Active Aerodynamics For Cars: What Is It?

The way air hits and flows past a car while the car is travelling largely decides the way it is going to move and function. Too much resistance would mean that the car might not be able to pick up speed or avoid accidents. One of the reasons why F1 cars have such a sleek design is because they have to travel at ludicrous speeds with steep turns. Active aerodynamics is a concept that manufacturers are deeply focusing on.

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What is active aerodynamics?

A set of motor parts that are designed to provide better gripping, stability, and improved braking performance at high speeds refer to active aerodynamics.

There are two purposes that active aerodynamics serve – increasing fuel economy as well as improving the car's performance (stability). Going at high speeds can result in rapid consumption of fuel which can be negated with the help of special motorized parts for aerodynamics.

The earliest car to include active aerodynamics was the 1986 Porsche 959. Let us take a look at the customized motor parts.

Active front splitters

Active splitters are present at the front portion of the car. These help to increase the downforce on the car when the car travels at high speeds. This increases the grip of the wheels on the surface. One of the major car models to have active front splitters is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Active rear spoilers

The rear spoilers are an extended part of the rear of the car. At low speeds, a lot of “downforce” is required since the car is pretty stable during the motion. When the speed is increased, the rear spoilers increase the downforce on the rear wheels, attaching them to the ground and increasing stability as well as grip.

The degree to which these rear spoilers are titled varies across various car manufacturers. The tilt increases the drag, which helps in the application of brakes.

Active front grilles

The entire system of front grilles consists of fins that help in cooling the engine or the battery that powers the car. At lower speeds, the pressure on the engine or the battery is comparably low, so the vanes are closed. When the car starts reaching higher speeds, the finds tend to open up so that more air can pass through and reach the engine. This cools it down and allows the car to function properly.

Recent ideas in this field

One of the most recent innovations is introducing a miniature fan as an extension of the rear part of the car. This fan consists of spoiler systems that are active as well as a diffuser. This increases the downforce when the car is travelling at high speeds, increasing the stability and making it easier to drive.