In the automotive world, one of the results of the most interesting and developing developments is aerodynamics. Manufacturers to tuners are competing to adapt new technology to produce minimal wind resistance to the car body by creating a body kit and applying it to the car.
To create a body kit, it takes a long process flow and of course a long time before a choice is made in a design. But when the results of testing of body kit that has been in concept -kan could say otherwise. If it does not meet expectations in the test, the car body kit may experience drastic changes from the previously made design .
The function of the Body Kit
To produce an ideal body kit , you must take into account the aerodynamics created from the curves of the car body. The calculation of aerodynamics applies not only to racing cars, but also to everyday cars. So it is important for you to know the movement pattern of the air so that you can go without any obstacles in the body .
In car aerodynamics, also known as Drag Coefficient (CD) – resistance or air resistance when the car is moving. The term CD can be defined as the size, for example, if the smaller the CD, the less air resistance. These calculations certainly make aerodynamics very important in sports or racing cars .
The coefficient of drag can only be obtained from the test results through a simulation using the CFD ( Computational Fluid Dynamics ) application and after that it is continued to make a car body model which is then tested on a wind tunnel or a wind tunnel . During the wind tunnel test process , the task of the designer to Research and Development (RnD) is to find out the obstacles in a body kit design .
A good car body kit design will provide a downforce effect , the car will push down more and won’t shake at high speeds. The easiest way to overcome these wind resistance is to use a body kit . Currently there are many choices of aftermarket body kits that can be used for a modification concept.
Starting from those who only need to install or add-on , to those who have to do customization to suit their needs. But there is something that must be considered in choosing a custom body kit , make sure it is not excessive or according to the needs of the car so that the modification results still feel safe and comfortable.
Parts – Parts of the Bodykit
The body kit itself consists of several parts, starting from the front-rear bumper, side skirts , diffuser and spoiler . The most prominent part of the spoiler or wing, the wing dimensions are larger than the spoiler . This component is made to reduce turbulence at high speeds. Especially for spoilers , this is part of the body kit which is quite popular with modifiers.
So, the use of a body kit is not just about pursuing the look or changing the style , but also can give the car a performance enhancing effect. Because technically, the body kit used has a downforce effect . But its use is very much adapted to its location.
- Bumper
The lower body kit is attached to the front and rear bumpers or side skirts . The main purpose is to give the car ground clearance to make it even lower. The design is made in such a way as to reduce the frequency of air entering the bottom of the car.
The benefit is that when the car is traveling at high speed, the wind that enters the body can make the car float. By using a bumper that has undergone a design change, it will minimize or even prevent the turbulence effect .
- Wing / Spoiler
The spoiler is part of the body kit which is located at the back of the car, using the spoiler does give a sporty impression . But in terms of function, the spoiler can provide an additional downforce effect when the car is going fast.
When traveling at high speed, the wind can indeed be the car’s main enemy. The lift that occurs when the car is at high speed can make the car feel drift and less stable, so that handling is reduced. By using a spoiler , the traction on the car when the wind tries to make the car lift can be maintained.
Apart from the spoiler , the rear wing of the car can also be attached . Even though it has similarities with a spoiler , the wing is more for racing cars. So the use of daily cars is more of a ‘style’ element . The need to remain a benchmark in obtaining proper car modification .
- Side Skirt
The side skirts are located on both sides of the car, this part functions to reduce the high air pressure from the side of the car. The position of the side skirts must be as low as possible, in order to keep the high pressure air moving on the bottom of the car like the bumper .
- Broadcast
The diffuser itself is one part of the body kit which is usually installed in the area under the rear and front bumper of the car. Diffusers are used in cars to increase their aerodynamic value. Diffusers are also often found on race cars.
Materials Commonly Used For Body Kits
To maximize the function of the body kit in a car, usually the material used must also be qualified. The material used in the car body kit has a considerable influence. There are at least three types of material that are often used in body kits, such as:
- Plastic
Plastic body kits are more common in Indonesia and tend to be widely used as materials for making replicas of body kits from well-known brands. With prices that tend to be cheap, plastic is very easy to form according to molding .
On an advantage, a plastic body kit makes it easier to find accuracy or precision in the desired body kit shape . Impact resistance and easy to apply to colors or paints.
- Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP)
Unlike plastic, FRP is 2 – 3 times more expensive than plastic. Even though it is more expensive, it is not a guarantee of the quality of the body kit with this material. The surface of this material is less durable and its appearance can change.
But the fibers in Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics are certainly stronger in impact and also have a better degree of flexibility than other car body kit materials.
- Polyurethane (PU)
This PU material is relatively cheap and the printing costs are quite affordable, similar to fiberglass . But what must be taken into account is that it is heavier than fiberglass .
To match the color requirements, the painting process is also complicated. The disadvantage is that if this type of material is damaged, it will be difficult to repair.
- PP plastic (Polypropylene) Injection Molding
This material is commonly used in factory or original standard accessories. With its flexible and stable characteristics coupled with production techniques using injection molding , this material is the best material for body kits . However, the cost of making the mold is very expensive, so the quantity greatly affects the selling price of the bodykit made of PP (Polypropylene) Injection Molding .
- ABS plastic
The body kit which uses ABS plastic has good flexibility. The resulting weight is also quite stable with a less expensive mold investment. This is what makes body kits made of ABS plastic able to compete with body kits made from PP. With the resulting quality, the two differ only slightly.
- Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber or plastic reinforced with carbon fibers is a composite material that is reinforced by fiber. The plastic material commonly used is epoxy, but some people choose to use polyester or vinylester. Basically carbon fiber has a level of strength and is more ‘stiffer’ but in terms of weight will be lighter than various types of body kit materials .
The manufacturing process is also easy, this is what makes this material trusted in the manufacture of aircraft construction. With the many advantages of carbon fiber , its price value is certainly higher than other materials. The level of ‘ pride ‘ of the car owner who uses this material in the body kit will make it a greater concern of modifiers.
That’s some information that Intersport Men can understand about body kits . After reading this article, you will understand better what body kit suits your needs. Then what kind of body kit do you want to use? Stay tuned for other automotive information on the Intersport.id website and on social media accounts @intersport_auto. Don’t forget to share and comment if this information is useful for you.