I have seen several people ask, but hadn't found this in a thread before... There are a number of people who thing the aero kit is strictly for show and serves no actual function on the car. This is not the case; the engineers at Mitsubishi spent considerable time in the wind tunnel designing these parts, and they do have a measurable impact on downforce and CD...


Aero kit front lip: @100km/hr f df +6kg, r df -2kg, cd -1.3%
Aero skits: cd -.8%
Aero rear bumper extensions: cd -.3%
SSS Wing w/ gurney flap: @100km/hr f df -1kg, r df +5kg, @180km/hr f df -4kg, r df +16kg

Total CD improvement: -2.4%

The above numbers came from the 2008 JDM Accessory catalog. You may grab a copy here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10199204/LAN..._X_AC_0809.pdf .

 

What is the simulated speed of the wind tunnel? If ur not going at that speed, aero kit doesn't do a thing. Most wings r simulated at or above 100mph to be functional.

Then again...I have the aero kit!

 

99% aren't gonna see any benefit from aero. Even in the cases where it actually improves aerodynamics, it is mostly negated by the extra weight. The reality is if you are looking for better performance around the track or drag strip, in most cases you're better off just pulling the back seat out and losing the spare.

 

It's 99% for looks.. 1% for performance gains above a ridiculous MPH.

I bought my car with factory Aero installed. It's meh, I didn't want it, but it was already installed on the only leather/sunroof car on the lot (the one I bought :P)

My junk:

 

^ comment for the above- if you happen to be an engineer, please state so. Otherwise what you've added to the conversation is conjecture...

The downforce numbers were given for 100km/h and 180km/h, or 62mph and 112mph, so people driving legally on the streets of the US of A will see some benefit to the package.

I'm not here to debate if it's cost effective, worth the $, etc. I'd just seen baseless conjecture (like the above) stating that there was no benefit, or only about 100mph or the like, and wanted to set the record straight.

 

Good stuff OP. It is great to see the actual numbers for the kit. The df on the rear wing is quite apparent. Since this is for 2008 and since the side skirts on the 2011 are similar to the aero kit sideskirts in 2008, I wonder what the aero kit numbers are like for the 2011 aero kit sideskirts? It is very nice to see that Mitsubishi actually tests its parts out rather than just slap parts on just for looks. I remember when the vortex generator came out for the MR Evo VIII/IX. There was a lot of aerodynamic research done by Mitsubishi to demonstrate the amount of airflow that was being guided onto the rear wing. BTW, how did you find this? I eat this kind of stuff up. Thanks again!

 

If you like that one, SamsonX, try this on for size. It's a write-up from the Mitsu engineers about the aerodynamics modeling they did. There's an underbody air guide that they offer in the JDM accessory catalog that I really wanted to get my hands on when I read this.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10199204/20e_08.pdf

Not sure where I came upon either of these...

 

^ OMG, I am tripping out on that page. Those engineers are pretty hard core racing enthusisasts. And as for that underbody air guide, I am trying to wipe the saliva off of my keyboard. Dude, this is amazing stuff. Imagine if Mitsubishi let these guys go wild on an Evo. Thanks again!

 

Does computer engineer count?

 

I'm a mechanical engineer who took a year of aircraft design and I don't even understand half that crap lol

 

Only if you'd take conjecture from a MecE or EE on your system. (I thought not.)

 

The kit does produce more downforce and adds to stability~ On my old MR, I tried both the OEM as well as the Rally Armor mudflaps and for some reason, it didn't feel as stable as my GSR w/o those flaps. VG is awesome though, I feel that it's still necessary on the X.

 

Who woulda known.. I love the look and now its functional!?!?! Sick

 

Dude, that link was nice. can you help me find anything like that for the evo 9 SE? I've been looking for quite sometime now and no luck.