How would a spoiler or wing work for my vehicle?
Spoilers are a matter of personal taste. Some people can live without them, others swear by their low-flying looks. There's no denying, though, a well-placed spoiler or wing makes your vehicle look considerably faster. There's a host of benefits to picking one of AutoAnything's spoilers or wings, including:
- Instant sporty looks for any vehicle
- The choice between shapes and styles to fit your vehicle's looks
- Optional precision paint matching for spoilers
- Straightforward installation that's simple for the do-it-yourselfer
Spoilers were first developed as an ingenious creation appearing on race Ferraris in 1961. These top-end sports cars, born for ridiculous speed, needed some help staying tight in turns without adding weight.
The problem facing these Ferraris continues today with other racers. They must be as light as possible for maximizing acceleration and speed. At these high speeds, though, the back end of the car tends to get "loose" — especially in turns. That's because the car isn't sticking to the track well, thanks to excess lift.
One way to combat lift is to add weight to the car, which creates the extra downforce needed to keep the back end from being too loose. Weight, though, is an enemy of speed. And, in turns, the momentum of the extra weight means the driver must fight against its inertia.
Adding a spoiler to the car was the ideal solution to creating extra downforce on the vehicle without extra weight. A spoiler changes the aerodynamics of a vehicle, disrupting the airflow over the car. The disruption adds more downward pressure to the back end, tightening turns and reducing hazardous lift.
There's a catch to the spoiler design. Disrupting the airflow over the vehicle increases drag, thus reducing speed. Getting the right mix of downforce and reduced drag is an art form, leading to many shape and style changes to race cars. Most top-speed racers have adjustable spoilers for tweaking the balance of lift and drag to an optimum mix that maximizes speed without exceedingly dangerous handling. It's just one of the many adjustments racers of all level make in time trials and practice laps.
As spoilers and wings became more popular with top-end street and race cars, they became synonymous with speed. Automakers began incorporating spoilers into their production cars soon after. Some spoilers—like those used by European sports car outfits such as Porsche—were implemented as a means of stabilizing the vehicle on the limitless autobahn and wide-open backroads. Current models, like Audi's TT, use a low profile fin that's necessary for back-end stability because of the lightweight design and powerful engine.
The vast majority of spoilers used on showroom cars today are just for decoration, that's it and that's all. They have no measurable effect on aerodynamics or vehicle stability. They do, however, accentuate the sporty lines and speedy looks of modern sedans. Most car buyers pick a spoiler for tacking-on an extra 20mph to their vehicle's looks.
With the sport-compact modification movement of the late 90s/early 00s, crazy spoiler and wing design was king among street racers and laser-tag VIPs. Super tall spoilers, multi-level models and gigantic wings sat on back of the Integras, Accords and Eclipses of the day. Many of these odd designs were actually homemade spoilers, and didn't come close to resembling a manufacturer part.
More modern factory-style spoilers sit much lower than these fast and furious homemade mods; some hardly rise above the trunk lid. The lower these spoilers sit, the less effect they tend to have on downforce and stability. Likewise, they don't create any extra drag. And, if they have a flat top deck, there's a good chance they have no effect on anything but appearance.
AutoAnything offers two styles: factory-style spoilers for sporty lines, and aggressive-looking wings. One is just for decoration; the other can have a legitimate effect on the handling of your vehicle at high speed.
Factory-style spoilers are designed to mimic the look of spoilers sold on sport models of your vehicle, which are made for accentuating curves and sporty looks. In many cases, they curve flush with the trunk lid for a near-seamless appearance. And, as a bonus, these spoilers are equipped with an extra taillight when the original factory spoiler of the same make employed a light.
Factory-style spoilers from AutoAnything boast a hand-crafted fiberglass construction for durability, smoothness and consistency with the manufacturer's original design. These spoilers can be ordered with a custom paint job that matches your vehicle's original color. The process involves expert application of multi-layer automotive-grade paint and the appropriate clear coat finishes.
Sitting taller than a factory-style spoiler, car wings can grab a little more of the air passing by your vehicle. The wider, angled design also does more to redirect wind resistance and generate downforce.
All of AutoAnything's car wings are crafted from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum. It's the ideal material for combining durability with a product that won't weigh your back end down. And, a few of the models feature a two-deck design that allows you to tune the effect of your spoiler accurately to the speeds you most frequently drive.
Mounting your factory-style spoiler or car wing to your vehicle can be slightly tricky. It's not as easy as throwing-in a new set of floor mats or attaching seatbelt pads, but it's easier than replacing an exhaust system.
Special care is needed for marking and lining-up the spots where you'll need to drill holes in the trunk lid. Be sure to set aside plenty of time to do the job with care and precision. All necessary mounting screws and gaskets are included with your spoiler or wing. Installation shouldn't be difficult for the experienced do-it-yourselfer or rabid gearhead. If you're not sure what a drill is or become squeamish about boring through your vehicle's trunk lid, consider having a pro install the spoiler or car wing.
Which spoiler or wing is right for my vehicle?
Picking the right spoiler or car wing for your vehicle depends on the personality of your ride. Consider the following when trying to select the right one:
- Which is more important to you: looks or function
- Whether a factory-style spoiler or car wing model would look best on your vehicle
Spoilers and wings have two distinctly different appearances and functions. Wings sit high enough to make a difference in aerodynamics, while factory-style spoilers have little or no effect on downforce (though they won't increase drag, either).
- When looks are the most important factor for your vehicle, pick a factory-style spoiler like the Elite Spoiler.
- If you drive your vehicle at exceedingly high speeds and/or track race with it on the weekends, a wing (like the Warbird Car Wing by Lund) will give you some extra downforce and stability.
- The best aerodynamic effect is gained by getting a car wing with adjustable decks and tuning the deck angle to match your driving pattern. The Lund Double Eagle Car Wing has this capability.
Choosing between a wing and a spoiler depends on where you want to take the looks of your vehicle. Factory-style spoilers most closely resemble the original part for your vehicle, while wings bring the appearance of a formula-1 race spoiler in a more modern shape (and minus the huge Marlboro logo). Spoilers can be paint-matched to your finish; wings cannot.
- If you want a seamless look that fits your vehicle's stock appearance, pick a factory-style spoiler like the UCI Factory Spoiler.
- For custom color-matched style, a factory-style spoiler is the right way to go.
- Pick a car wing for high-tech, modified sport compact looks (see the Hawk Car Spoiler by Lund).
We hope you have found our Spoilers & Car Wings Research Guide Center a good guide in helping you choose the best Spoilers & Car Wings for your vehicle. It is AutoAnything's goal to provide the most information on the Internet and through our Auto Accessory Specialists on every product we sell. If you have any information that you think could help improve this section, please email us at researchcenter@autoanything.com.