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Covering Your Car In Sharkskin Dimples Does Nothing For Fuel Economy

 
1,662 views May 12, 2009
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FastSkinz car wrap applied to 2009 Ford Flex at left by Popular Mechanics

FastSkinz car wrap applied to 2009 Ford Flex at left by Popular Mechanics

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Three months ago, we ran a little item about FastSkinz, a new car wrap with little dimples in it that supposedly reduced aerodynamic drag over your vehicle. The claim: Up to a 20 percent improvement in gas mileage.

Our conclusion from February: We think it's at least a cool concept, so we say: Bring on the independent laboratory testing! And call us when you've got a rigorous report.

Well, turns out our "optimistically skeptical" pals at Popular Mechanics did exactly that. They got two identical 2009 Ford Flex Limited models (Flexen?), each with about 8000 miles. They wrapped one of them in FastSkinz MPG Plus and did a mileage run.

Results? Not so good for FastSkinz. The wrapped vehicle got slightly worse fuel economy, according to its in-dash display, and returned virtually identical mileage based on actual fuel used.

Ever resourceful, PopMex doesn't entirely give up on the idea of improving airflow using the dimpled surfaces. They suggest the scheme could be applied only to those areas where drag creates most turbulent flow--but that perhaps wrapping an entire vehicle in several pounds of plastic is overkill.

Meanwhile, we have a place for FastSkinz. Ours now sits on the shelf right next to that miracle 100-MPG carburetor that the Big Bad Oil Companies have been conspiring to keep from the American public all these years.

FastSkinz car wrap applied to Scion xB

FastSkinz car wrap applied to Scion xB

Enlarge Photo

[SOURCE: Popular Mechanics via AutoMotto]





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Comments (2)

  1. By Lee Schaumberg Posted: 10/21/2009 8:26pm PDT

    Hello
    The Discovery Channel aired on 10-21-09 got an 11% pecent improvement of fuel economy with a to scale dimpled car. The mini dimples you tried is garbage.
     
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  2. By Lee Schaumberg Posted: 10/21/2009 8:51pm PDT

    Hello Again
    The shark skin stick on stuff you tryed is not to scale. A true to scale dimpled car has never been tested by you. If true to scale the car will be ugly and hard to wax. It will also pick up a lot of dirt and grime. A car travels at 65 mph on the road. Test there and don't listen to some body trying to sell some thing.
     
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