I was just wondering if the "dimple" in the grille of the FD has a functional purpose or if it is just for looks (see attached picture). Nearly every body line was smoothed / sculpted to improve the aerodynamics of the car, so there is probably a reason for it. The only thing I see it doing is causing the air entering the mouth to be more turbulent. Turbulent air may cause higher pressure in the mouth area and prevent some air from entereing at high speeds. That is the only thing I can think of, but honestly I can't see it doing much (if anything at all). Are there any aerodynamicists here?

 

Probably just provides a little bit of extra support for the lower lip so it doesnt sag.

 

boaring day at work, huh?

 

I wonder if it's to re-direct air flow up into the radiator.

 

 

Or redirect it towards the intercooler/intake duct.

 

From what I've read in the RX-7 book, it exist as a subtle rotary cue- carried on with the 8, but more obvious.

 

You beat me to it.

Mazda likes to put rotor shapes on all the rotary powered cars. Rx8 is the biggest example.

 

Damn we all read too much into it.

 

Vortex generator to help intersurface radiator cooling.

Nah!

 

Turbulence in that area won't result in "higher pressure" and/or "prevent some air from entering at high speeds". That is entirely dependent on the airflow through the radiator/IC cores, and any airflow leaks that surround them.

 

redirects air to flux-capacitor cooling duct...

 

You beat me to it..

only thing that makes sence to me

 

While I totally agree that the amount of air flow through the nose is limited by the amount that passes through (and around) the radiator and IC, in general more air will pass through an opening if it can do so with less restriction. If air passes smoothly through it will be less restricted. The small distrubance caused by the dimple is unlikely to do anything, which is why I said I honestly don't see it doing anything in my original post. I was just wondering why Mazda put it there since just about everything on the car serves some functional purpose (a big reason I am such a fan of the car) - the rotor explanation makes a little more sense though.

 

That's exactly what it is. Just a small reminder of what lays beneath the hood.

I guess Jim is gonna have to stamp a small piston over it

 

you must be really bored to be able to think of a question like this..lol

 

Well, not to draw this out any further than it needs to, but once again, "turbulence" really doesn't make any difference in this instance, because any airflow into the radiator intake "mouth" is slowed up by the radiator/IC. The restriction is the radiator/IC cores, not any disturbances to the airflow by the edges of the bodywork. The only time it will make a difference is if you speed the airflow through the radiator/IC, and the only way you can build more pressure at a certain speed is by increasing the size of the intake and properly directing airflow after the radiator, not by "smoothing" any airflow into it.