Radar Reflexivity?

[marc1adrien]

Came across an interesting couple of threads and videos on the C4 Corvette, and how it was in part designed to not reflect radar. Seems like this is a mix of composite body and angling of large flat metal things like radiators. Got me to wondering about the Emira, which also is composite and has at least one of its radiators angled.

Does anyone know whether it also has less radar reflectivity?

 

[Tomwa]

I'm not sure that it's an intentional choice that it doesn't reflect Radar, so much as a side effect. Regardless, I'm pretty sure the windshield is large and flat enough.

You can test this pretty easily. Have any of those school zone speed limit signs near you, where the sign tells you your approx speed and tells you to 'slow down' if in excess of the posted limit?

If that reads the Emira and will give you a reading then a police gun will work. (In my experience those signs do indeed read the Emira just fine)

 

[marc1adrien]

I'm not sure that it's an intentional choice that it doesn't reflect Radar, so much as a side effect. Regardless, I'm pretty sure the windshield is large and flat enough.

You can test this pretty easily. Have any of those school zone speed limit signs near you, where the sign tells you your approx speed and tells you to 'slow down' if in excess of the posted limit?

If that reads the Emira and will give you a reading then a police gun will work. (In my experience those signs do indeed read the Emira just fine)

Not looking to misbehave on public roads at all. I just found it interesting that some sources (including a corvette historian in a book apparently) claimed it was a design feature of the car. As an aviation fan I find the whole stealth technology / radar cross signal thing fascinating and I’m just curious.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

I can promise you on multiple fronts our cars do not divert radar, laser, etc

 

[Jinba ittai]

Corvette or one of these?

 

[Eagle7]

We have those "Your Speed Is" signs where we live, and they do pick up the Emira, but I noticed they don't do it as quickly as it does in our SUV. I would say it takes maybe 2-3 car lengths closer before it picks up the Emira.

 

[Tomwa]

That could just be a "height" thing though. Regardless. Guy from Chevy claiming the car (which Corvette exactly? Almost all of them are fibeglass composite with a tilted radiator which isn't visible from the front. Soo...we are saying all the way back to the C3? C4? Just the most recent angular mess of the C8?

Regardless... whatever guy made that claim, he's blowing smoke. There's no way the aesthetics department knows how to make an attractive (well.. the c8 isn't particularly...so there's that) car that has some sort of extremely small radar cross section. They don't have that expertise.

Then you'd still be faced with the limitations of what can be manufactured at cost. What compromises the designers would have to make with the cooling, safety, structural, all of these other aspects of the vehicle. Just seems like a 'story' to add to the pastiche and mystery of the car.

 

[Eagle7]

That could just be a "height" thing though. Regardless. Guy from Chevy claiming the car (which Corvette exactly? Almost all of them are fibeglass composite with a tilted radiator which isn't visible from the front. Soo...we are saying all the way back to the C3? C4? Just the most recent angular mess of the C8?

Regardless... whatever guy made that claim, he's blowing smoke. There's no way the aesthetics department knows how to make an attractive (well.. the c8 isn't particularly...so there's that) car that has some sort of extremely small radar cross section. They don't have that expertise.

Then you'd still be faced with the limitations of what can be manufactured at cost. What compromises the designers would have to make with the cooling, safety, structural, all of these other aspects of the vehicle. Just seems like a 'story' to add to the pastiche and mystery of the car.

I remember reading years back that it's the front firewall that actually generates the most radar reflection on low profile cars.

 

[Wiz33]

That could just be a "height" thing though. Regardless. Guy from Chevy claiming the car (which Corvette exactly? Almost all of them are fibeglass composite with a tilted radiator which isn't visible from the front. Soo...we are saying all the way back to the C3? C4? Just the most recent angular mess of the C8?

Regardless... whatever guy made that claim, he's blowing smoke. There's no way the aesthetics department knows how to make an attractive (well.. the c8 isn't particularly...so there's that) car that has some sort of extremely small radar cross section. They don't have that expertise.

Then you'd still be faced with the limitations of what can be manufactured at cost. What compromises the designers would have to make with the cooling, safety, structural, all of these other aspects of the vehicle. Just seems like a 'story' to add to the pastiche and mystery of the car.

It maybe the shape or height but I know my Emira will freak out at least one of the radar speed sign around my house, car in front went and got a speed number and then it freaks out and flash a error sign on my car. Only encounter one so far but I have also gotten no reaction at all from another but not all the time. As in one trip it will read me fine (maybe closer than other car) and another trip it will display nothing as I go pass.

 

[cdn_alien]

Keep in mind that the radar gun on these signs have a very narrow beam, and will generally only able to measure speeds from a single lane if you're within a close range. So, the angle of the placement of the sign plays a big part on which lane it is biased towards.