Rear spoiler: Does it improve performance?

[197JST]

Evening I hope all are doing well.

It’s as the title really asks, what are the gains for having the rear spoiler installed?

I got to say those that are fitter really do set it off, but other than the looks, does it really improve the handling?
& if so is it only at the higher speeds that you really feel the performance difference?

I’m not sure if the topic has already been discussed but thought I’d open it up.

 

[RSRowe]

I’ve noticed absolutely no difference after fitting one to mine.

 

[197JST]

That’s good to know, I just cant see on the angle or size of it, that much air flow is created to increase down force being created, but there again I’m no specialist when is comes to aerodynamics.
It’s interesting to here your opinions though

 

[burrellbloke]

197 Aerodynamics (CFD analysis)

Hi guys. I'm running some CFD simulations on a model of a 197 in my spare time and wanted to open a thread so I can share the results with you. The goal is to see what aftermarket parts work and how well they work. Later on I will test out some custom stuff (wings, splitters etc.) as well. Now...

clio197.net

 

[Abdulla Ali Al Ali]

More of a Cosmetic than Performance ( I doubt)

 

[bedoef]

Someone did a fluid dynamics simulation with the wing a few years ago, if I recall it works in combination with the rear diffuser to give something small, like 50lbs of downforce at like 100 mph or something.

So really, no noticeable difference.

 

[RSRowe]

A mate of mine had a huge wing on the back of his. And he said his was noticeably slower down the straights vs all our cars with cup spoilers

 

[bedoef]

197 Aerodynamics (CFD analysis)

Ah, ok. Realizable k-epsilon is what I use in fluent, with Non-equilibrium wall functions. Hour or two? That's fast! What type of mesh and what size are you running? Open foam is up there with the best CFD software available from what I've heard so it should give accurate results if set up...

clio197.net

Enjoy the read.

 

[Marsch]

Some guys of our community are racing Clios on the Nürbrugring (VLN/RCN) and they said there is no performance gain with the spoiler. The only thing it does is that it costs top speed.

 

[197JST]

197 Aerodynamics (CFD analysis)

Ah, ok. Realizable k-epsilon is what I use in fluent, with Non-equilibrium wall functions. Hour or two? That's fast! What type of mesh and what size are you running? Open foam is up there with the best CFD software available from what I've heard so it should give accurate results if set up...

clio197.net

Enjoy the read.

Thanks for the links, this is going to take some reading so I’ll come back to it in the week. Thanks very much for sharing

 

[R20BTG]

Rumour has it that it produces downforce, so much so that a Clio 197 or 200 could in theory drive upside down in a tunnel.

 

[Jaydlaw1]

Not sure about the spoiler but the F1 inspired diffuser does create downforce

 

[197JST]

Rumour has it that it produces downforce, so much so that a Clio 197 or 200 could in theory drive upside down in a tunnel.

I guess you’d need to get it up to a certain speed first though right

 

[bedoef]

I guess you’d need to get it up to a certain speed first though right

88 miles per hour I believe

 

[Beany]

We

88 miles per hour I believe

careful with that much downforce at that speed you’ll be sent back in time!

 

[R20BTG]

Great Scott!