Nissan’s Delta Wing Race Car
It’s the 80th running of the 24 hours at Le Mans and nearly a quarter million people have assembled to see the spectacle of racing that has always been unique because it allows cars from four distinct classes and speeds to compete at the same time as some of the fastest cars in the world. This year, an entry like no other was allowed to enter the race, in 28th position.
The entry is known as the Delta Wing, and once you lay eyes on it, you will not be disappointed. Think Bat Mobile meets SR-71 Blackbird. It is all black, which seems appropriate, and has a very slender nose and the fuselage fans out as you move to the back of the car and rear tires giving it the delta wing appearance. What super-geek Batman car would be complete without vertical fin in the back for stability in turns? Huh?
It’s the 80th running of the 24 hours at Le Mans and nearly a quarter million people have assembled to see the spectacle of racing that has always been unique because it allows cars from four distinct classes and speeds to compete at the same time as some of the fastest cars in the world. This year, an entry like no other was allowed to enter the race, in 28th position.
The entry is known as the Delta Wing, and once you lay eyes on it, you will not be disappointed. Think Bat Mobile meets SR-71 Blackbird. It is all black, which seems appropriate, and has a very slender nose and the fuselage fans out as you move to the back of the car and rear tires giving it the delta wing appearance. What super-geek Batman car would be complete without vertical fin in the back for stability in turns? Huh?
It may look cool, but there is nothing geeky about this car! All of the design elements on the vehicle were designed with efficiency and speed in mind.
The 24 Hours at Le Mans has, for most of its history, been a proving ground for new automotive design and technology. Nissan’s Delta Wing wasn’t the only experimental platform this year. Two of the fastest cars this year in the hybrid-electric group, the Audi R18 and the Toyota TS030 who also used hybrid electric platform.
The designer of theDelta Wing Ben Bowlby, while commenting on the impressive performance of the hybrids said “...the Delta Wing is (on) an order of magnitude more radical than either of these cars. Its novel shape enables to clock competitive lap with an engine only slightly more powerful than the in a standard family design.” He went on to say “The Delta Wing goes the same speed with half the weight, half the drag, half the power and half the power and half the power consumption.”
Steve Miller
source: popular science
The 24 Hours at Le Mans has, for most of its history, been a proving ground for new automotive design and technology. Nissan’s Delta Wing wasn’t the only experimental platform this year. Two of the fastest cars this year in the hybrid-electric group, the Audi R18 and the Toyota TS030 who also used hybrid electric platform.
The designer of theDelta Wing Ben Bowlby, while commenting on the impressive performance of the hybrids said “...the Delta Wing is (on) an order of magnitude more radical than either of these cars. Its novel shape enables to clock competitive lap with an engine only slightly more powerful than the in a standard family design.” He went on to say “The Delta Wing goes the same speed with half the weight, half the drag, half the power and half the power and half the power consumption.”
Steve Miller
source: popular science
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