How did Nissan go from a car that generated lift at speed to one that produces downforce — while also reducing drag?
In this video, I break down the aerodynamic evolution from the R32 Skyline GT-R to the R35 GT-R using detailed CFD simulations.
Rather than guessing, I ran computational fluid dynamics on both cars under the same conditions to understand:
Why the R32 generates lift
How the R35 controls airflow and produces downforce
Where drag is actually being created on each car
What 20 years of aerodynamic development really changed
The R32 simulation in this video was commissioned by a viewer (Matthew), and it's a great example of how modern CFD can help with car design.
🔍 What’s covered in this analysis
Velocity and pressure distributions
Underbody and wake behavior
Streamlines and drag production
Lift vs downforce comparison
Drag coefficient comparison
All results shown come directly from CFD.
🚗 Want CFD run on your own car?
If you’d like me to analyze your vehicle using the same methods shown here, you can commission a simulation through my website:
👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/simulate-your-own-car
🎓 Learn Automotive Aerodynamics
If you’re interested in learning more about automotive aerodynamics, I teach a thorough course on it here: https://premieraerodynamics.com/Automotive-Aerodynamics/
If you want to learn how to do CFD simulations, I teach OpenFOAM CFD. It covers:
– Setting up simulations
– Mesh strategy
– Interpreting results
You can find it here: https://premieraerodynamics.com/Courses/
✈️ Interested in aerodynamics beyond cars?
I also teach an RC airplane design & build course, focused on practical aerodynamic design from first principles up to a fully functioning plane.
👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/RC-Airplane-Course/
🔔 Follow for data-driven vehicle analysis
If you enjoy engineering-focused breakdowns like this, consider following.
#CFd #OpenFOAM #Aerodynamics #NissanGTR