Quote:
Originally Posted by Bullitt@UAMotorsports
This style of fender does have an aerodynamic advantage over stock. This style of fender creates more downforce by allowing air that is normally trapped under the vehicle to exit to the side. There is more science to it but basically by allowing the air to exit in this area you creat a little more downforce and also help illeviate some of the aerodynamic drag. I could draw it out on a dry erase board for you  |
Create more downforce is a nice thought, but it isn't a good thing in normal operation of a vehicle...this is a very track oriented fender. For a street vehicle it is increasing the drag coefficient as air passes not just underneath, but also to the side at a high velocity. It's just another pressure 'wall' for air to hit and slow you down / rob you of fuel / yada yada yada. You do gain a little in that the fender wall is cut away slightly, though. I'm not sure what the overall effect is without wind-tunnel testing the design and seeing what you get.
It just looks so odd. The 370Z is a very 'organic' design, and this is akin to taking a scalpel to it and lopping off a huge chunk of it. Not sure what to think yet. Get it painted and photoshot.