Ok the windshield is raked at a much more dramatic angle than either my '97 Thunderbird or my '69 Dodge Charger, now that's AREO. Next the air flow goes up over the slick windshield seal over the smoooth sunroof and down the back crossing the back-lite as smooth as can be. But wait! now where does it go? Into the trunk ? There's a BIG gaping hole between the back-lite and the trunk lid. So the air goes into the trunk ?

 

Only if your trunk is missing the weather seal around it's perimeter.

 

of course it's not, but there's still a question, where does the airflow go ? Seems like it would make more sense to send it OVER the trunk. Begs the question, what's the rear spoiler / wing doing back there?

 

It's primarily there just for looks.

 

no the question is still , "Why the gap at the front of the trunk lid ?" Ok , two questions " Where does the air flow from the front of the trunk lid?"

 

It's not like they can't make a nice tight fit.

 

 

I can't answer your first question as I am not a Nissan engineer. The answer to your second question is the air flow follows the open channel around the trunk periphery and exits just above the tail lights. It's the same path the water takes coming off the rear window.

 

The designers must consider the potential of snow and ice. If they make the gap at the rear window to trunk too tight, when the trunk is opened and snow slides off the lid, it will fill the gap. Close that lid now and the snow is compressed, if it's ice already = you bend the lid or crack the rear window b/c ice doesn't compress.

The air flow over the rear window is mostly laminar, not much goes into the gap.

 

Doesn't snow much around here.

 

Hahah ^^^ well I guess they should have called you and asked before they finished the design of the Max eh? lol I'm glad I've finally found who's responsible for all of the decision making in the world. Nice to meet you Bigiron lmao... I'm just kidding though. Kinda...

 

My guess is that the wind, because of the shape of the roof, flows more in a straight line after coming off the top of the roof, thereby missing the opening at the bottom of the window.

 

This can be figured out with a camera and some yarn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4H13er58Lw

It has to be as Richard66 says because if not we would be taking a performance/mpg hit for a silly design.

 

As a relative new Nissan owner and in particular Maxima and a long time automotive enthusiast, I often see things I wonder about. This just happened to be one. I have a degree in Automotive Technology and have taught Auto Mechanics for many years, hardly my first Rodeo. and I'm NOT kidding.

 

Forget the Max for a second, let's see that 69 Charger!

 

ohh let us see that domestic

 

I agree with George, we need to see the classic! Damn, I've always loved muscle cars (Boss 429/ Cuda 426 would be amazing haha, I can dream...).

 

 

 

^
That's so nice

How come you moved "down" to a NISSAN!?

 

That is one clean Charger! 10/10 would trade my 5th gen for it

 

Grand children / baby seats.

 

 

If I had to wager after watching aerodynamics testing videos, the problem is in the way you perceive airflow versus the way air actually flows.
The air doesn't curve down over the rear glass and along the body panels. In other words, the air doesn't stick to the body, it flows over it and is redirected. Essentially, the air flows over the roof and gently sinks down, missing that part of the car completely.
Watch the following video. Around 1:15, you can see what I'm talking about.
http://youtu.be/5LQHDkGHHK8

By the way, sweet Charger.