Automobile engineers, for years, have been struggling to make their car designs efficient. At the same time, carmakers were trying to figure out how they could increase the overall performance of their vehicles.
The answer came in the form of active aerodynamics.
The traditional way to make a car stable, fast, and fuel-efficient was to hone its passive aerodynamic aspects.
What are the passive aerodynamic aspects of a car?
The sleek contours, static spoilers, air scoops, and diffusers are collectively known as passive aerodynamic aspects of a car.
However, since this blog is all about active aerodynamics, let’s dive straight into the topic now, shall we!?
What is active aerodynamics?
Active aerodynamics system is an umbrella term. The system consists of immaculately designed software controlling an array of movable hardware.
The hardware consists of –
- Variable geometry wings
- Adaptive rear spoilers
- Active underbody panels
- Dynamic air curtains
- Active grille shutters
The technology subtly modifies the shape of a car as per the inputs from the driver and the speed of the vehicle. The system also takes cues from various sensors installed all over the vehicle that track acceleration, cornering, braking, and even wind direction.
What was the goal behind the development of active aerodynamics?
Active aerodynamic cars were developed in a bid to enhance their behavior as per the speed, road conditions, and inputs from the driver. The outcome is that active aerodynamic system-equipped cars offered the following benefits.
- Fuel-efficient performance cars became a reality.
- Safer race cars led to fewer fatal accidents.
- Sports cars started having sharp cornering capabilities.
- Performance cars now had enhanced traction irrespective of road conditions.
Crazy facts about car active aerodynamics
Apart from the benefits mentioned above, the world of active aerodynamics is riddled with quite a few crazy facts. Read on to learn about a few of them.
Active aerodynamics has been around for a while
If you think that active aerodynamics is a new automotive technology then you would be wrong. The technology found its way into mass production through Mitsubishi 3000GT way back in 1990!
Active aerodynamics help sports cars clear speed breakers and related road obstacles
Clearing speed breakers without scraping the bumpers was always a challenge for sports cars. But this changed with the introduction of the 911 Turbo by Porsche. The car came with an adjustable wing. At the same time, the car had active aero in the front in the form of a folding splitter. The splitter deploys when the car is cruising the highways and disappears in the bodywork at low speeds. The outcome is that drivers could clear speed breakers without breaking the expensive splitters of their beloved 911 Turbo.
Active aerodynamics help increase the downforce experienced by a vehicle
The downward lift experienced by a vehicle’s aerodynamic elements as the vehicle moves with speed is called downforce. Downforce helps keep the wheels of a car experiencing increased traction. The outcome is that the car will handle well irrespective of the speed and will never lose traction even when the road is wet. One of the best examples of active aerodynamics available in a mass-production sports car is the Lamborghini Huracán Performante. The car is equipped with Lamborghini’s proprietary active aerodynamic system known as Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA).
What’s the benefit of buying this edition of the Huracan over the standard trim?
Well, owners of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante can experience their car performing like a track-ready sports car.
Every car can benefit from active aerodynamics
Active aerodynamics has taken the global performance vehicle market to new heights. Performance cars can actively manipulate the air flowing around them as they cruise ahead on a highway thanks to this technology. People who crave speed or want their exotic cars to have high-speed stability but remain fuel-efficient benefit from active aero.
However, one should remember that active aerodynamics comes with lots of active and passive functions. When a vehicle has a bunch of active and passive functions as well as related hardware, things can go wrong. This means that fixing up a vehicle and restoring its active aerodynamic system to factory condition would be a costly affair. The best way to keep costs down is to ensure that the vehicle is subjected to preventative maintenance periodically. However, keeping track of your vehicle’s service routine is pretty tough. This can be made easy when you attach a car tracking device to your exotic car.
How a car tracker can help you in this matter?
Well, leading car GPS brands like Vyncs offer you car service reminders. Additionally, you can track the fault codes of your exotic car and take action accordingly. Additionally, the best GPS tracker for cars can also help exotic car rental company owners keep track of their fleet vehicles. Tracking your fleet is one of the best practices when you run a fleet business.
Additionally, you can track how your valet drivers are performing when they are parking your exotic fleet of cars. You can reward your best-performing drivers in a bid to ascertain their importance in your company.
Trackers can also boost the performance of your fleet and lower the insurance premiums of your fleet vehicles. You can also use geofence to improve your fleet business by keeping your vehicles away from the turfs of your competitors.
Additionally, fleet GPS trackers for car rental companies let you ascertain your clients are not treating your expensive fleet cars harshly. You can also track how much fuel your fleet vehicles are consuming every month.
Think about it!