porsche 996 Carrera 2
0.29 – Porsche Boxster 99
0.29 – Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG
0.30 – Porsche 996 GT3RS
0.30 – Audi S4 Avant 2003
0.30 – Porsche 996 GT3 MK2
0.30 – BMW E60 M5
0.30 - Porsche 997 GT3RS
0.30 – Chevrolet Corvette C5 CE
0.30 – Porsche 996 Turbo
0.31 – Audi S4 MK1
0.31 – Porsche 996 GT2 MK1
0.31 – Mercedes-Benz CLK55 00
0.31 – Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
0.31 – Callaway C12
0.31 – BMW M6
0.31- Volkswagen Golf GTI 02
0.31 – Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
0.31 – Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
0.31 – Audi RS6
0.31 – Audi B7 RS4
0.31 – Volkswagen R32 MK1
0.32 – Honda Civic Type – R
0.32 - Volkswagen Golf 4motion VR6 00
0.32 – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
0.32 – Aston Martin DB7 GT
0.32 – Porsche Boxster S
0.32 – Volkswagen R32 MK2
0.32 – Ferrari 575M Maranello
0.32 – Nissan 350Z
0.32 – Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG
0.32 – Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
0.32 – BMW E46 M3[/SIZE]
0.32 – Ferrari 575M Maranello
0.32 - Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
0.33 – Aston Martin V8 Vantage
0.33 – Aston Martin Vanquish
0.33 - Audi 2.0 TT TFSI
0.33 – Volkswagen Golf GTi DSG 05
0.33 – BMW E46 M3 CSL
0.33 – BMW M3 CSL
0.33 – Ferrari 550 Maranello
0.33 – Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2
0.33 – Aston Martin DB7 Vantage
0.33 – BMW Z4 3.0 CSi
0.33 – Audi RS4 MK1
0.33 – Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
0.33 – Aston Martin V8 Vantage
0.34 – Audi 1.8 TT MK1
0.34 - Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
0.34 – Ferrari F430 Berlinetta
0.34 – Honda NSX-R
0.34 – Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM
0.34 - MTM VW Golf V GTI vs
0.34 – Audi S3 MK1
0.34 – Jaguar XKR Coupe 01
0.35 – Lamborghini Gallardo
0.35 – Jaguar XKR, 2007
0.35 – Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG
0.35 – Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (optional spoiler)
0.35 – Subaru Impreza WRX STi 04
0.35 – Subaru Impreza GT Turbo 00
0.35 – Lotus Esprit 350Z
0.35 – Koenigsegg CCR
0.35 – Ford GT
0.36 – Mini Cooper S Works
0.36 – BMW Z4 3.0 SMG
0.36 - Ford Festiva
0.36 – Pagani Zonda F
0.37 – BMW Z3 3.0 Coupe
0.37 – Lamborghini Diablo GT
0.37 – Porsche Carrera GT
0.37 – Mitsubishi EVO Carisma VII
0.38 - Honda S2000 MK1
0.40 – Pagani Zonda C12S 7.3
0.42 – BMW Z8
0.42 – Lotus Exige S2
0.42 - Lamborghini Countach
0.43 – BMW Z3M Roadster

Just thought you'd like to know!

[Bert]

Nice! Kind of you to post this.
Slightly better CoD than a Honda S2000! And also better than lo-slung Lambo Countach! There's gotta be way more s^&t to this than meets the eye. What's the coefficient of drag of a school bus? Because Festys shape-wise are in that league. After Festy 'boxes' by rights the successor rounded and smoothed-over Aspires should have cleaned house in CoD but no one has ever given them even a word of praise.

[Pu241]

On the other hand, 0.36 leaves a lot to be desired with respect to some of the more slippery cars.
That said, it means without a huge effort we should be able to get near 0.30 with out too much effort.



12 most Aerodynamic Cars in production

Audi A6: 2011-present (Cd 0.26)
BMW i8: 2014 (Cd 0.26)
Mazda3 Sedan: 2012-present (Cd 0.26)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 2012-present (Cd 0.26)
Nissan GT-R, 2011–present (Cd 0.26)
Peugeot 508, 2011–present (Cd 0.25)
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2013-present (Cd 0.25)
Toyota Prius, 2010-present (Cd 0.25)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2014–present (Cd 0.24)
Tesla Model S: 2012-present (Cd 0.24)
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 2013–present (Cd 0.22)
Volkswagen XL1: 2013-present (Cd 0.19)

http://motorburn.com/2014/01/12-of-the-most-aerodynamic-cars-in-production-right-now/

A more comprehensive list of Cd and Frontal area:

http://ecomodder.com/wiki/index.php/Vehicle_Coefficient_of_Drag_List

I did note the lack of a value for the Festiva, but did see the same 0.36 for the Aspire quoted above, which I would have incorrectly have assumed had a lower Cd.

And a nice article on how Cd:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/aerodynamics1.htm

[frogman]

The rating is higher than I would have expected. Guess the festiva is a semi slick brick.

[TorqueEffect]

I would guess it is down to it's small size.

Also, you also have to think, some of these sports cars are not going for the slickest aerodynamics, some of these cars are designed aerodynamically to create some downforce.

[200KGPGTP]

I am very surprised.

[harpon]

Aspire must be much lower.

[Pu241]

Aspire must be much lower.

Re-read post #3, you're in for a surprise, I thought the same thing.

[harpon]

Well then I think the figures are somehow all wet- and not consistant between the articles.
I have both cars now- the Festiva sits much taller and is shaped much more aerodynamically in every way. I've always felt it driving too.
The Festiva always caught more wind, and I can wear a toboggan ski cap comfortably in a Festiva while its crimped on the top of the Aspire- with much less headroom, probably 3 inches difference
I seriously doubt there's much difference in the width.


Maybe I'll take a picture of the fronts together-
heres one with the "new" 91 next to a 95 Escort wagon-
the Escort hood is lower despite 14" wheels compared to Festy stock.
the escort has the sleeker front profile at least
the 96 Aspire's even smaller