how come wind can push my heavy box-shaped car around when I’m driving 60mph, but it can’t do it when the car is standing still?

Question

Although I have a heavy box-shaped car, I was thinking about the Mercedes G63 specifically. That is a powerful engine on a non-aerodynamic car, what happens if you take it over 100mph and get hit by a gust of 60mph wind? My car gets literally pushed around lanes during heavy winds at highway speeds, has anyone ever even gotten a G63 past 150mph?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Because at 100mph, you’re now getting hit by a 120-160mph gust when you factor in wind direction and what the loading on the car is already due to relative wind direction. It also rapidly changes the amount of down force being created by the car body.