At first glance, it’s clear that a rooftop box will generate more wind drag than an IXTAbox placed behind the vehicle. But how much more? What is the effect of different IXTAbox sizes and positions relative to the towing hook? What can be done to further minimize wind drag?

These questions were thoroughly explored by Marcus Sandberg in his Master Thesis at Chalmers University of Technology during 2021-22. His study provided groundbreaking, fact-based evidence on the advantages of IXTAbox over traditional rooftop boxes.

Sandberg used advanced computational tools to simulate the performance of two rooftop boxes of varying sizes and six IXTAbox models ranging from 150 to 190 cm in width. All simulations were run at a speed of 90 km/h. The Computational Fluid Design (CFD) tools used in this study are the same as those employed by automotive, boat, and airplane designers. Each simulation took between 12-24 hours to complete on Chalmers' powerful computers.

 

In short, drag is the force of wind or air resistance pushing in the opposite direction to the motion of the object. When an object is moving through a medium, such as air, it generates drag, which can be greater or smaller pending on the shape of the object.

The specific drag level of an object is called the Drag Coefficient Cd. When multiplied by the Projected Area of the object moving through the medium Ap, the total Drag Force Fd can be calculated. This is the force that pushes the vehicle in the opposite direction to where it is heading. This is caused by the pressure difference that the object generates while moving through the medium, similarly to the wing of a plane that creates an upward lift due to the lower pressure on top of the wing. In a car, this lower pressure is typically created behind the vehicle where a wake is formed and the air reaches almost zero velocity as shown in image 1. 

 

The simulations were done using a digital reference model called DrivAer Notchback, which has a Cd of 0,254 and is conceptually a mixture of an Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo sedan vehicle.
With the projected Area, Ap of this reference vehicle being 2.106m2, the total Drag Force created Fd is 0,536. Computing using CFD for the two roof boxes and the six variants of IXTAboxes the following results were obtained. 

After the master thesis was concluded we have added a diffusor wing to all IXTAbox models resulting in further improved aerodynamics. We do not have formal statistics, however estimated impact is further improved by -2% to -4%. 

Model	Cd	Area (m2)	CdA  = Fd	% Diff
DrivAer Alone	0.254	2.106	0.536	0%
Streamlined roof box	0.307	2.407	0.740	38%
Volume roofbox	0.310	2.472	0.769	43%
150-40 IXTAbox	0.263	2.106	0.554	3%
150-60 IXTAbox	0.281	2.106	0.592	10%
170-40 IXTAbox	0.263	2.106	0.555	4%
170-60 IXTAbox	0.281	2.108	0.596	11%
190-40 IXTAbox	0.282	2.152	0.603	13%
190-60 IXTAbox	0.283	2.183	0.618	15%

 

Both roof boxes naturally increase the Projected Area (increased by 0.301-0.366m2), while only half of the IXTAbox models perceive any increase (increased by 0.002-0.077m2).  Moreover, the higher Drag Coefficient Cd has a negative effect on the roof boxes, as Cd only increased slightly for the IXTAbox models.
The results conclude that the total drag force created with any variant of the IXTAbox will only increase from 3% to a maximum of 15%, while the rooftop boxes generate an extra drag force of 38% to 43%. Thus making he IXTAbox improving the vehicles aerodynamic properties with an average of 300% compared to a roofbox. 

The impact of the drag difference is well depicted in the following comparable images, where you can see the size of the wake generated by both boxes, as well as the low-pressure zones and wind speed behind the vehicle.

 

 

*Image 2.2*  The IXTAbox occupy part of the wake, thus streamlining the aerodynamic profile. 

This study showed that the vertical position of the IXTAbox can also have an impact on the wind drag. An IXTAbox is preferably positioned levelled or higher than the undersurface of the car. In cases when the IXTAbox is positioned lower, the wind can flow between the car and the box, increasing wind drag to some degree (Image 4). However, under certain conditions, an IXTAbox on a vehicle can create a lower drag force than the vehicle alone.

 

* Image 3.* Optimal positioned IXTAbox 190x60. Even large IXTAbox can be optimal positioned.

* Image 4. Too low positioned IXTAbox 190x40 shows air moving between the car and the box thus greatly increasing the drag*

 

This is possible as an IXTAbox can replace much of the car's natural wake and thus changing the total shape of the vehicle and box. As seen in Images 2 and 3, the shape of the box makes a “natural” prolongation of the car’s sloping shape and thus improving the aerodynamic shape altogether. When a box adds a minimal Projected Area and is well-positioned to minimize the airflow coming from the underflow between the car and the box, interesting results can be achieved. In simulations where a diffusor is extended from the bottom of the IXTAbox towards the car, thus preventing the airflow between the car and the box, wind drag is approximately 5% lower than with only the vehicle. This scenario opens the door to the possibility of using an IXTAbox to lower wind drag and this driving farther. 

Wind drag has a notable impact on the range and fuel consumption of vehicles, especially electric ones and those with weaker engines. The effect of drag varies based on car size and engine power.

For instance, a small car with a weak engine and a large rooftop box might experience more than a 50% increase in fuel consumption, as the combination of a larger projected area and worse aerodynamics demands more power to move forward.

In contrast, a larger SUV with a stronger engine and poor aerodynamics will see a smaller increase in fuel consumption, likely around 5–10%. However, the SUV's baseline fuel consumption is higher.

Studies suggest that using a rooftop box on a normal-sized car can increase fuel consumption by 10-30%. In comparison, using an IXTAbox can increase consumption by only 2-10%, depending on the model and car combination.

Having personally driven over 50,000 km with a Tesla X and several IXTAboxes, I estimate that added fuel consumption ranges between 3-5%. Speed also affects fuel consumption; at 50-100 km/h, the increase is steady, while higher speeds may lead to a more significant rise.

As electric vehicles become more popular, automakers are focusing on improving aerodynamics to reduce energy consumption. Smaller cars, while easier to park in crowded cities, typically offer less space. IXTAbox provides a practical solution, allowing owners of smaller cars to transport gear without sacrificing range or fuel economy.

As demand for electric vehicles grows, so will the need for better aerodynamics to maintain or even increase range. IXTAbox offers an innovative way to carry extra gear without compromising fuel efficiency or range, meeting the needs of modern drivers who prioritize both functionality and sustainability.