Ford / Wieck
Playing the anglesBy Paul A. Eisenstein,
msnbc.com contributor
Aerodynamics is back.
In the 1980s, faced with rising fuel costs, automakers focused on improving aerodynamics as a way to increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, producing cars such as the now-famous Ford Taurus.
Today, with higher requirements for vehicle fuel efficiency on the horizon, automakers are trying it again, squeezing as much power as they can from every drop of fuel by reconfiguring car shapes, reducing drag, using lighter materials and redesigning front grilles.
Here’s a look at how automakers have optimized aerodynamics over the years to help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency in their cars. |