RE: Spoiler alert: PH Blog
Discussion
Max_Torque said:
There is only one spoiler that can be left in the "fully extended" position imo, although, as it's old skool, you have to get out a socket set to do it:
^ 
If a retractable wing actually benefits Cd or downforce, then I'm all for it - after all, I'm not seeing my car's ungainly Aris' when I'm driving. And when the car's parked, and I can actually see its rear, I can then admire its elegant, sleek lines, which are unsullied because the wing's retracted.
Mind you, it'd be useful if there were any contemporary cars that actually have elegant, sleek lines
A7 looks quite sad from the rear, looks same as all the new ones from the front. Either way that spoiler is pretty poor but probably reduces a bit of lift at speed.
Why are folk getting mixed up between spoilers and wings that provide downforce? Journalists somehow manage to do this too which is quite unforgiveable considering it is their line of work.
Why are folk getting mixed up between spoilers and wings that provide downforce? Journalists somehow manage to do this too which is quite unforgiveable considering it is their line of work.
TroubledSoul said:
kambites said:
TroubledSoul said:
Even worse than the 5 Series GT.....
I agree it's a pretty ugly car, but that's just being silly. 
Ug_lee said:
Why are folk getting mixed up between spoilers and wings that provide downforce? Journalists somehow manage to do this too which is quite unforgiveable considering it is their line of work.
In this case it's the petrolheads getting most mixed up about it.For the record:
Wings are designed to generate downforce, most commonly at the expense of creating extra drag.
Spoilers (i.e. what 99%+ of cars have) are there to smooth airflow around a car, reducing lift and generally drag as well.
It is a murky definition; a spoiler that reduces lift can be said to produce downforce, and sometimes both devices are used together or separately for the other's function, but that's the broad strokes of it.
A perfect example is the original TT - the lip spoiler on the back reduced the lift on the rear end by cleaning up the flow across the rear of the car, increasing stability at higher speeds. Another good example is the later Evo's - they had wings and boot-lip spoilers together to produce downforce and clean up the rear of the car's flow, then later they had diffusers and strakes added as well.
BaronVonVaderham said:
Spoilers for show, diffusers for a pro 
That isn't just a diffuser! It's an F1 style exhaust blown diffuser! 
I quite like the look of them, much more so that whacking a spoiler on the back. Contrary to the press release, I don't recall the Clio 200 having a flat bottom to accompany? The Elise does and if I recall it reduces lift slightly but that's about it.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff