To believe that the body of a car can adapt to its surroundings like an owl’s eyes would have been considered a sacrilege more than 50 years ago.
However, these days a supercar without a retractable spoiler can be considered sacrilege. Since the Porsche 959 is considered to be the first road car with active aerodynamics, one might think that the level of aerodynamic wizardry would have grown exponentially after 35 years. And you are right, because even the most boring cars, e.g. B. the Toyota Prius, come with an adaptable grille.
To see how different companies have implemented this ingenious concept, scroll down and check out some examples you may not have heard of.
Hypercars
Gordon Murray T50
Via: YouTube
The Gordon Murray T50 is the actual spiritual successor to the McLaren F1. McLaren doesn’t want you to know, even though every element of the car is a modern take on the original F1. Take a quick look at the back and you would be confused if an industrial-grade exhaust fan sticks out.
Zenvo TSR-S
About Zenvo Automotive
As mentioned, a rear wing pushes a vehicle to the ground at very high straight-ahead speeds. But what if you want to keep those speeds around a corner? Here comes the Zenvo TSR-S. The street legal counterpart to the TSR, which is only the route of the TS1, the successor to the controversial ST1.
Aside from a new engine, the changes are nothing more than an anagram of the TS1 name. Back to the topic: The dancing wing of the TSR-S is more than just a gimmick. With the ability to rotate with 2 degrees of freedom, the Zenvo was able to hold its own fast turns.
Pagani Huayra
Via: i
The Pagani Zonda was a breathtaking monument in itself, taking on the wedge-shaped silhouette of ancient Diablo. But the Huayra was designed to show that Pagani was more than just a glorified Italian coachbuilder. A set of four flaps enabled the Pagani to work with the wind using data from the controller. Seeing the flaps work their magic is a true manifestation of the level of technology that has been put into this monumental machine.
Supercar
McLaren MP12 -C
Motor Authority
Do you remember when McLaren came back from the dead in a bright orange car? The so-called MP4-12C competed against one of the most beautiful cars from Modena, the 458 Italia. Was it better In terms of everyday usability, the car was king. With good visibility and an average of 24 mpg, the first supersport production candidate set a new standard for all upcoming supercars.
For the MP-12C, later shortened to 12C to bear the infamous McLaren badge, a carbon monocoque would not be enough. A special DRS system was therefore installed to supplement the rear buttresses. Just like with the Veyron, the aero sheeting was able to quickly adjust to the speed of the car and tilted nearly ninety degrees to aid in sharp braking.
Aston Martin DB11
about digital trends
Some may argue that the DB11 is more of a very fast GT car than a supercar. But with an engine sound that screams the eardrums of Bond villains, it’s hard to put the car in a tame category.
Take a close look at the top of the DB11’s trunk and you will see a slot that curves around the length of the tailgate. How can this even qualify as an active wing? Well, the science behind it is almost as clever as some of 007’s gimmicks. Put simply, air is captured from a duct near the rear window and shot up through the aforementioned slots to create a virtual spoiler. Fancy.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
About the Novitec Group
The Huracan Performante is very similar to the Mercedes AMG GTR in the sense that they are both hardcore variants of the “standard” models, but also very similar in terms of the dynamic built-ins in their fixed aero accessories. Lamborghini named the system Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) with the Performante. The sophisticated technology directs air in both the front splitter and the wing so that the car can adapt to changing conditions.
Sports car
Audi A3 Clubsport Quattro
To understand the VAG Group’s passion for active aerodynamics, a quick look at the Audi A3 Clubsport Quattro shows how lively the designers’ heads are. A small 4-door sedan with an air brake? Obviously, such features are difficult to justify in a mass-produced car. Therefore, the Clubsport Quatto has unfortunately remained a concept.
Mk4 Toyota Supra
Not many will know that the mk4 Toyota Supra actually featured an active front lip. It must have been a very expensive option as it is very rare. Many of those who have chosen to either step up or increase the boost of their Supras most likely have the active lip removed as the mechanical components hinder the placement of a front intercooler.
VW Corrado
Via: CarThrottle
Introduced in 1988, the Corrado can be seen as the successor to the first generation Scirocco, although production began three years before the Scirocco’s life cycle ended. After the mighty 959, the Corrado is the second car in history with active aerodynamics and perhaps the first mass-produced sports car with this technology. The liftback design paired with the VR6 engine also makes it a solid future classic.
Arduino Active Aero
To finish on a humorous note, the final vehicle with active aerodynamics is not a real car. Actually, it can be any car. With modern silicon chip technology abound, the birth of Arduino should come as no surprise. This compact microcontroller lets you program everything from your own fingerprint-protected refrigerator to an active aero. Check out this video and you will understand and maybe implement it on your own daily cart.
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About the author
Gokul Suresh
(3 articles published)
Mechanical engineer with a deep passion for everything to do with an axle and a wheel set.
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