Case Study: Centro Ricerche Fiat achieves reduced aerodynamic drag and 63% lower cost-per-kilometer with ANSYS CFX and ANSYS ICEM CFD

Centro Ricerche Fiat - Customer Case Study

Centro Ricerche Fiat needed to lower the drag coefficient of the Panda MultiEco below the standard Panda (using the taller Panda 4x4 as the baseline) while accommodating CNG tanks—a difficult aerodynamic challenge because the 4x4 has the highest drag in the family. To meet this goal the team worked with ANSYS, using ANSYS ICEM CFD for mesh generation and ANSYS CFX for flow simulations.

ANSYS ICEM CFD produced multi‑million‑element meshes and ANSYS CFX identified key drag contributors on the underbody and rear body, guiding design changes such as underbody fairings, shields, a rear diffuser, rear spoiler and front bumper refinements. ANSYS simulations allowed Centro Ricerche Fiat to reach the target drag coefficient, avoid costly wind‑tunnel prototypes, and contribute to a 63% reduction in relative cost per kilometer through lower fuel consumption and use of methane.

Centro Ricerche Fiat

R.Tregnago

Head of Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustics