Aerodynamic Rims

In recent years, designers have focused on the lines and silhouette of cars, and development mainly involves the design of more fuel-efficient engines, the use of new types of fuel, and the application of increasingly advanced technologies that facilitate the use of cars and improve their safety.
Regardless of the cars' streamlined design, engineers still struggle to create the right wheel design. They wonder how to manage the air that "leaks" around the wheel arches and creates unnecessary drag.

Aerodynamic Rims - This is because air turbulence is created on the car's wheels and rims, disrupting ideal aerodynamics, which is a significant problem. Designed by BMW engineers, the new turbine-style aerodynamic rims effectively counteract this effect, ensuring the airflow disperses along the sides of the vehicle. This reduces air resistance, resulting in lower fuel consumption and contributing to the vehicle's top speed. This technology is used in the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and BMW ActiveHybrid X6.


Another BMW idea is to create a series of air intakes that facilitate airflow through and around the vehicle, significantly reducing drag. Controlled airflow around the rear wheels is crucial here, ensuring good control of lift and downforce on both axles. The new wheel designs won't appeal to everyone, but it's important to remember that their design focused on ensuring good aerodynamics.

Peugeot designers surprised us with another vision of future rims, proposing—instead of rigid wheels—rims with movable spokes. During high-speed driving, these spokes can be adjusted (remotely, electrically) to form a rigid, air-cutting disc on the outside. This clever solution was implemented on the Peugeot XH1 prototype .

 


The exterior of the latest A3 Concept prototype combines the German brand's current design cues with forward-thinking elements. The latter include 20-inch carbon fiber and aluminum wheels, an attempt to create a new aluminum alloy with greater strength and reliability.