Spotlight
Powerfully Sculpted Lines and Superb Aerodynamics
Opel has a long, successful tradition of building aerodynamic cars. In 1984, the spectacular Kadett E was the world leader with a drag coefficient (CD) value of 0.30. In 1989, the sporty Calibra was introduced as the world leader in aerodynamics for production cars. The Insignia sedan ecoFLEX continues this tradition with an excellent drag coefficient value of 0.26, matching the Calibra coupé.
The aerodynamics on a car is important because it lowers fuel consumption and enhances driving dynamics. GM Europe engineers not only gave the Insignia a slipstream body shape and sporty roofline; they also fine-tuned the subtlest details to ensure excellent aerodynamic performance. These include rounding the front bumper corners, designing a trunk lid spoiler edge, changing the exterior mirror to a wing form and profiling the lower control arm in the rear suspension. Two underbody spoilers direct air over the rear axle to reduce drag and lift even more, while the three front air inlets have been optimized for efficiency.
Managing air flow all around the vehicle also is extremely important, because even when a car is driven at 60 kilometers per hour or higher, air resistance has the biggest direct influence on fuel usage. Opel experts spent more than 650 hours in a wind tunnel – in addition to 290 computer simulations -- testing the Insignia’s aerodynamics and simulating driving conditions with rolling wheels and a moving floor. A wide belt situated under the car simulates a road, while the car’s wheels roll along four small bands. The vehicle is secured in place with supports to keep it on track during this testing. This fine-tuning proves invaluable not only in keeping the car sleek but also lowering its fuel consumption.
Text and photos can be downloaded from the Internet at http://media.opel.com.