How Audi’s wind tunnel experts helped shape

Fighting wind resistance is something car manufacturers do every day. It’s a fight that goes back decades. In a new film in partnership with Top Gear, Audi shows what it did years ago and how that technology made its way into the new A6.

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It’s worth noting that the new A6 e-tron has an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.24. While it’s not the leader yet, the number is pretty good, as the Tesla Model S, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air all claim better figures. However, Audi’s road to achieving 0.24 is paved with historic cars.

MORE: Here are the new Audi A6 E-Tron sedan and Avant

For example, it was testing aerodynamics as early as the 1930s. The 1937 Auto Union Type C used a supercharged V16 engine for propulsion, with a body that looked like it was shrink-wrapped around the chassis and drivetrain. This enabled it to travel at 250 mph, a speed that most cars could not reach nearly a century later.

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Audi also set the record for the most aerodynamic production car in 1982. The Audi 100 had several small details to keep the wind out. Hidden wipers, aerodynamic mirrors and a cleaner greenhouse all made a big difference.

All of which brings us back to the new A6 e-tron, which makes the most of everything Audi has learned over the years. For example, small gaps at either end of the front bumper allow the car to create an even curtain of air, reducing drag over the front wheels. The camera side mirrors (not available in the U.S.) also block wind and increase range by 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) compared to conventional mirrors.

The chassis is fully sealed to prevent extra drag, but there are some tricks in there too. Some areas direct air to cool the batteries, and there’s an active stall device at the rear to reduce turbulence behind the car. All of this helps it achieve Audi’s claimed 447 miles (720 km) of WLTP testing range. I wish I had that kind of range the last time I drove an electric Audi.

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Image source: Top Gear