Been reading a few articles about the Chevy Bolt having terrible aero in the sense of it having the highest drag coefficient among it's competitors. Apparently GM traded off aerodynamics for utility and space when designing the Bolt.
Stuart Norris, the EV's design team leader, himself calls the Bolt a "Disaster for aero."
Stuart Norris, the EV's design team leader, himself calls the Bolt a "Disaster for aero."
The car has a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.32. By comparison, the Toyota Prius has a Cd of 0.24, while the Tesla Model 3 will record a downright-slippery 0.21 figure.
The Bolt's design team tried to compensate for the model's less-than-optimal aerodynamics with a spoiler and underbody paneling, as well as grille "shutters" that close at certain speeds. Designers cut weight by using aluminum for the car's doors and hood, while the A-pillar radius was also tweaked. All told, designers tested a half-dozen versions of the Bolt in wind tunnels as the design team further fine-tuned the vehicle's shape.