Jimny GLX 2022 -Question

wrote:

Quit simply, it has to do with common sense, and some aerodynamics.
During forward motion, the air in the wheel wells flows backwards.
Specifically between the tires and wheel well.
Under negligible wind conditions, and inside the range of 50-70 MPh, the flow is in the turbulent regime (not laminar nor chaotic).
Under these conditions any scoop shape, that's opening up to the incoming air will create significant drag and also disrupt the air flow to create chaotic flow, which affects the overall drag of any moving object in a significant way.
The simplest way to get some data in relation to what I described, is reading up on air intake design for the early jets.
-Although the speed range is not the same, the air foil and overall design in of an aircraft is not the same too.
-So, it only demonstrates the drag effect of scoops which intake air, not a linear parallel - but extensively studied.

To illustrate, I attached a photo of the forward facing cavity, of which I'm referring to. This photo was taken front to back direction, obviousle outside the wheel well looking in.

In my opinion, it screams drag.

 

I think they are some HUGE assumptions being made here, and I want to start with this one  ...

During forward motion, the air in the wheel wells flows backwards.

I don't know how familiar you folks are with the so called "classic Mini" (I'm referring to the 1959 Alec Issigonis design here), but, if you're not, it's transverse engined, and unlike most transverse engined vehicles, the radiator is not fitted across the front of the car with an electric fan, it's in the left wheel arch with a conventional belt driven fan - during testing it was discovered that the rotating wheel created a low pressure zone on the outside of the radiator which improved airflow through the radiator so significantly that they were able to reduce the size of the radiator, by, if my memory is correct, close to 40%.

Now I recognize that the rear wheel arch on a Jimny does not air flowing into it through a grill as the front wheel arch on a Mini did, I'm recounting this story simply to demonstrate that air flow in a wheel arch with a rapidly rotating wheel is not linear, not related to the forward motion of the vehicle and definitely not a simple matter of common sense.  The information, by the way, comes from a book called "The Mini Story" published back in 1964.

Absent wind tunnel testing, there is no evidence to suggest that the shape of the rear bumper causes "a significant amount of drag" as you are claiming.

Common sense on my part questions how many of us bought a Jimny expecting to use it for high speed commutes where drag would be a potential issue - before buying the Jimny that we have, I cautioned my wife & daughter that it was not suitable for long road trips and was firmly put in my place with the statement "we have other cars for that".

My gen 3 has no bumper so no drag in theory 
And i can confirm i still only get 150miles per tank