[jalsa777]

The SR-71 Blackbird on land !

I'll let this video do the talking first:

Nissan DeltaWing launch - 13th March 2012 - Innovation that Excites - YouTube

As mentioned in the above video, the concept is all about reducing everything in a car by half, here are the stats:

• Power: 300 bhp
• Weight: 500 kg
• Engine: 1.6L Turbocharged

Other Details:

• The car will be Raced in the LeMans 24 hours race in its own experimental class.
• Nissan predicts the DeltaWing will get around Le Mans somewhere between LMP1 and LMP2 class pace: the team is aiming for a lap time in the 3m 45s region.
• The front tyres of the DeltaWing are just 10cm wide each !
• Over 70 per cent of the car's weight is over the rear wheels.

More details about the car and its creators can be found here and here


The first question that came up in my mind when I saw this vehicle is (and so has been the reaction of others all over the net), would this thing actually go around corners ?? !!

Apparently, it DOES. Here's proof:

Nissan DeltaWing In-Car Video - YouTube

Looking at the video from a drivers perspective, its actually very weird. Hitting the corner apex is very important for a racing driver. And thus, you aim such that your front wheel goes over the curb. But there, if one does that, he will be in big trouble But, the car seems pretty balanced around the corners and that always a good thing.
Also, wheel-to-wheel racing will be difficult in a design like this because invariable the rear will end up touching the other car.
But there are no such worries because in the LeMans series, with the car sitting alone in its own class, there would not be any wheel-to-wheel racing for it.

What do you'll think about this design ?
Would this be how the future of prototype racing looks like ?

[pganapathy]

It looks like an awesome attempt of designing a race car so that they can learn for their road car development.

I guess in terms of racing, the driver really needs to know where his rear wheels are and how wide they are. Kinda looks like a cross between a funny car dragster and the SR 71 Blackbird. Nice though

As a design it is a well thought out car and I really believe it will work for its purpose, which is to evaluate new technologies and designs. It is not something you can build in a road car as too many people rely on visual cues for car width and people will have accidents as the rear is wider than they think.

Regards prototype racing, the future will look very different from modern cars, that is for sure. I guess that is a good thing as they are exploring new designs to improve. If they stick to modern shapes, there is only so much that can be improved. It will be incremental only

[NinadJoshi]

Looks awesome to say the least. I too was intrigued by how this long nosed creature will handle corners, but the large span between the rear wheels seems to give it ample anti-roll stability.

With all that weight on the rear wheels, I wonder what they have incorporated against preventing the light front nose from lifting (~wheelie) during brisk take offs.

Does the rudder tail fin in the back have any functional significance is it it just ornamental? I can understand a tail fin rudder may help the steering a bit but with a 1.6L engine, this prototype doesn't look like it will hit 250mph for the rudder tail to be any effective

Also, from what I learned, this isn't exactly a Nissan product. It is just backed by Nissan ($$)

"Take the corners on your rear wheels, not the front ones you idiot"...famous last words...

[cogentr]

It seems to manage the corners ok. What about braking? with 10cm front wheels, rubber-tarmac contact area is quite less, how much brake force will it be able to handle?

[StarrySky]

Very interesting and weird concept. It will be interesting to watch it at Le Mans. Le Mans has some long long straights where cars can do crazy speeds. Could air get underneath the car and flip it over?

[im_srini]

Originally Posted by jalsa777

What do you'll think about this design ?

Intriguing design...

Even with a design like this, why is the driver off to one side of the "fuselage" ?

Is it to balance the weight of the engine or something ?

The cockpit area ("hole" in the fuselage) beside the driver appears too small for a person...

[SuperBee]

Maybe I should have paid more attention in Physics classes, but how is it so balanced in the corners?

Logic dictates with the amount of rubber in the front, it should not be that steady in the corners (understeer?). I would love to know the the tech they have used in this department.

The design sure is radical, but i'm not sure it'll catch on. I have a feeling this is just a PR stunt for Nissan but i'd like to be proved wrong here.

BTW loved the lights on the delta 'wings'.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by im_srini

Even with a design like this, why is the driver off to one side of the "fuselage" ?

Is it to balance the weight of the engine or something ?

I think it has something to do with the LMP1 regulations. The Audi also had a similar design when they were using open cockpit cars.

[deetjohn]

The DeltaWing has got 2 narrow front tyres and will carry the race number '0' as it doesn't conform to any existing championship regulations.


More pics here. Nissan's amazing DeltaWing - Telegraph

[deetjohn]

Chris Harris drives the amazing DeltaWing. Too bad they had to end this video in 15 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_INdbXMqsw