this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2025
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xkcd

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xkcd #3167: Car Size

Title text:

'They really shouldn't let those small cars drive in traffic. I worry I'm going to kill someone if I hit one! They should have to drive on the sidewalk, safely out of the way.'

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3167/

explainxkcd for #3167

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[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Not to speak of the Lancia Stratos, the original cheese wedge:

cheese

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That one apparently did well in rally, so I have trouble seeing it as a ‘hugging the ground’ supercar. Even though Porsches and Lambos also were in rally.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's a bit of a misconception. Soft-sprung cars can be hella fast on roads.

But modern supercars are sprung so slow for downforce, to try to turn their bottoms into vacuum cleaners. But (outside of racetracks) its mostly for show and 'sporty feel,' as this downforce doesn't really kick in till like 90mph+. In fact, many racecars are faster around hairpins when sprung looser and higher.