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
Is it too late to weigh in?
My vote is none.
But, the funniest thing I ever read in Consumer Reports was that the spoiler on the trunk lid of a mid-70s Mustang Boss 302 or something like that, was so effective, it closed the trunk lid even at a standstill.
Like they didn’t up the springs to compensate for the weight.
FFS
And wonderful snark.
Sorry I can’t tell you the exact year and month, but it’s there somewhere.
Make mine an ’80’s porsche 911 whale tail. Its iconic to me.
Rather fond of the one on the ’05 GTO, but I own one so…
My 1st & all time/nostalgic fave: original 911 whale tail. My E30 M3’s decklid spoiler definitely wasn’t just a decoration, could feel it working at speed.
I generally hate wings on cars, but a Saab 900 Turbo just doesn’t look right without that little foam rubber wedge at the base of the rear window.
I saw a 2×4 mounted about 12″ above the trunk lid of a clapped-out Honda Accord about a decade ago. It still makes me laugh when I think about it.
For airplane wings… Ventus 2CX sailplane.
Unsure if it’s been said or not, but it’s a tie between the backwards wings on the Dodge Stealth and Eagle Talon. I love ’90s excess.
Current events-wise? Left.
On a car? Aircooled whaletail. On a plane? DeHavilland Comet (I know the plane was terrible but those nacelles y’all).
The black rubbery wing that -back in 1986- according to my parents converted a ‘grandparent looking’ Audi 80 in a ‘family’ Audi 80 and convinced them enough to buy said Audi 80. https://x.com/addict_car/status/1239469909777752064/photo/1
After all these comments, no one mentioned the classic Pontiac GTO Judge.
The best wing is on my 60-year-old Cessna 150, which allows me to escape the surly bonds of earth. Pretty much as cheaply as possible.
None of the cars I’ve owned or driven needs aerodynamic frippery to stay on the ground.
I want to fly.
1970 Chrysler 300H. A beautiful piece of sculpture.
The Boeing 787 wing. So elegant.
Wings on cars? Blech. Fine on racecars, largely naff on street cars. Get your aero sorted so you don’t need one.
Watching the wing flex up at takeoff is always amazing
No doubt about that! Ever seen the failure test video? Absolutely astounding how far they flex before they go BANG.
The Mopar Winged Warriors top the list of course.
Honorable mention for the dual plane Merkur XR4Ti.
The basket handle Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 are classics
The old Lambo Countach airplane wing is ridiculous and I still love it.
I swear to god if you assholes make me be the one to have to state FACTS about the best wing of all time.
…and I’m a JDM asshole and even I got the answer right. Shame on all of you.
All bow to the original Winged Warriors.
Way too high to be good. Above the roof is im on too much cocaine to use a wind tunnel. Maybe you have an excuse for not using a tunnel on a b-18, but by the time you are chasing Nascar championship with bespoke cars…..
They did use a wind tunnel and the height is due to having to clear the open trunk.
That’s what’s said, but for a special car it’s a stupid thing. Like you couldn’t make the trunk lid hinge in the middle with the front 1/2 a pinned on access panel. Lots of ways to make a good wing instead of one you slapped on because reasons.
It was a homologation model. They only built them so they could race and all the stuff was pretty much just tacked on a standard model to make it as cheaply as possible. A unique trunk is at least four fairly large stampings (two pieces of lid, inner and outer structures) and now the cost goes way up before factoring in any other unique mechanical parts that might be required, engineering, testing (even Chrysler in the ’60s did durability testing), etc. and whatever it might cost to incorporate the different trunk setup into the assembly line or the requirement for more post-build work (I don’t know exactly how they were built, but my guess is that they were built on the standard line with the odd parts installed after largely by hand by a special crew). Unique parts also need spares produced, warehoused, and shipped and trunk panels are large.
That the parts were tacked on also made it easier for the dealers to swap the parts out with the standard parts when they didn’t sell. Though I doubt that was factored by the OEM, I’m sure they figured that a smaller trunk opening would have made them (even) harder to sell.
A good wing cuts drag while adding downforce. Like don’t be this dumb https://youtu.be/phf_sLQ000I?si=XjpM3VSnIRxEtMtL
If it has to be on a car, then surely the answer is Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang. Otherwise it’s a spitfire.
The early Dodge Ram SRT10 regular-cab truck.
https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2004/03/2004-Dodge-Ram-SRT-10-39.jpg
It can be removed with just two 10mm bolts in the rare occurrence that you’d want to haul more than ass.
Honorable mention goes to the 1991 IROC Z28 Camaro.
https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/fastlane/1/4214/165415/1920×1440/1991-chevrolet-camaro
man.
Anytime.
The other day, we pulled up behind a boy-racer’d Subaru with a massive wing, next to a Kia compact sedan with a ~6″ wide wing from a toy car glued to the trunk.
OMG I wish I had taken a picture.
Wrx sedan has issues with air not attaching to the rear glass, so many oem STI wings cut drag because they fix the issue.
The 22B wing looks good to me. It has to be tall to get into the airflow with the 3-box design of the car.
The original one: Jim Hall’s Chaparral race car with the high mounted wing. The rest are all derivatives.
Lancia 037 Rally.
BMW e36 LTW wing with the risers.
Although it’s not a great wing, the 1970s Camaros and Firebirds without the rear spoiler looked terrible. Come to think of it, so did the Chevy Monza.
Ducktails have my heart. The original Viper GTS comes to mind in particular.