Quote:
Originally Posted by rjsmith1973
I'm probably missing something, but that wing is next to completely useless for a front-wheel drive car. In fact, it may even be counterproductive as any downforce it generates would cause the front wheels to lift, impairing traction at the very least. Therefore I voted rice.
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That statement is not true my friend..do some research on the matter:
http://www.car-forums.com/s7/t27851.html
a FWD car can use the rear lift reduction of a rear spoiler as much as a RWD car can. And a properly designed rear spoiler can also reduce overall drag by keeping the boundary layer attached to the rear of the car until it gets past the rear.
Due to the way the air boundary layer can come of the body as it goes over the rear window and rear deck, drag is caused and lift is caused from a low pressure zone being created over the rear deck.
http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/3277038d.jpg
Simply saying a FWD car cannot use a rear spoiler is in fact, wrong.
Even a wing that creates downforce can be used on a FWD car effectively, combined with a front airdam that reduces front lift (or creates front downforce). And, the bigger the wing, the lower the speed at which it becomes effective.
ChrisV
Why do you think pro race teams put rear wings on FWD race cars?
http://www.speedtv.com/_assets/libra...den_tcq_42.jpg
Do you think it lifts the front wheels off the ground? It's not for drag race traction and it's not for high speeds. It's to increase the speed in the corners by keeping the rear end planted. Why would that matter in a FWD car?
You can increase the average sped around a track with a wing even without adding a single horsepower AND while adding drag that reduces top speed slightly.