I understand that the G35 sedan has a very low drag coefficient with the aero package. Is a lower drag coefficient always better? I mean the drag coeff. is 0.26 with aero package and the Ferrari enzo's is 0.34. Is lower always better is my question...

 

Well, lift also poses an issue. The enzo gets negative lift (downforce) at a certain speed. The fact that it doesn't cut through the air as well doesn't mean that it isn't holding the road better and getting more force where it needs to go.

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)

 

It just means the air flows around the body of the G35 better then the Ferrari....

Lower Drag Coefficeint is always better... less wind resistence... has nothing to do with down force, which I beleive your thinking about....

Being the Ferrari needs more downforce because of its fast acceleration and top speed, they probably had to sacrifice Drag Coefficient in order to acheive the down force... but since our cars wont go near 200 mph, we dont need the down force and thus its easier to obtain a lower drag coefficient..

 

Correct, downforce has nothing to do with the coefficent, I was just using that as an explanation for the ferrari's higher coeffecient.

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)

 

Down force is important at high speeds. Cd means very little when you've got 650 HP to push through the air.

 

Not true. If you're talking about achieving high speeds, lowering the Cd helps more than raising the HP. 650hp can push an aerodynamically slim vehicle much faster than it can push a brick.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

you're not talking about a brick, you're talking about a ferrari with a still awesome .35 Cod. It needs the downforce more than the couple hundreths off the Coefficient.

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)

 

Agreed. All the gizmos (wings, spoilers, etc) add to the Cd and are important to the Ferrari even being able to get up to and be driveable at high speed. It's a balancing act and a science. 0.35 Cd is still relatively slippery and the 650 Hp gets you up to speed.

 

does the Cd relate strictly to the configurations of this car stock? would there be any difference in drag on a turbo or SC'd G?

'03 G35 Sedan: ivory/aero body/sport/sunroof
Warning: Objects in mirror are FASTER than they appear

 

CD has to do with air touching the outside of the car. A supercharger or turbo wouldn't affect the Cd unless the car had modifications done to the exterior.

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)

 

i didn't mean the mere addition of these components, but does the drag change at various speeds and acceleration?

'03 G35 Sedan: ivory/aero body/sport/sunroof
Warning: Objects in mirror are FASTER than they appear

 

Drag does, but the coefficient of drag is a constant.

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)