Spoiler (car)

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The Plymouth Superbird is famous for its high factory rear wing. Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.jpg
The Plymouth Superbird is famous for its high factory rear wing.
1987 Audi Sport Quattro S1 with special racing wings and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb livery, in the Goodwood Festival of Speed 1987AudiSportQuattroS1PikesPeak.jpg
1987 Audi Sport Quattro S1 with special racing wings and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb livery, in the Goodwood Festival of Speed

A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across the body of a vehicle in motion, usually manifested as lift, turbulence, or drag. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams. Spoilers are often fitted to race and high-performance sports cars, although they have become common on passenger vehicles as well. Spoilers are added to cars primarily for styling purposes and either have little aerodynamic benefit or even worsen the aerodynamics.

Contents

The term "spoiler" is often mistakenly used interchangeably with "wing". An automotive wing is a device designed to generate downforce as air passes around it, not simply disrupt existing airflow patterns. [1] [2] As such, rather than decreasing drag, automotive wings actually increase drag.

Operation

Retractable spoiler on a Chrysler Crossfire Chrysler Crossfire fastback blue rear.jpg
Retractable spoiler on a Chrysler Crossfire

Since spoiler is a term describing an application, the operation of a spoiler varies depending on the particular effect it is trying to spoil. Common spoiler functions include disrupting airflow passing over and around a moving vehicle. A standard spoiler diffuses air by increasing amounts of turbulence flowing over the shape, "spoiling" the laminar flow and providing a cushion for the laminar boundary layer.[ citation needed ] However, other types of airflow may require the spoiler to operate differently and take on vastly different physical characteristics.

In racing cars

While a mass travels at increasing speeds, the environment's air affects its movement. Spoilers in racing are combined with other features on the body or chassis of race cars to change the handling characteristics that are affected by the air of the environment.

Often, these devices are designed to be highly adjustable to suit the needs of racing on a given track or to suit the talents of a particular driver, with the overall goal of reaching faster times.

Passenger vehicles

Toyota MR2 with a factory-installed rear spoiler Toyota mr2 sw20 rear left.jpg
Toyota MR2 with a factory-installed rear spoiler

The goal of many spoilers used in passenger vehicles is to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. [3] Passenger vehicles can be equipped with front and rear spoilers. Front spoilers, found beneath the bumper, are mainly used to decrease the air going underneath the vehicle to reduce the drag coefficient and lift.

Sports cars are most commonly seen with front and rear spoilers. Even though these vehicles typically have a more rigid chassis and a stiffer suspension to aid in high-speed maneuverability, a spoiler can still be beneficial. This is because many cars have a relatively steep downward angle going from the rear edge of the roof down to the vehicle's trunk or tail, which may cause airflow separation. The flow of air becomes turbulent, and a low-pressure zone is created, increasing drag and instability (see Bernoulli effect). Adding a rear spoiler could be considered to make the air "see" a longer, gentler slope from the roof to the spoiler, which helps to delay flow separation and the higher pressure in front of the spoiler can help reduce the lift on the car by creating downforce [ citation needed ]. This may reduce drag in certain instances and generally increase high-speed stability due to the reduced rear lift.

Due to their association with racing, spoilers are often viewed as "sporty" by consumers. However, "the spoilers that feature on more upmarket models rarely provide further aerodynamic benefit." [4]

Material types

BMW E92 M3 Coupe with rear spoiler (black) made of Carbon fiber DTM 2013 Hockenheim (10461171384).jpg
BMW E92 M3 Coupé with rear spoiler (black) made of Carbon fiber
Rear spoiler on an endurance race car BMW M8 GTE made from carbon BMW M8 GTE spoiler.jpg
Rear spoiler on an endurance race car BMW M8 GTE made from carbon

Spoilers are usually made of lightweight polymer-based materials, including:

Other common spoiler types

Active spoilers

An active spoiler dynamically adjusts while the vehicle operates based on the conditions presented, changing the spoiling effect, intensity, or other performance attributes. Found most often on sports cars and other passenger cars, the most common form is a rear spoiler that retracts and hides partially or entirely into the rear of the vehicle, then extends upwards when the vehicle exceeds a specific speed, such as the active spoiler in the Bugatti Veyron. Active front spoilers have also been implemented on specific models, in which the front spoiler or air dam extends further toward the road below to reduce drag at high speed. In most cases, the spoiler deployment is achieved with an electric motor controlled automatically by the onboard computer or other electronics, usually based on vehicle speed, driver setting, or other inputs. Often, the driver can manually deploy the spoiler if desired, but may not be able to retract the spoiler above a certain speed because doing so could dangerously diminish the high-speed handling qualities of the vehicle.

Active spoilers can offer additional benefits over fixed spoilers. Cosmetically, they can allow a cleaner or less cluttered appearance when the vehicle is parked or traveling at low speeds when it is most likely to be observed. A spoiler that hides may be appealing to vehicle designers who are seeking to improve high-speed aerodynamics (for example, the Porsche 911 or Audi TT) without drastically changing its appearance. Hiding a spoiler at low speeds can improve aerodynamics as well. At low speeds, a fixed spoiler may increase drag and does little to improve the vehicle's handling due to having little airflow over it. A retractable front spoiler can reduce the scraping of the car on curbs or other road imperfections, while still reducing drag at high speeds.

Powered fans, such as in the Chaparral 2J, do the equivalent of spoilers and increase the downforce, hence the traction and handling of the vehicle (See ground effect). Research continues on the use of fans to alter the aerodynamics of vehicles. [6]

Other vehicles

A Scania semi-trailer truck seen from behind. The spoilers attached to the top and sides of the cab are visible. Scania R580 V8 - rear (5816900888).jpg
A Scania semi-trailer truck seen from behind. The spoilers attached to the top and sides of the cab are visible.

Heavy trucks, like long haul tractors, may also have a spoiler on the top and sides of the cab to lessen drag caused by air resistance from the trailer it is towing, which may be taller than the cab and reduce the aerodynamics of the vehicle dramatically without the use of this spoiler. The trailers they pull can also be fitted with under-side spoilers that angle outward to deflect passing air from the rear axle's wheels.

Trains may use spoilers to induce drag (like an air brake). A prototype Japanese high-speed train, the Fastech 360, is designed to reach speeds of 400 kilometres per hour (250 mph). Its nose is specifically designed to spoil a wind effect associated with passing through tunnels, and it can deploy 'ears' that slow the train in case of emergency by increasing its drag.

Some modern race cars employ a passive situational spoiler called a roof flap. The body of the car is designed to generate downforce while driving forward. These roof flaps deploy when the car's body is rotated to travel in reverse, a condition where the body generates lift instead. The roof flaps deploy because they are recessed into a pocket in the roof. The low pressure above this pocket will cause the flaps to deploy, and counteract some of the lift generated by the car, making it more resistant to coming out of contact with the ground. These devices were introduced in 1994 in NASCAR following Rusty Wallace's crash at Talladega. [7]

Whale tail

Original whale tail as introduced on the 1975 3.0 litre Porsche 930 turbo Porsche Carrera hl white.jpg
Original whale tail as introduced on the 1975 3.0 litre Porsche 930 turbo

When the Porsche 911 Turbo debuted in August 1974, with large, flared, rear spoilers, they were immediately dubbed whale tails. [8] [9] [10] Designed to reduce rear-end lift and so keep the car from oversteering at high speeds, [11] the rubber edges of the whale tail spoilers were thought to be "pedestrian friendly". [12] The Turbo with its whale tail became recognizable. [13] [14] From 1978, the rear spoiler was redesigned and dubbed 'tea tray' because of its raised sides. [15] The Porsche 911 whale tails were used in conjunction with a chin spoiler attached to the front valence panel, which, according to some sources, did not enhance aerodynamic stability. [16] It is less effective in multiplying downforce than newer technologies like an airfoil, [17] "rear wing running across the base of the tailgate window", [18] or "an electronically controlled wing that deploys at about 50 mph" [19] (80 km/h).

History

Duck tail on a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche Carrera RS white - blue.jpg
Duck tail on a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

The whale tail came on the heels of the 1973 "duck tail" or Bürzel in German (as a part of the E-program), a smaller and less flared rear-spoiler fitted to 911 Carrera RS (meaning Rennsport or race sport in German), optional outside Germany. [8] [10] The whale tail was originally designed for Porsche 930 and Porsche 935 race cars in 1973, and introduced to the Turbo in 1974 (as a part of the H-program); it was also an option on non-turbo Carreras from 1975. [20] [21] Both types of spoilers were designed while Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann was serving as the Technical Director of Porsche AG. [22] In 1976, a rubber front chin spoiler was also introduced to offset the more effective spoiler. [9] By 1978, Porsche introduced another design for the rear spoiler, the "teatray", a boxier enclosure which accommodated the intercooler, and was also an option for the 911SC. [8] [23]

Other vehicles

The whale tail car spoilers of the Porsche 911 caught on as a fashion statement, [24] and the term has been used to refer to large rear spoilers on a number of automobiles, including Ford Sierra RS, [25] Focus, [26] Chevrolet Camaro, [27] and Saab 900. [28] Whale tail spoilers also appear at the rear of tricycles, [29] trucks, [30] boats, [31] and other vehicles.

See also

Related Research Articles

Automotive aerodynamics is the study of the aerodynamics of road vehicles. Its main goals are reducing drag and wind noise, minimizing noise emission, and preventing undesired lift forces and other causes of aerodynamic instability at high speeds. Air is also considered a fluid in this case. For some classes of racing vehicles, it may also be important to produce downforce to improve traction and thus cornering abilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downforce</span> Downwards lift force created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle

Downforce is a downwards lift force created by the aerodynamic features of a vehicle. If the vehicle is a car, the purpose of downforce is to allow the car to travel faster by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip. If the vehicle is a fixed-wing aircraft, the purpose of the downforce on the horizontal stabilizer is to maintain longitudinal stability and allow the pilot to control the aircraft in pitch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (930)</span> German turbocharged sports car variant

The Porsche 930 is a turbocharged variant of the 911 model sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche between 1975 and 1989. It was the maker's top-of-the-range 911 model for its entire production duration and, at the time of its introduction, was the fastest production car available in Germany.

A Formula One car or F1 car is a single-seat, open-cockpit, open-wheel formula racing car with substantial front and rear wings, and an engine positioned behind the driver, intended to be used in competition at Formula One racing events. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the championship and specify that cars must be constructed by the racing teams themselves, though the design and manufacture can be outsourced. Formula One drivers experience peak cornering forces of up to six lateral g.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (997)</span> Sixth generation of the Porsche 911

The Porsche 997 is the sixth generation of the Porsche 911 sports car manufactured and sold by the German automobile manufacturer Porsche between 2004 and 2013. Production of the Carrera and Carrera S coupés began in early 2004, all-wheel drive Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S began to be delivered to customers in November 2005, the Turbo and GT3 derivatives went on sale in late 2006 and the GT2 in 2007. In addition to the coupé and cabriolet versions, Targa versions of the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S were also available, which carry on with the "glass canopy" roof design used since its first application on the 993 until the 991, which reverted to the classic targa top layout used on the early 911 Targas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kammback</span> Automotive styling feature

A Kammback—also known as a Kamm tail or K-tail—is an automotive styling feature wherein the rear of the car slopes downwards before being abruptly cut off with a vertical or near-vertical surface. A Kammback reduces aerodynamic drag, thus improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption, while maintaining a practical shape for a vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (964)</span> Motor vehicle

The Porsche 964 is a model of the Porsche 911 sports car manufactured and sold between 1989 and 1994. Designed by Benjamin Dimson through January 1986, it featured significant styling revisions over previous 911 models, most prominently the more integrated bumpers. It was the first car to be offered with Porsche's Tiptronic automatic transmission and all wheel drive as options.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastback</span> Type of styling to rear car bodywork

A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 917</span> Race vehicle Le mans Midship

The Porsche 917 is a sports prototype race car developed by German manufacturer Porsche to exploit the regulations regarding the construction of 5-litre sports cars. Powered by a Type 912 flat-12 engine which was progressively enlarged from 4.5 to 5.0 litres, the 917 was introduced in 1969 and initially proved unwieldy on the race track but continuous development improved the handling and it went on to dominate sports-car racing in 1970 and 1971. In 1970 it gave Porsche its first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a feat it would repeat in 1971. It would be chiefly responsible for Porsche winning the International Championship for Makes in 1970 and 1971. Porsche went on to develop the 917 for Can-Am racing, culminating in the twin-turbocharged 917/30 which was even more dominant in the role. Porsche drivers would win the Can-Am championship in 1972 and 1973. 917 drivers also won the Interserie championship every year from 1969 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 GT3</span> Porsche sports car

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a line of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national and regional Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series, as well as the international Porsche Supercup supporting the FIA F1 World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diffuser (automotive)</span> Aerodynamic surface

A diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car rear which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient atmosphere. It works by providing a space for the underbody airflow to decelerate and expand so that it does not cause excessive flow separation and drag, by providing a degree of "wake infill" or more accurately, pressure recovery. The diffuser itself accelerates the flow in front of it, which helps generate downforce. This is achieved by creating a change in velocity of the air flowing under the diffuser by giving it a rake angle which in turn generates a change in pressure and hence increases downforce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan GT-R</span> Sports car manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan

The Nissan GT-R is a car built by Japanese marque Nissan since 2007. It has a 2+2 seating layout and is considered both a sports car and a grand tourer. The engine is front-mid mounted and drives all four wheels. It succeeds the Nissan Skyline GT-R, a faster variant of the Nissan Skyline. Although this model was the sixth-generation to bear the GT-R name, it is no longer part of the Skyline line-up. The car is built on the PM platform, derived from the FM platform used in the Skyline and Nissan Z models. Production is conducted in a shared production line at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile Aerotech</span> Motor vehicle

The Oldsmobile Aerotech was a series of experimental high-speed vehicles manufactured between 1987 and 1992 incorporating the latest in performance technology with the intention of breaking multiple automobile speed records. The first such car was driven by four-time Indy 500 winner A. J. Foyt to a world closed-course speed record of 257.123 mph (413.788 km/h) on August 27, 1987, at the 7.712-mile (12.411 km) test track near Fort Stockton Texas. Prior to this, on August 26, 1987, the car had posted a top speed over a mile of 267.88 mph (431.10 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automobile drag coefficient</span> Resistance of a car to moving through air

The drag coefficient is a common measure in automotive design as it pertains to aerodynamics. Drag is a force that acts parallel to and in the same direction as the airflow. The drag coefficient of an automobile measures the way the automobile passes through the surrounding air. When automobile companies design a new vehicle they take into consideration the automobile drag coefficient in addition to the other performance characteristics. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed; therefore it becomes critically important at higher speeds. Reducing the drag coefficient in an automobile improves the performance of the vehicle as it pertains to speed and fuel efficiency. There are many different ways to reduce the drag of a vehicle. A common way to measure the drag of the vehicle is through the drag area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle fairing</span> Motorcycle shell

A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of a motorcycle, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, to deflect wind and reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine components in the case of an accident. A motorcycle windshield will usually be integrated into the design of the fairing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (classic)</span> Sports car, first and second generations of the Porsche 911

The original Porsche 911 is a luxury sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. A prototype of the famous, distinctive, and durable design was shown to the public in autumn 1963. Production began in September 1964 and continued through 1989. It was succeeded by a modified version, internally referred to as Porsche 964 but still sold as Porsche 911, as are current models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (991)</span> Motor vehicle

The Porsche 991 is the seventh generation of the Porsche 911 sports car, which was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September as the replacement for the 997. The 991 was an entirely new platform, only the third since the original 911 launched in 1963. Production of the 991 generation ended on December 20, 2019, with 233,540 units produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911</span> Sports car produced by Porsche

The Porsche 911 is a two-door 2+2 high performance rear-engined sports car introduced in September 1964 by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a rear-mounted flat-six engine and originally a torsion bar suspension. The car has been continuously enhanced through the years but the basic concept has remained unchanged. The engines were air-cooled until the introduction of the 996 series in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (992)</span> Eighth generation of the Porsche 911

The Porsche 992 is the eighth and current generation of the Porsche 911 sports car, which was introduced at the Porsche Experience Center, Los Angeles on 27 November 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruf SCR</span> Sports car manufactured by Ruf Automobile

The Ruf SCR is a sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Ruf Automobile. The SCR was based on the Porsche 911 SC and the changes made to its engine enabled it to have similar performance to the 930 Turbo, despite having a naturally aspirated engine.

References

  1. ↑ Katz, Joseph (8 March 1996). Race Car Aerodynamics. Bentley Robert. p. 99. ISBN   0837601428.
  2. ↑ Katz, Joseph (8 March 1996). Race Car Aerodynamics. Bentley Robert. pp. 208–209. ISBN   0837601428.
  3. ↑ "Why a Spoiler for Your Car?: Fuel Economy, Styling, Value Enhancement". cardata.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  4. ↑ Happian-Smith, Julian (2000). Introduction to Modern Vehicle Design. Elsevier. p. 116. ISBN   9780080523040 . Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "#MISSION8 - BMW M8 GTE Technical Specifications". bmw-motorsport.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  6. ↑ Perkins, Chris (10 December 2019). "Gordon Murray's McLaren F1 Successor Uses a Fan for Downforce and Drag Reduction". Road & Track. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - Past News Page". Jayski.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 2010-10-17. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  8. 1 2 3 Dempsey, Wayne R. (2001). 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 198. ISBN   0-7603-0853-5.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. 1 2 Anderson, Bruce (1997). Porsche 911 Performance Handbook. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 16. ISBN   0-7603-0033-X.
  10. 1 2 Morgan, Peter; Colley, John; Hughes, Mark (1998). Original Porsche 911: The Guide to All Production Models, 1963-98. MotorBooks/MBI. pp. 144–160. ISBN   1-901432-16-5.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Albert L.; Musciano, Walter A. (1977). Automobiles of the World. Simon and Schuster. p. 660. ISBN   0-671-22485-9.
  12. ↑ Paternie, Patrick (2005). Porsche 911 Red Book 1965-2005: 1965-2005. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 45. ISBN   0-7603-1960-X.
  13. ↑ Faragher, Scott (2005). Porsche the Ultimate Guide. Krause. p. 50. ISBN   0-87349-720-1.
  14. ↑ Paternie, Patrick (2005). Porsche 911 Red Book 1965-2005: 1965-2005. MotorBooks/MBI. p. reface. ISBN   0-7603-1960-X.
  15. ↑ Anderson, Bruce (1997). Porsche 911 Performance Handbook. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 16. ISBN   0-7603-0033-X.
  16. ↑ Dempsey, Wayne R. (2001). 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911: 1964-1989. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 200. ISBN   0-7603-0853-5.
  17. ↑ Post, Robert C. (2001). High Performance: The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing, 1950-2000 . JHU Press. p.  229. ISBN   0-8018-6664-2.
  18. ↑ Sturmey, Henry; Staner, H. Walter (1986). The Autocar. Iliffe, Sons & Sturmey. p. 6.
  19. ↑ (2006). BusinessWeek European Edition: 86. EBSCO Publishing
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  21. ↑ Faragher, Scott (2005). Porsche the Ultimate Guide. Krause. p. 49. ISBN   0-87349-720-1.
  22. ↑ Leffingwell, Randy (2002). Porsche Legends. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 144. ISBN   0-7603-1364-4.
  23. ↑ Faragher, Scott (2005). Porsche the Ultimate Guide. Krause. p. 52. ISBN   0-87349-720-1.
  24. ↑ O'Rourke, P.J. (2000). Holidays in Hell. Grove Press. p. 207. ISBN   0-8021-3701-6.
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  26. ↑ "Car Style First Products used on this Ford Focus". This month's featured car. Car Styling. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  27. ↑ "Rear spoilers". Showcars Bodyparts. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  28. ↑ "Classic Saab Whale Tail restoration" (PDF). Saab Commemorative Edition Website. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  29. ↑ "Hannigan Trikes". EasyCart.net. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  30. ↑ "Universal Whale Tail Truck Spoilers". URL.biz. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  31. ↑ Perry, Bob. "Classic Swan". boats.com. Dominion Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
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