C8’s Integral Fascia Splitter

[John]

C8’s Fascia Is A Splitter Even In The Entry Level 2020 MidEngine

I spent quite a while today studying the front fascia of the mid engine, focusing on its integral splitter.

Even though we had seen this front fascia picture below, specifically in last October when it was improperly taken from within BGA by a temporary worker during the 13 week plant gut-n-rebuild, and even though we have had so many accurate renderings by fvs, it did not fully dawn on me until today that the fascia‘s actual lower “lip” is, in an of itself a splitter.

Picture from within the plant here:



Where a car’s splitter is defined as:

Splitter and air dam. Front splitters are essential aerodynamic components that serve to balance the front vs. rear distribution of downforce. Splitter is typically found on the front-end of a race car.

Its functionality is explained here:

Car Splitter

What is It and How Does it Work?

A car splitter is a modification to the body of the car that is usually attached to the bottom of the front bumper. Splitters look like a flat scoop that extends out from the bottom of the front of the car. Splitters are often made from carbon fiber or other similar durable materials. How Do Car Splitters Work?

So how does a car splitter – simply a rigid extension of the lower bumper – contribute to the car’s performance? Well, when a car reaches high speeds, air pressure builds up at the front of the car. A lot of this high pressure, low-speed air ends up underneath the car. With only low pressure air above the car exerting itself on top, the car experiences lift, with the front of the car lightening up. This results in reduced traction on the road.

A car splitter forces the high pressure air upwards, where it builds up around the bumper and migrates up and over the car. The high speed, low pressure air passes underneath the car. Combined, this reduces vehicle lift and results in a net positive downforce. This gives the car more traction as it hugs the ground. Many drivers combine a splitter with a front air dam or front bumper openings that direct the extra air into the brake ducts or radiator for cooling. Car body upgrades in general are all for redirecting air to carry out various functions.

https://allfitautomotive.com/blog/ca...-does-it-work/

Here is another excellent video by Jason Fenske, of “Engineering Explained,” about aerodynamics. While about a race car, the first minute is an excellent further explanation of how a front splitter works.

With all that intro behind us, here are some pictures show the 2020 mid engine Corvette built in fascia splitter. [However, as you can see further below in the second post of this thread, there is a second, separate from the fascia, mid engine splitter also being tested at the Nurburgring.]

However, before we get to the attachable, in effect “second splitter,” as I noted above, I was amazed by studying the following pictures how much the standard front fascia of the entry version 2020 Corvette already has an integral splitter; GM is not messing around regarding having the standard, entry ME version having a significant aero anti-lift/downforce creating component at the front of the car.

[John]

Here is a rendering showing the standard front fascia integral splitter.

[John]

In this post, we see the degree to which the ME’s optional splitter creates a double-splitter effect.

First the ME’s testing at the Nurburgring:




This is probably what we are going to see on the 2020’s Z-51 version of the car — again with the usual disclaimer that we have no idea as to whether GM will continue to call the more aero 2020 version using that Z-51 terminology or choosing different nomenclature.

[AbqVic]

Nice analysis John.

Noticed that if you level the plane made by the lower edge of the plant photo, the slope of the upper hood edge is much more pronounced. This indicates to me that the hood itself will not be as boxy looking as the camo photos and the resulting renders.

[John]

Thank you AbqVic for that additional analysis. I hope you are correct.

[meyerweb]

Nice analysis John.

Noticed that if you level the plane made by the lower edge of the plant photo, the slope of the upper hood edge is much more pronounced. This indicates to me that the hood itself will not be as boxy looking as the camo photos and the resulting renders.

I hope, and think, you're correct. If you look at the photo's from Germany that have the C8 and the C7 in the same shot, the hood on the ME looks even taller than on the C7. It's hard to believe that will be the case, unless GM is really concerned about storage space. I think there's a lot of padding left under that camo.

[MidEngine]

Good observation meyerweb! I expect you are correct.