Mercedes-Benz Bionic Car

I wonder if they are going to use the same inefficient hundred year old reciprocating piston engine as a power source? Probably so. They have too much invested.

Regards Dragon

Yes, they have too much invested, but remember that Engineering is about real world solutions to real problems.

The existing I.C. engine technology is well understood, efficient, cheap to manufacture, scales well, has a high power to weight (or volume ratio), is responsive, is available instantly at start up, uses existing infrastructure (fuels, repairers, parts), is safe and is known to be reliable.

What're the realistic alternatives?

Nah, I heard they were going to use sails.

I once owned and even sold Citroens. The DS cars were shaped like truncated tear drops ( if you looked down on them ) wider in the front and narrower in the rear. These cars had been designed in wind tunnels and had a very low drag rate. Also the Citroen CX cars also had lsow drag rates.

Your idea would be much more feasible with trains...and, like the Mercedes concept relative to earlier car streamlining "fads," not much of a departure from train streamlining of the past. The problem with combination transports (semi-trailer and tractor truck combinations), is that the fish do not need to articulate behind their head as a big rig must. With bobtails, though, maybe there's a possibility, if cargo space is not negatively affected too much; but, of course headwind is not so much a factor for those truck types as it is for OTR rigs.

You make some very good points. I live right off I-80, and the amount of trucks rumbling by is endless. And, right out front of most of them is a great big flat plate where the radiator sits. Not the most streamlined shape. I wonder if it would be possible to calculate how much fuel would be saved per year if you put a whale-shaped shell over the front end of a Kenworth. On a more practical note, the trailer section seems to offer some opportunities to reduce drag that would at least be worth making a token effort to see if some simple ideas might improve fuel milage. The best way to achieve laminar flow is to use a flat, straight surface, which is exactly what a trailer is. However, the sides and top are cluttered with aerodynamic obstacles. These are necessary for strength of course, but what would happen if you blew some styrofoam, like they use on the Space Shuttle, over the entire outside of the trailer and then went back and flattened out the styrofoam so the entire outside of the trailer was completely flat and smooth? Laminar flow? And how about a train with all the cars completely flat from the engine to the caboose? Better fuel milage?

Cabover design

Hi route89

I just found the time to watch that juggling Beatles. What a dedicated man! I can only hope that the future shapes of cars are as impressive. Thank you for that link, Ky.