5 ms·
>- For bidirectional attempts, how can you say that a car has a top speed of C mph when C = A+B/2 mph and A>B? That's an invented figure. I agree that (A+B)/2
by Traster 6y ago
>- For bidirectional attempts, how can you say that a car has a top speed of C mph when C = A+B/2 mph and A>B? That's an invented figure.
I agree that (A+B)/2 is an invented figure, but I think the logic of "This is the maximum a car can do without external factors" is a reasonable thing to agree on as a top-speed, and wind is an external factor. Otherwise a lot of cars can set their top speed by being dropped from a sky scraper, and the testing would get unreasonably expensive. (A+B)/2 is probably a good first approximation to a wind-neutral value (and a gravity neutral value too).
- wlesieutre 6y agoOn that note, a Porsche 911 Turbo races 1 mile against a VW Beetle dropped from a helicopter. I won't spoil the ending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAbcw5s9_8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAbcw5s9_8 But based on the Beetle's terminal velocity here, this strategy for setting a car's top speed will only work for cars that can't drive particularly fast.
- Sebb767 6y agoFun fact: That was probably still cheaper with the Beetle than a record run with the Veyron :)
- LoSboccacc 6y agoespecially considered the veyron dismantled and crashed in the test run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_3LhIjV6aY&list=LLCR_Dw6p0bjOQ_3ZULYEPiA&index=355 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_3LhIjV6aY&list=LLCR_Dw6p0b...
- wlesieutre 6y agoThe Beetle probably cost similar to one tire for the Veyron
- lacker 6y agoOtherwise a lot of cars can set their top speed by being dropped from a sky scraper, and the testing would get unreasonably expensive. Dropping a $25,000 Camry from an airplane might actually be cheaper than a single speed run of these hypercars, where they burn through a $40,000 set of tires....
- 0xf8 6y agoI highly doubt the terminal velocity of any production car is even close to the top speed records in discussion here.
- skykooler 6y agoI was curious, so I ran the numbers on a Toyota Camry. With a mass of 1447 kg, a cross-sectional area of 2.7 square meters, and a drag coefficient of 0.28, it would have a terminal velocity of 391 mph. Other cars which are both heavier and more aerodynamic (e.g. a Tesla Model S) could reach even higher top speeds.
- myself248 6y agoYou'd need some sort of drogue chute or fins to keep it pointed nose-down, otherwise it'd tumble like the Beetle in the Top Gear episode just posted. Or maybe being a rear-engined car put the Beetle at a unique disadvantage, and the Camry would orient itself just fine. Junkyards are easy, who's got a helicopter-pilot friend and some land?
- tobmlt 6y agoHa! Sorry - I hadn’t seen your comment when I started mine. Yeah that engine up front will help I think!
- snovv_crash 6y agoFor it to be aerodynamically stable you need the center of mass to be less than ~25% from one end. I don't think a Camry or Model S will do that, it will need stabilization fins.
- NickNameNick 6y agoFor the Tesla, it might help to fill the frunk with water containers. That should bring the center of mass forward and up a little.
- Taniwha 6y ago