What's the Point of a Rear Spoiler

What’s the Point of a Rear Spoiler

February 4, 2020
/ FAQs
/ By Alice Brown

One common question faced by car enthusiasts is why rear spoilers or rear wings are featured on high-performance cars? What makes this feature so special that normal car models don’t get them? If you’re a little deeper into the world of enthusiasts, you might also look at the matter of what the point of a rear spoiler is to begin with?

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The discussion on how important rear spoilers or wings are has been going on for a couple of decades now. Some car experts think that roof spoilers only belong on race cars and other enthusiasts think that all cars would benefit from having a spoiler.

In this article, we’ll be breaking down what rear spoilers are for, why they’re such a big deal, and why they might matter to your car and its overall performance. Keep reading to see exactly what the point of a rear spoiler is.

The History of Rear Spoilers

Rear spoilers started getting traction via road cars in the 1960s-1970s. Some of the iconic cars that used rear spoilers include the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird and the 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL--both of which featured large rear wings.

This was something of a rarity back then because of how expensive car accessories and parts were. In that sense, a rear spoiler back then was also a class status symbol, which can probably explain why even today, we associate rear spoilers with the elite or high-performance vehicles.

In our modern times, we see a lot of cars with rear spoilers because they’ve become an affordable accessory that symbolizes car speed and quality. Because the aftermarket of auto parts and accessories has been so robust, rear spoilers in the 21st century are extremely affordable.

The Sporty Style

Over the years, rear spoilers have become associated with sports because they’re primarily seen as a feature of race cars. Rear spoilers suggest that a car is more powerful, performs better, can go faster, and has better quality. If for nothing else, rear spoilers are also often seen as a style accessory that gets attention as you’re ripping down the highway.

While most car design shops might fit your rear spoiler to your car, this isn’t always the case. This is why you should always go to professional shops like AusBody Works to get something made custom for your car. Don’t waste the style of the spoiler by having one installed badly.

The Increase in Downforce

Technically speaking, the main purpose of a rear spoiler is to improve how smooth and how fast a car runs. This is done by improving the car’s downforce. Downforce makes the car adhere better to the road so that it’s moving forward with an ideal amount of friction with the road.

This can be dangerous if done within regular city limits, but this is great for racing and for driving out in the country where there’s a lot of space.This is also excellent for cars that have neither a chin spoiler or front splitter. ‘

How Downforce Works

Air pressure builds beneath cars when the vehicle is going past a certain speed. This pressure causes the car body to lift, making its grip on the road less stable. It causes more accidents also limits the car’s performance capabilities.

What a rear spoiler does is it “spoils” or puts a monkey wrench in the lifting of the car body due to air pressure. It provides resistance over the high-speed airflow and gathers the air in the rear instead. This pushes the car down and gives you better cornering capabilities.

Just Enough Downforce

Although the ideal place to fully feel the effect of a real spoiler is on the race track or on an open country road, it can also improve your car’s city driving performance. The downforce provided by a rear spoiler generates enough pressure to match the car’s speed.

This is why a lot of the most premium cars come with rear spoilers that only shoot out and retract when the car reaches a certain speed. For example, a retractable rear spoiler often pops up at 120 km/h and then folds back in at 250 km/h.

Reducing Drag

Despite the fact that they help the wheels stay on track, they actually also reduce drag or resistance that the car feels due to colliding with air at a certain speed. This makes your car’s gas usage last longer and also makes the car go faster, so you get the most out of every gallon of petrol that you load.

Ideally, this lessens the amount of gas that you need. Rear spoilers shift the airflow over the rear end of the car, making your ride smoother and faster.

Conclusion

The “point” of a rear spoiler all comes down to execution. For it to work, it should be made bespoke for your car and your driving lifestyle. Make sure that you head to top-rated shops like AusBody Works where all the parts are the real deal.

Due diligence, research, and testing are all huge factors when picking out a rear spoiler. You also have the option of choosing a body kit--ideally ABS & Polyutherane--to help keep your car and your rear spoiler in mint condition. Contact someone from AusBody Works now, and let us show you around!

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