Car tuning - drag coefficient

Could go either way... kind of depends on the panels, their shape, smoothness, where they stick up, etc...

If you are adding a wing, I think it's fair to say that you'll loose some mileage.

If you take a boxy car, and make it more streamlined you could gain...

Al...

Dear Irshaad:

If you are replacing heavy body panels with fiberglass ones, you have a savings in weight which saves gas.

Other than that, most "add-on" kits are to improve the car's "stick to the road"ness, which increases weight (slightly) and draws additional downward force from the airstream (if they work at all) which also serves to increase the normal force and thereby the rolling friction.

If it is a matter of staying on the road for a race, gas mileage isn't as important as increased manuvering. If one are just "adding flair", gas is being wasted.

David A. Smith