If the shape with the least air-resistance is a raindrop 💧, why are most cars shaped like a backwards raindrop? 🚗

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I am basing my question off this [image](https://study.com/cimages/multimages/16/dragcoefficients8851096396303799158.png)

Edit: Okay, okay, I should have said “teardrop” instead of “raindrop.” Talking about the *actual* shape of raindrops doesn’t really help given the visuals I provided.

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84 Answers

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the space needed to fit multiple people and cargo becomes an issue with a shape like that. We would have to make the car even longer to accommodate the tail portion.

Also style, while some of us appreciate good aero design, not everyone else does and wouldn’t like the style.

Additionally, while air resistance does impact vehicles, especially at highway speed, it’s not the biggest concern in city driving so for that application, shorter and squat is better then elongated and aerodynamic.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because having a long, tapering tail is not very practical for a number of reasons.

BTW, that shape is called “teardrop”. Raindrops are actually not shaped like that, they are shaped a bit like burgers – not a very aerodynamic shape.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because having a long, tapering tail is not very practical for a number of reasons.

BTW, that shape is called “teardrop”. Raindrops are actually not shaped like that, they are shaped a bit like burgers – not a very aerodynamic shape.

Anonymous 0 Comments

In addition to what others have said with various feasibility and performance gain issues in the past, what you have described is actually in the works. Likely due to the rise in sustainability concerns, although the company has yet to go into production. I would google aptera motors, so you can see what a real working model of something in this teardrop shape would look.

As you can see its looks kinda dingy, fits maybe two people max, very little space, doesnt look very safe, and its got three wheels. That being said, the draw to this vehicle is that it is completely self charging via solar, and this is possible in part due to its very low drag allowing for very high efficiency.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the idea is not to increase the aerodynamics as much as humanly possible.

You don’t want the car to fly.

There are actually many things in place in a car to make it *not* fly, such as the grippyness of the tires, the weight, etc.

If you look at race cars, which are designed to maximize speed, they also aren’t shaped like a teardrop. They’re as flat and as spread out on the ground as possible so that the car doesn’t take off.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the space needed to fit multiple people and cargo becomes an issue with a shape like that. We would have to make the car even longer to accommodate the tail portion.

Also style, while some of us appreciate good aero design, not everyone else does and wouldn’t like the style.

Additionally, while air resistance does impact vehicles, especially at highway speed, it’s not the biggest concern in city driving so for that application, shorter and squat is better then elongated and aerodynamic.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the idea is not to increase the aerodynamics as much as humanly possible.

You don’t want the car to fly.

There are actually many things in place in a car to make it *not* fly, such as the grippyness of the tires, the weight, etc.

If you look at race cars, which are designed to maximize speed, they also aren’t shaped like a teardrop. They’re as flat and as spread out on the ground as possible so that the car doesn’t take off.

Anonymous 0 Comments

[Aptera Motors](https://aptera.us/)

It appears that to make that design work efficiently luxuries that people would rather not loose are sacrificed. Cabin space being the biggest hurdle of that design, it’s only a two seat with a smallish trunk under the solar panels.

Also, if no one likes how the car looks then no one buys it and it’s a “failed” design. Doesn’t matter how good something performs if it doesn’t appeal to the masses aesthetic requirements.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the space needed to fit multiple people and cargo becomes an issue with a shape like that. We would have to make the car even longer to accommodate the tail portion.

Also style, while some of us appreciate good aero design, not everyone else does and wouldn’t like the style.

Additionally, while air resistance does impact vehicles, especially at highway speed, it’s not the biggest concern in city driving so for that application, shorter and squat is better then elongated and aerodynamic.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because having a long, tapering tail is not very practical for a number of reasons.

BTW, that shape is called “teardrop”. Raindrops are actually not shaped like that, they are shaped a bit like burgers – not a very aerodynamic shape.

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