Spoiler (automotive)

A spoiler is an aerodynamic device attached to an automobile to decrease lift, decrease drag, or increase the amount of force pushing the vehicle's tires to the road surface (also called downforce). Spoilers are often fitted to race and high-performance sports cars, although they have become common on passenger vehicles, as well. Some spoilers are added to cars primarily for styling purposes and have either little aerodynamic benefit or even make the aerodynamics worse.

Operation

Spoilers generally work by disrupting the airflow going over a car. This disruption has two primary effects:

1. reducing the amount of lift naturally generated by the shape of the car, and
2. increasing the amount of positive pressure downward through the vehicle

The result of these two effects is the same: increasing the force between the tire and the road surface, thereby increasing traction. This increase in traction allows a vehicle in motion to brake, turn, and accelerate more aggressively without tire slippage. Additionally, this is accompanied by an increase in aerodynamic drag.

This F1 spoiler features three horizontal aerodynamic elements (1, 2, 3), one vertical element(5), and holes for aerodynamic adjustment (4).

In nearly all cases, downforce and drag increase as the speed of the vehicle increases. Thus, spoilers that are effective at very low speeds often generate excessive drag at high speeds, and spoilers that work well at high speeds are often ineffective while moving slowly. Some spoilers have adjustable components so they can be tuned. Formula One cars, for instance, feature different settings so the car can be optimized for short, low-speed tracks or larger, high-speed ones.

Types of spoilers

Although the most recognizable spoiler is the wing spoiler, there are actually many different types of spoilers.

• A wing spoiler is an airfoil suspended above the body of the vehicle.
• A lid spoiler (commonly trunk lid spoiler, lip spoiler, or boot lid spoiler) is often a ridge of plastic or metal attached directly to the top of the trunk lid.
• A roof spoiler is a small ridge of plastic or metal attached to the very back of the roof, usually just above the rear window.
• A splitter is a spoiler attached to the front bumper, very close to the road surface, sometimes known as a "front spoiler" or on stock or stock-appearing cars as an "air dam."

Racing

Spoilers are fitted to the front and back of this Formula One car.

Spoilers are used extensively in automotive racing. Top Fuel drag racing cars feature massive spoilers on the back, whereas F1 cars feature spoilers on both the front and back of the vehicle. Rally cars are often equipped with smaller spoilers, similar to those seen on modern sports cars. Sprint cars have very large asymmetric spoilers designed for the comparatively low speeds seen at a sprint track. NASCAR stock cars have small roof and lid spoilers.

Passenger vehicles

This Toyota MR2 sports car has a factory-installed rear spoiler.

Spoilers have become increasingly popular on consumer vehicles both for practical and styling reasons. Even four-door sedans that are not designed for performance can be purchased with a spoiler. Modern vehicles, which are almost always front-wheel drive, can see very little increase in performance from spoilers.

Related terms

• Diffuser, which smooths the airflow exiting underneath the rear of the car