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What are your thoughts on this aftermarket hardtop for the Elise? I think the Mohawk look is great, but have reservations about lack of purpose aside from looks. Thoughts? opcorn:
I think you provided views of all but the most awkward one, the view from behind where there is no transition from the rear of the mohawk scoop (and the opening) to the flat section of the Elise. There is a void there that would bug me.
I've always loved the looks of the roof on the Exige, especially the larger mohawk ones. Very aggressive! Only my opinion.... which doesn't amount to jack but that just reminds me of nonfunctional Lund hood scoops. The execution is brilliant though and well done. Post back if you decide to get it. Always love seeing something different, even if it's not my taste.
If you're going to get it just for looks then put a block off plate where the scoop is to prevent some drag. I believe that's what they did with the 06 Exige.
As with Lambo Doors, excessive aero (multi element diffusers, huge wings, canards, and oversized splitters) on cars that rarely, if ever see a track, TVs in headrests, and an over abundance of faux carbon fiber, it's your car and do whatever you want with it.
That said, having owned two Exiges, including an 06 with the non functioning roof scoop, be prepared for the inevitable and many questions about "What does this do?" as someone points to the scoop. And the inevitable look of confusion and even disdain when you say 'nothing.'
Being one with a wing that doesn't see track time I say "Go for it!" It really does look good on the Elise. If people ask tell them it cools the engine, most will never know any better, the ones that do will laugh and you join them!
I am planning on placing an order on this exact top as soon as life calms down a bit for me and I can be bothered to take it to get painted, etc.
While I do have a pet peeve with non functional scoops/vents.... I'm making an exception for this piece; it adds so much character to the car (Not that the car is lacking in character, though).
My 2 cents is don't do it. Here's the rest of my 98 cents on why.
I have an 06 Exige with the blocked off roof scoop and I can't even tell you how many times I had people come up and examine my car to have them drawn into looking at the roof scoop to see it blocked off. Then you see them say something under their breath and walk away.
The roof scoop is just too cool to have people not examine what it does and being a Lotus, people are expecting it to at least feed cool air to the motor, IMHO. If not, I'm sure something from Fast and Furious is what people are thinking about..
So long story short, with a dremel, some patience and some black paint, I opened up the roof scoop on my Exige and opened up the duct between the roof and the engine compartment. And now people really look down the roof scoop and nod. Well played.. LOL
My 2 cents: I purchased this a while back from another member. It is in the paint shop right now but it is a mohawk roof with a functioning roof scoop. The duct feeds down through the roll bar cover and vents onto the top of the engine bay. Performance increase, definitely none, but it does flow air and "functions." I agree with some other comments that it looks super aggressive.
On a side note, with a duct that ends before the roll bar cover just dremel the roof so that it vents into the cabin, sort of the like the subaru rally cars of the mid 2000's. A/C from the top!
Interestingly, folks have found that opening the vent on, say, an otherwise non functioning 2006 Exige scoop does NOT funnel air down into the engine compartment. I opened the scoop on my 06, took the top off, drove at highway speeds, and put my hand up over the now open scoop in the roll hoop.
Air was coming OUT of the scoop, against the oncoming air flow. Why? Perhaps the air coming into the engine bay from the side scoops and from underneath through the NACA ducts overcame that nominal air flow through the very narrow scoop, and actually pushed it back out.
It works in the 07 and later because of the bellows coming directly from the scoop through the intercooler, it is essentially a 'closed' system.
Well, I have decided to go for it! I will post pics and notes once the project is completed. Probably won't make any attempts at rendering the scoop "functional".
this is the only instrumented test I have found, it shows no reverse flow
perhaps there is an instrumented test I am unable to find
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