The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is essentially the most aerodynamic automobile the Korean model has ever made, delivering an impressively low 0.21 drag coefficient.
The automobile’s slippery form performs an enormous half within the Ioniq 6’s excessive effectivity that permits it to cowl 614 kilometers (381 miles) of vary on a full battery cost (WLTP). In addition to enhancing vary, aerodynamic effectivity additionally has a major affect on efficiency, driving stability and driving/wind noise.
The Ioniq 6 achieves spectacular aerodynamic effectivity by means of Thirties-style aerodynamic design and lots of technological advances developed within the wind tunnel. Beginning with the seems to be, Hyundai’s head of styling Simon Loasby cites the 1947 Stout Scarab, Phantom Corsair and Saab Ursaab as main influences on the Ioniq 6’s smooth design.
“The true starting of aerodynamic design and engineering began within the Thirties and we felt that taking inspiration from that period – and certainly from nature – was the proper solution to create uniqueness and sustainable efficiency within the EV phase.”
One other key affect was the Supermarine Spitfire World Warfare II British fighter aircraft, with Hyundai designers making use of a Spitfire-inspired winglet to the facet of the Ioniq 6’s rear spoiler to soak up the air circulate from the roof and cut back drag by minimizing vortices on the spoiler’s tip. The winglet additionally successfully reduces the eddy currents generated from the facet of the automobile, serving to to scale back drag.
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The automotive itself has a streamlined form just like the wing of an airplane, with the distinction in stress between the highest and backside of the automobile producing raise aerodynamically at excessive velocity. The downforce generated by the rear spoiler reduces raise even throughout high-speed driving to make sure stability. Hyundai designers additionally took inspiration from nature, particularly the form {that a} peregrine falcon takes when it dives after prey at 390 km/h (242 mph).
The Ioniq 6 was examined intensively within the wind tunnel, the place it confronted winds of as much as 200 km/h (124 mph) generated by a 3400-HP fan within the quest to realize one other 10 % of effectivity with assist from Hyundai’s aerodynamic engineers.
That was achieved by means of a number of tips such because the morphing method—a form transformation expertise—used on the rear spoiler and a number of different superior aerodynamic options, in addition to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) evaluation utilizing a supercomputer.
This allowed the designers to pick the optimum spoiler form from about 70 totally different choices and enabled the appliance of an lively air flap, wheel air curtains, wheel hole reducers, separation traps and wheel deflectors to downside areas.
These technological advances usually are not solely useful but additionally aesthetically pleasing, Hyundai says. You’ll be able to see how every of those aerodynamic tips works within the following video.