In today’s world there are active and passive aerodynamic features that are put on a variety of sports cars to give them the performance you want to enjoy. For years we’ve had passive aero on cars which involves the use of placing items in a stationary position to help cars have better ways to cut through the air or push the car down on the track, but now we have active aero as well. Active aero allows a driver or the onboard computers to manipulate the aero features to allow for a better overall performance. Here are some ways active aerodynamics has improved over the years.

Ride Height – In some cars there is an active spoiler in the rear, which is becoming more common for sports cars than ever before, but with some models as the spoiler angel is adjusted and deployed the car actually reduces its ride height to put it closer to the ground, giving it more control and a much better run around the track.

Drag Wing – We know the rear spoiler of a car creates some drag no matter what, but with some cars this wing is adjustable to different angles in order to help the car stop faster. A wing that adjusts in this manner works a lot like a chute on a drag racer, but with sports cars that make a run around the track this wing may allow the car to cut the corners sharper.

Retractable Rear Wing – For some cars the rear spoiler is not lifted off the rear deck at all times. This allows a car to be one that has some great features for the road and for the track. This technology has been around for several years now and these rear wings deploy only when the car reaches a speed where additional downforce is necessary.

Vented Chassis – Some sports cars have two large vents under the front bumper that guide air through the channel under each side of the body to help create greater downforce for the vehicle. These openings are a great way for these cars to be able to perform even better without created additional drag on the rear and with the airflow through the undercarriage of the car.

Foldable Active Rear Wing- With a wing that deploys to provide the drag needed for braking and the downforce needed for racing, having a wing that is also able to fold back into the top of the body when not in use is a perfect piece of aero and is found on only the most exclusive supercars on the market today.

Race Mode – A car that is meant to be driven on the streets and on the track is a car that has a series of modes to ensure the car can be set up perfect for the track. When a car includes race model on it the car will drop the ride height and raise the wing up to its highest point for the enjoyment on the track.

Quad Wings – There is one supercar that takes active aero to new heights. This car has four separate wings on each corner of the car to offer the right angle for the drive and help create the downforce needed for acceleration and braking. These wings provide the needed aero feature of the car and are able to retract quickly when not needed.

Chin Spoiler – This is a spoiler on the front underside of a car that allows for greater downforce and much better airflow through the underside of the car. This spoiler is perfect for a drive on a winding road where you don’t want to slow down and you need that additional control this extra downforce can provide.

Front and Rear Aero – In some cars, that are insanely fast, the need for active aero in the front and rear is important to the drive. If a car can reach speeds that exceed 250 mph you need a way to slow it down as well as keep it stuck to the road. This is where an active front diffuser and retractable rear wing come in to play.

Tucked Wing – Some cars not only have an active rear wing that folds down into the body, but have one that actually disappears completely to give you the look of smooth lines and a continuous curve. While this isn’t at all important to the overall function of the car, it makes for an attractive and enjoyable feature on the cars that offer it.