I have owned three Honda Fits, and the things just look naked without the rear wing that came standard on the Sport model. Admit it, these things are often merely a “looks cool” appearance add. Does a 117-horsepower 2009 Honda Fit really need added downforce?
I was thinking about wings when I saw the humongous example on the new electric Jeep Wagoneer S, recently launched in San Diego. Vince Galante, the design vice president with responsibility for Wagoneer S exterior styling, discussed the wing during the press conference. “The boxy Jeep profile is not the most aerodynamic thing,” he said. “We used a floating wing at the back, unique to the S, and achieved a drag coefficient of 0.29, making it the most aerodynamic Jeep ever.”
The prominent wing was shaped in a new $29.5 million wind tunnel. The wing functions as part of a team. A subtle rear liftgate spoiler above the Jeep badge, as well as the roof, were angled to minimize air turbulence. Flush pocket door handles and integrated fins guide air around the car. The S also gets underbody shields, front tire spats, and side sills to reduce drag around the wheels.
“The wing first appeared in a sketch of the Wagoneer S, just the hint of it,” Galante continued. “We weren’t sure the wing would work, but the wind tunnel confirmed it functioned well with the tapered shape of the roof we needed. Then engineering said to put three times as much space between the glass and the wing. It’s now an eight- or nine-inch gap. What we ended up with is pretty unique.” The Jeep’s wing works by managing and guiding the air from the back of the car into the gap between itself and the back window, reducing turbulence.
The molded plastic wing is not designed to rise with set speeds like the active units on some supercars. Instead, the rigid, fixed-position wing is attached to the D-pillar. The wing has to be rigid, because it houses the subject-to-jiggle camera for the digital rearview mirror. In addition to its functional benefits, the wing improves the Jeep’s side profile. From any angle, it suggests an EV that can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
Still, it’s not as cool as my favorite wing, on the 1973 to 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.” There were civilian and racing versions of this car, and they both had a massive wing consisting of two uprights that looked like airplane tailfins connected by a big bar. It was functional, too, putting down nearly 200 pounds of downforce at 124 mph. BMW coupes of this period were gorgeous to begin with, and the wing stands to toughen ‘em up a bit. This is not the “Little Wing” Jimi Hendrix sang about.
So what’s your favorite wing – and is your preference for form or functionality?
Top graphic: Bring a Trailer
Horten HO 229 flying wing.
Northrop YB-49.
Actually Jack Northrup’s N-9M it pretty beautiful too.
Gà rang muối when I can find them but garlic parmesan are pretty good too.
I tend to oscillate between Buffalo hot and Cajun, depending on the occasion. Thai chili garlic, especially with lime, is also up there.
1G MR2. The car looked all kinds of wrong without it.
Merkur Xr4ti double the fun!
https://clunkbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/merkur-xr4ti-lead.jpg
Always the best! But especially so when it’s affixed to a Moonstone Blue Sierra RS Cosworth.
I’d go further back to it’s daddy, the Escort RS Cosworth’s ‘whale tail’ double-wing:
https://hips.hearstapps.com/roadandtrack/assets/16/16/1461330499-pictures-ford-escort-eu-1992-1.jpg
I ordered the wing for my 1st-gen Scion xB partly as a joke. It made the box look like it had cartoon speed lines trailing of the roof.
The ’99 Pontiac Grand Am spoiler with the fins was pretty cool for that price point type car. Also the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon 2nd gen crescent one.
I had a 1G Talon and 2G Eclipse and I preferred that 1G Talon wing, err spoiler, the best the way it came all the way up forward and tied into the side mirrors.
The big crescent wings on the 2Gs cut the rear view mirror right in half which got kind of annoying after a while.
If spoilers count as wings, I like the one on the ’70 Firebird Trans Am. Such a nice fluid shape. But I also liked the one on the Z28. I looked like a slab jabbed into the tail end.
We’re 23 comments into this and someone has yet to say Countach. Where are my Gen X’ers at?
I’d also accept F40.
Rear wing or front wing?
Both
I’m a freak who thinks the Countach looks better without a wing. (btw, we boomers were around in those days too)
You’re not a freak, because I see that argument. By the time I came of age though the Countach already had the wings and flares and that’s always how I see her in my mind’s eye.
Late Gen-X, this was our image of that car and it was sublime…
LP500S.
Hell yes F40. A family of 4 could eat dinner off that thing.
I liked the baby spoiler on my Saab 900 T. Also the first gen Audi TT.
The wing on my ’06 Charger Daytona looked like it was from an old J.C. Whitney catalog. No dice there. But the wing on my ’08 EVO X with the little whicker on the trailing edge? It may have screamed “Boy Racer”, but I had that car up over 120 MPH and it still handled like it was doing 45.
Always liked the Mazda 323 GTX.
I’d say a tie between the BMW 3.0 CSL in the lead image and the Chaparral 2J
My favorite wing is the Buick GS wings from 1970. the best wing though kind of has to go to the new Dodge Charger. that front thing really makes the Electric thing look very retro cool while still allowing the things to be extra slippery in the wind tunnel.
I really like 747 wings – tho the Airbus A380 had some really nice wings too.
Oh – you meant on cars?
I hate them all.
I’ll bet you also hate joy and love and everything else that gives meaning to existence.
Nah – I just hate excess weight for something that provides no useful downforce 90% of the time at street-legal speeds.
The Wright Flyer had the best wings. Fight me.
Very warped of you to say that!
Honorable mention: Porsche 911 “whale tail”.
Winner: Merkur Exareforteeeye, with the Europe-only Sierra’s double-decker rear wing. Frank Stephenson!
911 whale tail?
Oh. Yeah. That one is pretty damn hard to argue with.
Also came here to vote for the whale tail. It just feels so right.
Whale tail, but on a Beetle with a 959-style body kit.
1991 Acura NSX wing is amazing
This.
I will also nominate the C8 Corvette ZR1 wing – the one on the track package – because it is the polar opposite of the NSX. The NSX wing is refined and precise. The ZR1 wing is huge and aesthetically LOUD and screams I HAVE 1000 HORSEPOWER!!!!
Pontiac Fiero.
Clean, simple design while still having hefty dimensions that fit the car well. Rumors were that foxbody owners liked to buy them for a chunkier wing.
Dodge Caravan Sport. Spoilers do nothing on 99% of the vehicles that have them, so why not embrace the absurdity and slap one on the vehicle least likely to get any kind of advantage from it.
My inner plane nerd says Beechcraft Staggerwing. In this case, very functional.
Exquisite choice, monsieur.
Oldsmobile. Guilty as charged. I love the wing from the 1969 Hurst/Olds / 1970 Rallye 350. I added a replica to my ’68 4-4-2. There’s plenty of argument among Oldsmobile people about this one, but I happen to love it. It’s just audacious enough without being ridiculous.
Close second goes the the 1984-86 Dodge Daytona. That wrap-around spoiler made a basic car look exciting.
Where are my flat brimmed vaping bros. I think the 00’s STi wing is pretty culturally iconic.
I would have to agree on that one. Not my all time favorite, but definitely iconic.
I think on the wrx of this era the wing closer to the trunk lid is fine, but the full fat sti requires the ridiculously large wing and the ridiculously large hood scoop. And it’s blue with gold rims.
Here for the Ramen Wing
Chicken.
Barring that, the bi-level spoiler on the Merkur XR4Ti.
Agreed. I’ll also toss in the similar Mustang SVO biplane.
The 190E Evo 2 has a very nice wang on it, but one of the all time great wangs is the Viper ACR Extreme Aero X Wing
The category is biggest wings, Mr. Connery.
Just like the ones I shared with your mother, Trebek. Ahahahahahaha!
Tie between the very similar Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird.
/thread
They were kind of the first Fast and Furious things to hit the streets I suppose. Though too much too soon when new. Only appreciated much later for many.
They are as far away from Fast and Furious things as can be. The wings, noses, and associated other bits were functional.
Agreed. How is this even a debate?
So effective they were promptly banned. As THE man said, you don’t race the other cars, you race the rule book.
I’m too young but IIRC it took NASCAR about 30 years to match those speeds again on the superspeedways under the constantly revised rulebook.
Yup, and not particularly popular with consumers either. They sat on dealer lots unsold, until their aero bits were clipped. Sacrilege now, but at the time…