Lexus’ Colossal Wind Tunnel Will Blow You Away

By adpock - July 20, 2016

wind-tunnel

Would you really expect anything less from the ever-innovating folks at Lexus? Well, that might be a loaded question, because in order to expect such a thing as a 22-meter-high, 260-meter-long looping wind tunnel, you would have needed to dream it up in the first place. And if you’ve got that kind of vision, well, then you should be working for Lexus.

Lexus’ astonishing aerodynamics laboratory has actually been in operation since March of 2013, when it opened up near the company’s design headquarters in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture. If they weren’t leading the world in the field of aerodynamics before that, well, they definitely are now. And with a facility like this, they really have no excuse not to, as it’s one of the most reliable research labs on the planet.

As far as the auto industry goes, aerodynamics can be defined as “the science of how airflow affects a car’s noise levels, dynamic characteristics, and environmental specifications,” according to Lexus’ online magazine, Beyond. So you can understand the importance of studying such effects in a reliable lab.

The fact that the wind tunnel was custom built by experts right next to the design center should tell you how important aerodynamics are to all new Lexus models. Of course, that was the case before the wind tunnel too; Lexus has always put significant weight on such air-tight findings, as less drag means better performance and greater efficiency. But the construction of the lab certainly put an exclamation mark on that point.

Check out the entire fascinating article, which will truly blow you away, then let us know what you think!