It was found in Pennsylvania, looking functional but a little worn.
Don’t try to adjust the screen. This is not a small submarine or an airplane without wings. It’s actually a 1992 Honda Civic, with a few modifications. Although it doesn’t look great, it can get 100 miles per gallon, and can reach 140 mph. Wait, what?
The Aerocivic is here! Its name was chosen for obvious reasons. You may have seen the contraption on the highway if you live in the Middle Atlantic States. Jay Drone, a YouTuber, captured it at Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Although we don’t know the exact mileage, the advertising aerocivic.com on the side of the contraption shows that it had an engine swap in 2009, when 512,000 miles were recorded on the odometer. It’s hard to believe that the numbers are higher than 12 years ago.
The website gives us the background of this gas-sipping machine. The Civic was bought new in 1992 by the owner. It is believed that the owner commutes quite a bit. A plan was put in place to increase Civic’s 45-ish MPG rating after Hurricane Katrina struck the US mainland in 2005. The Civic’s drag coefficient was just 0.17 when it was compared to other aero-themed projects dating back to the 1930s. The coefficient for the slippery Mercedes-Benz A-Class , which is most aerodynamic production vehicle, is 0.22.
This car is capable of achieving impressive mileage. Although the website claims that this car can get 120 mpg at 40 MPH, efficiency experiments often sacrifice speed in favor of range. This one, however, seeks to have both. The car is said to get 95 mpg at 60 mph and 50 mpg when the throttle is pushed a little further. The car can reach 140 mph theoretically with a 102-horsepower motor under its hood. Although we don’t know if the car has been tested, the website mentions that it can reach 120 mph. Yikes.
According to the website’s last update, October 2011, it is unclear if the Aerocivic has the same engine or if it is still under the ownership of the same owner. According to the website, the car was in two collisions which may explain the odd bodywork. We suspect that it attracts a lot of attention wherever it goes. And, hey, maybe this public sighting will inspire the current owner to add an Aerocivic update. The technology has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. It is now possible to get 150 or 200 mpg.