Rear Spoiler - functional or aesthetic?

[EVer]

Sigh.

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[frinesi2]

I'm bored, so, why not.

The vehicles pictured were examples of form drag, not examples of rooftop spoilers (both of them had deck lid spoilers, by the way ... one with positive angle and one with negative angle).

Many, if not ALL, of the vehicles discussed so far have some kind of spoiler at the first sharp downward change in slope between the roof line and the rear of the vehicle.

When the rear glass transition is smooth to the roof, they use a deck lid spoiler.

When the rear glass is more vertical than the roof, they use a roof top spoiler.

The Porsche Taycan has an integrated deck lid spoiler and a pop-up spoiler.

The Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo has a roof top spoiler (as do the Macan and Cayenne).

Tesla 3, X, and Y do not use roof top spoilers because they have very long slopes all the way back, with a smooth transition from the roof to the glass. They sacrifice interior volume for aerodynamics.

Your darling Model 3 has an integrated deck lid spoiler.

The Model S has an integrated deck lid spoiler (as does the 3rd generation Mazda6 - the car Tesla copied to make the S - oh and the Mazda6 wagon has a roof top spoiler).

The chunky Model X has an integrated deck lid spoiler and a pop-up spoiler.

Even the homely Model Y has an integrated deck lid spoiler.

The Prius V and C had a rooftop spoilers.

The 2020 Prius and Prius Prime both have integrated deck lid spoilers.

If rooftop spoilers were only meant to be sun shades, then why wouldn't cars with longer, more-horizontal rear glass (like Teslas and Prius sedans) use them since they'll be the ones that get higher solar load?

Why would they put something that reduces range on a car with more-vertical glass that doesn't need the extra shade?

Why does every single car with more-vertical rear glass that's designed for low drag have a rooftop spoiler if they're so detrimental?

Why can't spoilers, depending on their application and angle of attack, be used for either down force or drag reduction?

Why can't they be both functional AND aesthethic?

 

[frinesi2]

For once I completely agree.

 

[EVer]

For once I completely agree.

What an odd feeling this is. Usually people are quoted out of context to make them appear incorrect. Here I'll do it to make someone seem correct:

The roof mounted spoiler... might provide some extra efficiency

 

[frinesi2]

I've been removing an old tree stump behind my house with an axe. Chipping away a bit at a time whenever I get a chance.

Is it an exercise in futility? Maybe.

Is it great exercise? Absolutely.

Since they wanted more interior volume, they brought the roof line up, made the rear glass more vertical, and added a spoiler.

The spoiler creates swirling air beneath it, which helps draw the air coming over the roof downwards which reduces the wake, which negates the effect of the sharp transition.

Therefore, the spoiler is functional.

 

[frinesi2]

Actually it was this one

 

[EVer]

Maybe we can get a special edition without this feature. They might even sell one copy!

 

[eager2own]

Given that shade was such a critical component in the design, you'd think Ford would have extended the spoiler all the way forward to cover all that glass on the roof. They could've called it a "hardtop."

 

[pbojanoski]

Given that shade was such a critical component in the design, you'd think Ford would have extended the spoiler all the way forward to cover all that glass on the roof. They could've called it a "hardtop."

I really need to add a few more: ?????

Made my night!

You guys are better than I am at this. Too good.

 

[EVer]

No glass: check.
Needs a spoiler though.

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