yenko boy

Will we see it this generation? Thoughts on why we will or will not see it on higher end variants. Im hoping the zr1 or zora will showcase something on the level of the 720s.

-ZEEOHSIX-

From what we've seen of test mules out and about thus far, we have no compelling evidence to suggest that active aero will be used on the C8 generation just yet.

pfg1

An outside racing source developed C8 active aero 3 years ago…fyi

Racer X

Didn't we see a patent application on active aero that the drawing appeared to a Corvette? Maybe a C7.....

JockItch

Yes, maybe a year or two prior to the C8 release… hence the rumors.

ZRacerLE

I believe the ZR1 will get active aero and probably double the downforce of the Z07 at its max operating condition.

marknagy13

My guess is never. Maybe the Zr1 but statistically it doesn't really do much, which is why the fastest track cars mostly don't use it at all. Kind of a gimmick and looks cool. For a brand like Chevy, I don't think the price point justifies it.

Deepdiver

I disagree. The C7 ZR1 low wing offered 20% less drag than the high wing. Having active aero gives you the best of both worlds depending in the situation.

MitchAlsup

a) most track cars try to operate under race class rules. Almost none of these rules allow active aero.

b) McLaren F1 had active underbody aero--used to prevent excessive underbody downforce above 180 MPH±.
c) ACO (LeMans) made them both detune the engine and take the active aero off.

d) C8 does not have underbody aero--which is the most likely place to put stuff like this.

Racer X

The Chaparral 2F (?) had a wing that moved, and was so effective it was outlawed in Can Am. Then Jim Hall created the 2J that had side skirts and a snowmobile engine with fan that sucked the air from under the body. Also too effective (and it threw rocks at the car behind) and outlawed. Racing frowns on active aero and active suspensions. They don't even like flexible aero that flattens as the down force increases limiting downforce and reducing drag the faster you go.

Mitch doesn't the C8 Z06 have aero strakes underneath?

MitchAlsup

The C8 has a clean (but no undertray) underside with a <sort of> diffuser at the rear.
Without the undertray to allow air to flow under the car, the diffuser is "not that valuable".

For real underbody areo -- one needs the underside of the car to be smooth like the top side of an airplane wing.

So, while C8 is massively cleaner underside than <say> C4, it is nowhere as clean (free flowing) as a Ferrari (355, 360, 430, 458,...)

Deepdiver

Yes they do. Underbody Aero Strakes

Racer X

That is what I thought. From the linked article:

"As a quick recap, there are essentially three different versions of the 2023 Z06 Corvette as the car will be available as a standard Z06 model without the optional aero package, a standard Z06 with the optional aero package, and the Z06/Z07 with its complete aero package. The underbody strakes are only available with the Z06/Z07 package which also includes the front canards/dive planes, side rockers, and the two-pedestal high wing.

There are four of these aero strakes under the Corvette Z06 that are about five feet in length. Vehicle Performance Manager Alex MacDonald described the aero strakes as “starting out at the front about 1-inch apart from each other, on opposite sides of the centerline, and working back to the sides of the car to exit about the mid-door.” Their function is to remove the air from under the car, which reduces air pressure and increases road-holding. MacDonald calls the inclusion of the aero strakes “free aero; downforce with no drag penalty so we love them!”"

MitchAlsup

I am talking stuff like ::

https://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cr...5-2_800x0.webp

Which cleans up the entire underside not just adding rails to direct the airflow (although that is a step forward from base C8.)

Deepdiver

looks pretty clean to me.

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2020...lat-underbody/

RapidC84B

Don’t confuse a clean/flat underside with air diverter strakes with a proper underbody aero with diffuser. GM wants people to be able to drive theses cars and hit road imperfections and not be out thousands. A full tunneled floor with a real expansion chamber diffuser is expensive if you run over something.