What's the point of a rear spoiler?

Question

Or any other spoiler, for that matter? Is it just for looks or does it serve any function? Thank you!

Answer 1

If you go too fast w/out a rear spoiler the rear of your car will have a tendency to raise up. The spoiler increases the down force on the back of your car to keep it stabilized, also helps in turning by increasing the normal force

of course this is at like...100 mph

Answer 2

The answers about holding the rear of the car down are spot-on correct.

Regarding current, non-racing, production cars with spoilers, only a handful of models actually create a useable downforce, and they are all race-capable cars, such as the Ford GT, the Ferrari Enzo, and the Porsche 911.

There are several example of cars with spoilers that serve no purpose whatsoever. The Dodge Neon and Ford Taurus are both front-wheel drive cars with a spoiler option. If the spoiler actually produced measurable downforce, the drive wheels would be lifted from the ground instead of pushed down.

Answer 3

Ok, let's use NASCAR as an example....

The race car has to be able to hold traction in order to keep the tires firmly on the track, and that helps gain speed and control. When a car loses traction, of course it does not handle as well, thus it cannot keep up a higher speed.

When the car moves forward, air pressure produces what is called "downforce". That means as air presses onto that spoiler, it's creating a downward thrust which forces the rear of the car down, thus causing the rear tires to gain better traction and control.

On the front of the race car, nowadays, they use what is called a "splitter". This is also a kind of a spoiler. This produces downforce on the front of the car. This is especially necessary, considering the car is steered from the front. So you definitely want traction and control on that front end.

The same applies to the spoiler on your car. The air is going to produce downforce on that spoiler, giving your car better traction and control.

Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

In sports cars, aerodynamics & stability. Air flowing over the spoiler doesn't form turbulence, and it keeps the rear of the car on the road by downward pressure.

In most regular cars, spoilers have an aesthetic function, rather than a performance-related one. In other words, adding a "sporty feel" to the car, rather than actually DOING anything.

Answer 5

It is so that the car is held to the ground more firmly. But studies show that it does this to a limited extent. It is also not fuel efficient either because any protruding object from a cars frame will cause drag and reduce your miles per gallon. i mean how many nascars do you see with a spoiler? NONE because they are basically pointless on the standard modern car. And no spoilers do not make your car go faster. So it is basically just for looks.

Answer 6

You must not be one that is around cars very much. In most sports cars or race cars it can be used as a source of downforce on the rearend of a car at higher speeds for traction. On most other cars that aren't fast it can be for looks or if it's a really bad spoiler it can cause drag. They help to reduce lifting at high speeds.

Answer 7

Mostly look in standard cars but the intent is to provide aerodynamics reducing wind resistance the rear one is to push the back of the car down so the wheels get better traction for rear driven cars (not really useful on front wheel drives......)

Answer 8

Unless the car comes with it, as with most Porches or other sports car, the spoiler serves no purpose other than simply being aesthetic. It's also possible that if installed improperly or if an incorrect model is installed, drag can be increased and it will actually slow the car down.

Answer 9

It serves no function on a street car at all. It is there just for looks. Now if you were going 200 mph on a highway it would help as in downforce, which pushes down on the rearend so your car sticks to the ground better, but thats just Nascar..... so it is just for looks.

Answer 10

It is for looks, to be honest. In legal street driving you aren't going fast enough to make any kind of difference in handling

In race cars the purpose is to generate downward force on the rear end to increase traction and improve the handling of the car. This is my opinion.