Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How To: Measure your vehicle's Cd without a million-dollar wind tunnel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/how-to-measure-your-vehicles-cd-without-a-million-dollar-wind/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/how-to-measure-your-vehicles-cd-without-a-million-dollar-wind/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/how-to-measure-your-vehicles-cd-without-a-million-dollar-wind/#commentsFiled under: , ,

At highway speeds, your vehicle is fighting an invisible foe trying to hold it back. The nemesis is wind resistance, and it is an automobile's worst enemy. Overcoming the resistance of the air is the key to increasing acceleration, top speed, and improving fuel economy.

Wind resistance is often measured with sophisticated computers in multi-million dollar wind tunnels. The result is usually expressed as a number called the "drag coefficient" (Cd). While having a low drag coefficient is important, the size of the vehicle (expressed as "frontal area") is also important. In general, as drag coefficient and frontal areas decrease, a vehicle becomes easier to push through the wind. Automakers are well aware of this, so they go to great lengths to ensure a low Cd on vehicles designed for high efficiency. Some approximate Cd values for well-known vehicles.

There are a couple of ways to determine the Cd of your vehicle. If your vehicle is stock, simply look it up on the Internet. If you have modified your car with wider tires, spoilers, roof rack, or changed the ride height, then your Cd has changed. To determine whether your mods are hurting or helping you at the pump (or the track), why not calculate it yourself with a few household items and an Excel spreadsheet? Of course, this requires a bit more effort... but, if you have any geek in your bloodstream, this will really get your juices flowing. The process is too long to detail here, but check out the simple instructions, grab your household items, and let us know what your results are. Thanks for the tip, Farris!

[Source: Instructables]

How To: Measure your vehicle's Cd without a million-dollar wind tunnel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cddownforcedragdrag coefficientDragCoefficientfrontal areaFrontalArealiftMeasurespoilerwingTue, 22 Apr 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[OMG! Washington first state to ban text messaging while driving]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/omg-washington-first-state-to-ban-text-messaging-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/omg-washington-first-state-to-ban-text-messaging-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/omg-washington-first-state-to-ban-text-messaging-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're travelling down I-90 in Washington State and texting your BFF on a CrackBerry, then you might want to put it down. Washington has become the first U.S. state in the union to ban text messaging while driving. The legislation against driving while texting (henceforth to be known as the dreaded DWT) was rolled into a similar measure against talking on one's cell phone without using a hands-free device, a regulation many cities and states have already adopted.

Washington Gov. Christine Gegoire signed the measures into Washington state law last Friday (she was reportedly flanked by children injured from car accidents involving cell phone distractions). Like many laws of this sort, the po-po can't pull you over if they spot you Twittering away in the driver's seat. You need to be caught doing something worse, like swerving across the center line, to get pulled over. If Officer Roscoe P. Coltrain spots a warm Qwerty riding shotgun though, you'll likely be nailed with a $124 fine. If that happens, you won't be LOL.

[Source: Seattle Times]

OMG! Washington first state to ban text messaging while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2007 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris gegoireChrisGegoireDWTfinelawmeasuresmstext messagingtextingTextMessagingwashington statewashington statesWashingtonStateWashingtonStatesMon, 14 May 2007 15:57:00 EST