Fast, electric, safe — and a total "drag queen." Car and Driver magazine has found that the Model S is one of the "slipperiest" cars on the road (and yes, that's a good thing). In its latest issue, Car and Driver has published a comparison of five cars with low drag areas. Using a wind tunnel to determine each car's drag and lift properties, the magazine declared Model S the winner, beating out the Toyota Prius, the Nissan LEAF, the Chevy Volt, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA250. Pointing out that the Model S "proves that you can look slick and be slick at the same time," the magazine enumerated the car's advantages, including:

The air suspension drops ride height at highway speeds

A contoured chin below the grille helps to keep airflow attached as it sweeps under the flat bottom

The front fascia's outboard corners deflect air around the tires

Shutters block three grille openings until internal heat exchangers require airflow

Spoilers and fences guide air away from the front wheelhouses

A rear diffuser straightens flow to minimize lift and drag

Meanwhile, the optional carbon-fiber spoiler diminishes lift without penalizing drag

Read the full article in PDF form.

Photo credit A2 Wind Tunnel