Aerodynamic aids
01/04/2013
Aerodynamics has long been an issue in automotive engineering. It is often not possible to achieve top aerodynamic performance with the basic shape alone. In most cases, small aids are needed to force the wind flow in the desired direction.
Back in the 1950s, a small "spoiler" on the hood of the Beetle was used to direct the flow of moist air so that as little water as possible got stuck on the small windshield. The delicate and slow windshield wipers of the time were quickly overwhelmed. Unfortunately, there is no proof of the effectiveness of this small air-guiding aid.
In today's racing sport, such small spoiler elements are tested in the wind tunnel in multiple versions until, after hours, it becomes clear which variant achieves the best result. The wind deflector shown in the photo, seen in the German Museum in Munich, has almost certainly never seen a wind tunnel, neither from the inside nor from the outside.
