Autoblog

Dodge Viper ACR wing stronger than your average spoiler

Michael Harley — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Technology, Dodge, Design/Style

The elephantine rear airfoil bolted to the rear deck of the Dodge Viper ACR is not only highly functional, but it gets credit as being the first mass-produced carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wing on a production car. Rear wings on high performance vehicles are designed to counter lift. Without aerodynamic aids, most vehicles become less stable and have reduced grip as velocities increase (worst case, the vehicle actually flies as did the Mercedes CLR at Le Mans in 1999).

Chrysler's SRT Performance Group was tasked with building a faster variant of the Dodge Viper with the ACR, yet cutting weight at the same time. The team did extensive studies of wing profiles before settling on a 72-inch wide wing manufactured out of CFRP. While most wings have a structural core or ribbing, the ACR's hollow wing is comprised of just four layers of epoxy/carbon fiber weave with an outer UV-resistant clearcoat.

The wing is amazingly strong (as evidenced by the picture at right), yet it weighs just 7.5 lbs, 50 to 80 percent less than an aluminum or thermoplastic counterpart. Working in conjunction with a variable-geometry front splitter and dive planes, the oversized rear wing helps the Viper ACR achieve its targeted 1,000 lbs of downforce at 150 mph. That's enough to help Dodge's supercar sustain a cornering load of 1.5 Gs at speed - superior to many GT racing cars.

[Source: Composites World]

Dodge Viper ACR wing stronger than your average spoiler originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AeroMotions downforce splitting rear spoiler debuts

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Technology

The faster a car goes, the more downforce its various wings, spoilers and splitters can produce. There's always a trade-off though, as the byproduct of downforce is more drag, which reduces a car's top speed. Supercars like the Bugatti Veyron use active aerodynamics to produce the right amount of downforce for a specific situation like twisty road courses or high-speed runs, but cars like the Veyron are out of reach for most. Enter AeroMotions, a company that promises its rear wing assembly will provide the perfect amount of downforce at all times. The carbon fiber wing is split into two sections, each one moving independently of one another to offer just the right amount of traction. An on-board computer constantly monitors acceleration, braking and lateral acceleration so it can actively change the pitch of the wing's sections in real-time as the car is being driven, effectively giving more or less downforce to whichever side of the car needs it most. AeroMotions' wing is currently undergoing testing, and one of our readers happened to witness it in action in California and was impressed. If anyone's got video of the wing in action, we've got popcorn and are waiting. Thanks for the tip, Vince!

[Source: AeroMotions]

AeroMotions downforce splitting rear spoiler debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rest easy, the Subaru WRX STi rear wing will be HUGE

John Neff — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Subaru

UPDATE: We fell for this one hook, line and sinker. The car seen below has been determined by many a member of NASIOC to not be a Subaru WRX STi. While no one knows what it is for sure exactly, most are betting on the next-gen Matrix or a new CUV from Toyota.

The original Suburu WRX STi sold in the U.S. was known for its obnoxiously large rear wing. It was functional, to be sure, but gaudy nonetheless and made the car stand out in a crowd, or on a highway, like a sore thumb painted Rally Blue. We've shown you a pair of renderings previewing what some believe the new, next-gen WRX STi five-door hatch will look like, and both were sporting moderately sized rear wings placed atop the rear hatch. Since the STi will now be a hatchback instead of a sedan, there's no longer a flat rear deck on which to affix the STi's mega wing, or so we thought. This spy shot taken by f1mania, a member of the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, shows an STi mule covered from roof to contact patch with black cladding. There's no way Subaru engineers could hide that rear wing, however, which proves that the STi's phat rear wing will live on.

Thanks for the tip, wigglesxjr!

[Source: NASIOC]

Rest easy, the Subaru WRX STi rear wing will be HUGE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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