MINI Aerodynamics and CFD

[Carsten Haase]

I'd really like to understand more about the aerodynamics of this car to evaluate the potential drag increase/decrease of mods (wheel width/design, ride height) but also just for curiosity.

This study by Unplugged Performance for the Model 3 is definitely a marketing tool but also appears to be a decent report. If they were really able to reduce the drag of the already low drag Model 3 by anything close to their claimed 21% (12% range increase at 70mph), it seems like a similar or better result should be possible with the MINI since it is not really an optimal shape.

It wasn't easy thanks to BMW's aggressive take-down of 3D models, but I did finally find an F56 MINI that is reasonably close to the SE. It's been quite a few years since my college CFD class (I'm no expert) and I'll need to learn OpenFOAM so definitely a lot of work before I get anything useable...

Do any of you other engineers on here have any CFD experience? Has anyone used OpenFOAM?

 

[insightman]

I'd really like to understand more about the aerodynamics of this car to evaluate the potential drag increase/decrease of mods (wheel width/design, ride height) but also just for curiosity.

This study by Unplugged Performance for the Model 3 is definitely a marketing tool but also appears to be a decent report. If they were really able to reduce the drag of the already low drag Model 3 by anything close to their claimed 21% (12% range increase at 70mph), it seems like a similar or better result should be possible with the MINI since it is not really an optimal shape.

It wasn't easy thanks to BMW's aggressive take-down of 3D models, but I did finally find an F56 MINI that is reasonably close to the SE. It's been quite a few years since my college CFD class (I'm no expert) and I'll need to learn OpenFOAM so definitely a lot of work before I get anything useable...

Do any of you other engineers on here have any CFD experience? Has anyone used OpenFOAM?

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After 20 years of driving streamlined gen-1 Honda Insights, I sold my 2nd one to get my SE brick. I should have given it to you so you could have transferred its body to your SE. You'd probably be looking at 160 miles of range--unless you insisted on keeping those wide, steamroller tires you like so much.

Still, some weren't satisfied, believing the Insight could stand some improvement.