lucky dawg Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 A Caterham's coefficient of drag is .62: http://www.mayfco.com/caterham.htm By comparison, a Kenworth is .60: http://roadking.com/2010/06/going-the-distance/ :toetap05: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 You mean embarrassing for Kenworth, right? -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Well, the Kenworth has much more total drag since you have to multiply the Cd x Frontal Area to get total drag. Good thing the Se7ens are so small. For example, typical examples of drag coefficients for typical automobiles are between 0.3 and 0.5. In particular, 1. 0.36 : Honda Civic (2001) 2. 0.31 : Honda Civic (2006) 3. 0.29 : Honda Accord Hybrid (2005) 4. 0.35 : Toyota MR2 (1998) 5. 0.34 : Ferrari F40 (1987) 6. 0.57 : Hummer H2 (2003) 7. 0.7-1.1 : Formula 1 car Typical drag coefficients for some other bodies are: 1. 2.1 : smooth brick 2. 0.9 : bicycle + rider 3. 0.4 : rough sphere (Re =106) 4. 1.0-1.3 : person (upright) 5. 1.0 -1.1 : skier Note that the Hummer has a better Cd than the Se7en. In any case, its a drag, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 But we're better than the smooth brick! :party: The numbers above make the original Lotus Elite all the more remarkable: 0.29 in the late '50s. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBowker Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 There is a coefficient of fun though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 There is a coefficient of fun though. And we have a better 0 - 60 time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 But we're better than the smooth brick! :party: The numbers above make the original Lotus Elite all the more remarkable: 0.29 in the late '50s. -John Amazing that the Elite and Seven were concurrent models from a small manufacture. If I ever get to meet Hazel Chapman I am going to thank her for enticing Colin into making the Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 So if a Hummer and a "7" were dropped from an airplane the Hummer would win the race to crash into the desert floor? I propose we drop all of the Hummers ever made from about 5,000 feet and then find the slowest elasped time and post it. Then instead of wasting a perfectly good "7" we just concede the race. Maybe we can get the SPEED channel to spring for the airplanes. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilo Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Remember Galileo?? Proved that theory ...wrong.. a while ago :-) Driving a Lotus Seven, fitted with clamshells, anywhere near 100mph is for V brave men or complete fools. Always has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 This is why the 7 has such a limited top speed. Mine at 202 hp may hit 125. I hear some can hit close to 140 but probably need 300 hp to do it. By the way, a conventional school bus has a lower cd of around .56 or just ahead of the Hummer. If I remember correctly, Colin Chapman came out with an aero body for the 7 chassis around 1959 that covered the front wheels and extended to the rear wheels....not sure what came of it. Apparently he realized the one shortcoming of the design. Personally, I wouldn't change anything.........well maybe the wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabbot Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Is an aero body for a seven not called an elan? Just add 300lbs and you get doors, electric windows etc. Parked side by side there's only an inch or two difference in wheelbase and track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Is an aero body for a seven not called an elan? 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 XI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Skip, Now you're talking about "REALLY aero." Loved the XI with the twin head fairings..... as tested in R&T decades ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 The XI used a Seven frame with a few modifications for attaching the body and strengthening it for competition. The Elan's structure bears little resemblance to the Seven's. IMNSOH the XI is the best looking car ever built by Lotus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboeric Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I visited Westfield a couple of weeks ago, after the British Grand Prix, and they had one of their Elevens on a flatbed returning from its registration inspection. They had a couple of XK120-ish headlight pods mounted on it, so it would pass. We all know what will happen to those next... Cool car. Edited July 31, 2012 by turboeric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Eric, did you get any pictures of the Eleven? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 "The XI used a Seven frame with a few modifications for attaching the body and strengthening it for competition. The Elan's structure bears little resemblance to the Seven's." Skip, I believe the XI had IRS, which would have entailed some significant changes from the S1 Seven frame's live axle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick OTeen Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Skip, I believe the XI had IRS, which would have entailed some significant changes from the S1 Seven frame's live axle.The Lotus 11 was available with different rear suspension setups. The base and club models had drum brakes and a solid (live) rear axle while the Le Mans version had a DeDion suspension with disc brakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rx7locost Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 "The XI used a Seven frame with a few modifications for attaching the body and strengthening it for competition. Actually, it was the other way around. The Seven used an Eleven frame since the Eleven was out before the Seven. The Seven was to be a cheaper version of the Eleven. Theory was, it would sell more units and bring more dollars into the fledgling company. I guess they were right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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