5 ELECTRIC CARS WITH CRAZY AERODYNAMICS IN 2024

There are a lot of benefits to be had when designers focus on improving a car's aerodynamic properties. This has been a focal point for a lot of new EV designs which prioritize efficiency, even if they are intended to go fast. It takes a lot of research and development to make an aerodynamic car that doesn't compromise on safety and packaging. Favoring aerodynamics can also negatively affect a car's downforce, but this is only an issue for high-power output cars.

As of 2024, you have access to some of the most aerodynamic electric cars ever built in the new market. These cars come from an array of different manufacturers, all of which are dedicated to driving the development of more efficient cars. These companies have invested large capital into designing the sleekest of exteriors that draw attention and cut through the wind with ease, boasting low rooflines, curved front ends, and fastback rears to sweep the air out.

Porsche Taycan

Drag Coefficient: 0.220 Cd

The Porsche Taycan is one of the oldest electric cars on sale, but it's still one of the sleekest designs you can opt for. This is one of the first production cars to introduce the brand's futuristic design philosophy, which is now standardized on cars like the new EV Macan, updated Panamera, and Cayenne.

Porsche explains that the Taycan's design requirement was to break new ground in the best design tradition of Porsche. The EV platform opened designers up to new freedoms, resulting in its impressive 0.22 drag coefficient figure. This sleek silhouette equates to an emotional four-door sports sedan that carries the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. A sporty roofline sloping downward to the rear characterizes the profile, together with sculpted side sections. The sleek cabin section sits right before the pronounced C-pillar shoulders, giving it a traditional Porsche rear-end also visible on cars like the 911 and Cayman.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Porsche)

Porsche offers the Taycan in several trims, the most recent and powerful of which is the Turbo GT, which features two high-performance motors that produce 1,019 horsepower and 998 pound-feet. This makes it the most powerful model ever produced by the Stuttgart brand, but it still returns some impressive energy returns. The EPA is yet to test the new model, though.

By EV standards, this isn't the most impressive figure, but a fair trade for the performance output. This model sprints from 0-60 MPH in a claimed 2.3 seconds and hits a limited 180 MPH top speed. Real-world tests have already proven this time can be cut down to just 2.0 seconds in ideal conditions.

• Brilliant handling characteristics
• Sharp and weighty steering feel
• Stunning exterior design

Cons

• Higher power models suffer from low range
• Yearly updates are far and few
• Bad energy consumption estimates

Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE

Drag Coefficient: 0.210 Cd

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE with the optional extended battery is a hypermiler's dream car. Its exterior design prioritizes aerodynamics and efficiency with its sleek liftback profile and curved nose, resulting in a 0.21 drag coefficient figure. Hyundai characterizes its most efficient car as an electrified streamliner, sourcing the bulk of its cues from the stunning Prophecy Concept EV.

The car's Flowing Parametric Pixel LED headlights and front Active Air Flaps create a distinctive but functional fascia, while the profile portrays a clean and simple set of lines with an aerodynamically sculpted silhouette and wheel options. The rear also focuses on efficiency, with its downforce-focused ducktail shape and the slight boat-tail, which aims to reduce rear drag.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Hyundai)

Hyundai offers the Ioniq 6 with a plethora of different drivetrain options, but the most efficient of the lot is the rear-wheel drive SE, with its 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet output, resulting in a 6.2- second 0-60 MPH time and 115 MPH top speed.

More impressive, is its 140 MPGe consumption estimate and 361-mile range claim, which is one of the best results you can enjoy in the segment. The dual-motor all-wheel drive model increases power to 320 horsepower, resulting in a 103 MPGe consumption and 270-mile range estimate. It supplements this with an impressive 4.6-second 0-60 MPH sprint time.

Pros

• Sleek and dynamic exterior styling
• Tech-filled interior
• Up to 361 miles on a single charge

Cons

• RWD model can feel a bit sluggish
• Limited cargo space without folding rear seats
• High starting price

Tesla Model S Plaid

Drag Coefficient: 0.208 Cd

For a long time, the Tesla Model S was the benchmark of aerodynamic design, with its 0.208 drag coefficient figure. Despite it being a decade old, manufacturers still struggle to beat this impressive result while still delivering a final look that doesn't look awkward or compromised.

Tesla doesn't divulge much information about the model's design philosophy, but we know it is the brainchild of Franz von Holzhausen, who also had a hand in penning the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Volkswagen New Beetle, and Mazda Furai. Others better know him as the man who smashed the Tesla Cybertruck's window at the official unveiling. The Model S is a unique creation that adopts low, wide, and sleek lines to portray a grand communion of luxury, performance, efficiency, and futurism.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Tesla)

The Plaid's effective powertrain complements its aerodynamic styling. The flagship derivative features a combination of three electric motors, which produce 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet, resulting in a 2.0-second 0-60 MPH time and 200 MPH top speed. The EPA estimates the Plaid derivative consumes 101 MPGe and covers a 348-mile range on a single charge. If you're looking for a more efficient model, you can consider the standard dual-motor Model S, which returns 120 MPGe and a 405-mile range claim.

Pros

• Timeless exterior design
• Competitive pricing strategy
• Lots of standard features

Cons

• Interior quality concerns
• Parts are starting to feel a bit old
• Safety features locked behind costly paywalls

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Drag Coefficient: 0.200 Cd

The Mercedes-Benz EQS pushes the limits of how aerodynamic a luxury road car can be, with a very impressive 0.20 drag coefficient figure. Its streamlined appearance garners a lot of criticism from car enthusiasts, but the results speak for themselves. The flagship EV Benz is aligned with the S-Class range, but it takes a very different approach to luxury and efficiency.

The EQS features the brand's signature "one-bow design," consisting of a sleek roofline and coupe-like silhouette. Frameless doors and a high beltline accentuate this theme. It also features a cab-forward design, which maximizes interior space by positioning the passenger compartment forward. Seamless panels minimize body creases and gaps, resulting in smooth transitions for a minimalist aesthetic. The front faux-grille presents a striking facade, while the Mercedes-Benz Star pattern adds a distinctive touch to the front.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Mercedes-Benz)

The base EQS 450+ is the most efficient model, thanks to its single rear-mounted electric motor, which produces 329 horsepower and 417 pound-feet, resulting in a 5.4-second 0-60 MPH time and limited 130 MPH top speed. The EPA estimates this drivetrain consumes 97 MPGe on the combined cycle and covers 350 miles on a single charge, which is impressive considering its somewhat higher power output and lofty 5,530-pound curb weight figure.

Pros

• Great straight-line performance
• Comfortable ride quality
• Plush interior setting

Cons

• Overbearing digital displays
• Aerodynamics comes at the cost of awkward design
• Uneasy handling characteristics

Lucid Air

Drag Coefficient: 0.197 Cd

The Lucid Air is the first car to beat the Volkswagen XL1's drag coefficient record, with its 0.197 Cd result. This is a massively impressive feat considering it is a full-size luxury sedan. Lucid says it draws inspiration from modern aircrafts, resulting in this clean and fluid shape. The designers were pedantic about ensuring the exterior's smoothness, to the point where the autonomous system's sensors were sculpted into the panels.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Lucid)

This seamless design is partly why the Air Sapphire can sprint from 0-60 MPH in a mere 1.89 seconds and effortlessly reach a 205 MPH top speed. This is also partly thanks to the car's triple permanent-magnet motor configuration, which generates 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 pound-feet, making it one of the most powerful four-door sedans money can buy, if you are happy to fit the $249,000 starting price and were lucky enough to secure one of the limited units.

Pros

• Outrageous power outputs
• Sleek and aerodynamic exterior design
• Luxurious interior design

Cons

• Very expensive starting cost
• Some concerns regarding interior quality
• Sluggish infotainment system

2024-04-22T02:03:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd