GM active aero patent

[RevMatch TV]

I was really fascinated by the aero patent that was published a couple days ago. I read the entire patent a couple times and did a bit of a deep dive into how it might work and how it functions. Hope you enjoy! Thanks so much for the love on the last video.

[John]

Very, very nicely explained Eric. I learned a bunch!

[RevMatch TV]

Very, very nicely explained Eric. I learned a bunch!

Thank you John. I put a fair bit of research into it. I'm a bit skeptical of the side flap stuff, but now I want to examine the new aero patents for the rear wing. That seems much more realistic on first blush.

[John]

I was very skeptical when I heard Tadge say that the Z06’s curved forward/upward rear spoiler (versions 2 & 3/Z07) created downforce at regular highway speeds as the air arched up/forward and then down onto the centerline of the the rear wheels for extra downforce. I was sure it would at track speeds, but very doubtful at 60 MPH.

However, early on in our owning ours, we were in a torrential downpour, going 60 MPH on an interstate, and as I glanced into my rear view mirror i saw torrents of rain doing that exact arc Tadge prescribed, and it was coming down mid-way in the rear window (right above the rear wheel centerline). I then looked into each door mirror and saw that identical curving forward arc.

At 60 MPH no less. So if water molecules do that at that speed, so do air molecules. When I next saw Tadage at the April 2015 BASH, I recounted all this to him. I said “Tadge, sorry I doubted you!” He smiled. So maybe the same would be true with the side air deflective active aero system — for I would love more downforce when I am taking sharp curving Corvette country corners at highway speeds.

Eric, I am looking forward to your video on variable rear spoiler width if you decide to do it.

[Shadow]

A very informative video. Thank you RevMatch.

[Racer86]

In the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, active aero was outlawed in most all of road racing. Some of the so called new things ( highly refined and possible due to ecu’s) were being used in F1 and Can Am Racing., in a much simpler form. Wings with adjustable trim angles were among the first to go. Uncontrolled areo lead up to the full ground effects downforce cars that were very dangerous to race. I know as I owned and raced a Williams FW-07 and that car was amazing until you stalled the undertray air, and off the track you went at 3 G’s sideways, with NO chance of recovery. Downforce is a great way to create traction resulting in faster lap times, but you must respect the master and not go to far.

[John]

I have posted this before but somethings, I think, are worth reposting, and that was a Tadge comment right after the C7 was revealed, with Tadge saying at the 2013 BASH that “while we have safety systems build into the car, they can not defy the laws of physics if you go into a corner way too fast.”

Right after that, in the hallway of NCM, one of his top staff whom I have enjoyed talking with 1-to-1 many times, and I were talking about that and this Corvette person said, “what Tadge would have liked to say in his answer was, ‘we can’t fix stupid,’ but he answered the PC way instead.”

My guess and I never have asked this person, is that the phrase “you can’t fix stupid” has come up in internal Corvette team staff meetings.

[RevMatch TV]

I was very skeptical when I heard Tadge say that the Z06’s curved forward/upward rear spoiler (versions 2 & 3/Z07) created downforce at regular highway speeds as the air arched up/forward and then down onto the centerline of the the rear wheels for extra downforce. I was sure it would at track speeds, but very doubtful at 60 MPH.

However, early on in our owning ours, we were in a torrential downpour, going 60 MPH on an interstate, and as I glanced into my rear view mirror i saw torrents of rain doing that exact arc Tadge prescribed, and it was coming down mid-way in the rear window (right above the rear wheel centerline). I then looked into each door mirror and saw that identical curving forward arc.

At 60 MPH no less. So if water molecules do that at that speed, so do air molecules. When I next saw Tadage at the April 2015 BASH, I recounted all this to him. I said “Tadge, sorry I doubted you!” He smiled. So maybe the same would be true with the side air deflective active aero system — for I would love more downforce when I am taking sharp curving Corvette country corners at highway speeds.

Eric, I am looking forward to your video on variable rear spoiler width if you decide to do it.

The spoiler on the Z06 is actually quite a substantial piece with a lot of surface area. 60mph is plenty for it to do it's job. I know from being on track that you can get a substantial benefit from a wing or spoiler even down to ~50mph. My question really has to do with how much surface area for a spoiler can one realistically put on the side of a car.

I may do a video on the active spoiler if there's enough interest. Thanks for checking it out. Much appreciated!

[RevMatch TV]

In the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, active aero was outlawed in most all of road racing. Some of the so called new things ( highly refined and possible due to ecu’s) were being used in F1 and Can Am Racing., in a much simpler form. Wings with adjustable trim angles were among the first to go. Uncontrolled areo lead up to the full ground effects downforce cars that were very dangerous to race. I know as I owned and raced a Williams FW-07 and that car was amazing until you stalled the undertray air, and off the track you went at 3 G’s sideways, with NO chance of recovery. Downforce is a great way to create traction resulting in faster lap times, but you must respect the master and not go to far.

Wow - a FW07! That's crazy. That must have been a pretty wild experience. I do recall when F1 and other forms of motorsport started to ban the full ground effects cars. They were essentially a high suction vacuum cleaner. Insane grip, but yes - very little margin for error.

[Racer86]

The “new “ side flaps with state of the art Ecu control is great. Love it, but if you look a current winged sprint car you will see huge endplates on their wings. The attach angle of the wing is set in the pits, but the driver can move the wing forward or backward to balance the side force of the end plates and how it effects the car as it goes sideways into the corner. Like I said old tricks with new tech to control it.
the main plane extensions on the rear wing is a new deal I have never seem, that is cool. But we and others got caught with flexible main plane wings. You could set a high static angle of attack trim angles , which produced high downforce at lower speed, and at high speed, the wing would bend flat and reduce drag. Thus moveable areo,,, bad boy, no soup for you. Racing was great fun when you had no rules. Now its new tech.
We just adapted a new style oil filter screen and container that you can check for particles in the dry sump return lines just before the drysump tank. Very fast to check engine condition after a run. Why do I bring this up,,,,, it was from a P 51 fighter plane from WW2
the ability to use ecu to control various aero makes things possible that were not practical or legal in the past. But if you look, some of this stuff is not new.

[Racer86]

Wow - a FW07! That's crazy. That must have been a pretty wild experience. I do recall when F1 and other forms of motorsport started to ban the full ground effects cars. They were essentially a high suction vacuum cleaner. Insane grip, but yes - very little margin for error.

Yes sir, these were crazy cars, I found out about how BRAVE those F 1 drivers were . My time with the car was amazing and It taught me what fast really is. No nannies to protect you. 3-4 G’s cornering. I was usually very quiet after driving it. Kinda numb. Different world deal. It’ is the car pictured in my aviator. I’m proud I set a SCCA lap record at Laguna Seca, and also won the Pacific Coast Road Road Racing Championship at Sear Point in it. I was also happy to sell it and see it return to England before it killed me. I had very fast flying angles to protect me, but no sense pushing the issue to see if they could keep up.

[RevMatch TV]

The “new “ side flaps with state of the art Ecu control is great. Love it, but if you look a current winged sprint car you will see huge endplates on their wings. The attach angle of the wing is set in the pits, but the driver can move the wing forward or backward to balance the side force of the end plates and how it effects the car as it goes sideways into the corner. Like I said old tricks with new tech to control it.
the main plane extensions on the rear wing is a new deal I have never seem, that is cool. But we and others got caught with flexible main plane wings. You could set a high static angle of attack trim angles , which produced high downforce at lower speed, and at high speed, the wing would bend flat and reduce drag. Thus moveable areo,,, bad boy, no soup for you. Racing was great fun when you had no rules. Now its new tech.
We just adapted a new style oil filter screen and container that you can check for particles in the dry sump return lines just before the drysump tank. Very fast to check engine condition after a run. Why do I bring this up,,,,, it was from a P 51 fighter plane from WW2
the ability to use ecu to control various aero makes things possible that were not practical or legal in the past. But if you look, some of this stuff is not new.

Fascinating! Thank you for the insight!

[Frenzy36]

Extremely interesting and informative. Thank you all for posting

[JB]

I have to be the ridiculously ugly c8 spy shots we are seeing with that horrible rear wing is what the active aero rear wing will effectively do in the up position...

no stylist worth his salt would ever allow such a monstrosity on their design.

active aero to the rescue.

actually underbody aero is much more effective and certainly more acpttractive..

ferraris are expert in underbody aero..

keep corvettes attractive and leave the boy racer wings as an option for those that actually track their cars...

in this area of the country people key vehicles with such ridiclous wings.

[MikeC8]

My active aero doesn’t raise until 65 mph. So I’m assuming the engineers have determined that’s the speed that it becomes useful. I agree the Hugh wing on the 2020 Shelby GT500 as an example really look boy racer. For those who track their cars how big does the wing have to be ? How many tracks have straight portions that you can go over 120 mph. Road Atlanta is one of the few where you can hit 135 mph. The cars that advertise 200 mph need that wing to accomplish that speed. 99% of buyers will never see 200 mph. Bragging rights are why you see these big butt wings.
The autobahn might be the exception to the rule, but traffic still can hinder 200 mph.