F12 front fender

There you are. http://www.f12berlinetta.com/#/en/discover/aerodynamics

 

The front fenders are a great idea. I'm glad to see how functional they really are

 

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^I agree! I'm a chemistry student and would love to know the real science behind it too.

I think I need to take an aerodynamics class.

 

In addition, does anyone know what the vents at the top of the rear fenders are?

My best guess is that they release the pressure pent up by the spinning rear wheels, but I thought those would be closer to the exhausts.

Any thoughts?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they're used for the cooling of the rear brakes.

 

Pure genius from both a design and aero standpoint!
Ed

 

I hate to be the cynical one but I think its just a gimmicky design element with little real science behind it.

Its not like Ferrari ever had lift issues with the 599/550/612 etc.

My least favorite design element on a car i otherwise really like.

 

After 100MPH the difference in stability between a 550 and 599 is more than evident...

 

Well with more power and less weight, someone in italy felt there may be a lift issue and thus increased downforce by 70%+.

 

An improvement is different than an 'issue'. Does the current 599 have any such 'issues' ?

If not then, IMO, its a design element first, a downforce aid a distant second.

I appreciate that many like it. I dont. Im hoping I can have that opinion.

 

Ahh...but can you KEEP that opinion. We'll bump this in a couple of years.

 

I think its more complex than that. Aerodynamics is interactive. Its a totally different shape than the 599. Different things going on. I'm sure theres a styling element to it- these cars need to look pretty. But I'm also sure that this is functional. And IMHO it looks great.

 

Probably. I rarely change my opinions of styling/design.

My issues with that styling element aside, its my favorite clean sheet Ferrari design in quite a while.

 

The deflection of the air flow downward then along the side of the doors mimicks an upside down "wing" so that it makes for downforce. That air normally would be lifted up over the roof making for a suction effect there and more lift. So it may be that there are two benefits: Avoiding the lifing action of the air going over the roof, and making for some downforce from the flow along the side of the car. It is really more complicated than this but I think it is the general idea.

It also created a challenge and an opportunity for the sylists to make it look good. I think they hit a bulls eye.

As another case in point, to understand why the Porsche 911 needs all those big wings (which are also upside down) on the rear to create downforce, look at the 911 from the side it looks like an airfoil. (see the top figure in http://www.littletoyairplanes.com/theoryofflight/images/whyplanesfly/fullsize/04airfoildesign.jpg ) The basic 911 dates from the early 60s before the science of aerodynamics was applied to cars and what was ok for 100 mph will take off like a frisbee at 190 mph.

The remarkable thing is that Ferrari/Pinninfarina made a body design that created enough downforce for the rated 210+ mph top speed without any wings or protrusions.... and in the process made it beautiful.

 

Nope. Not if you can't afford an F12

 

LOL

 

Not informative

 

I would opine that this may reduce wind noise by the side window as well.

 

The air over the hood of the car would be deflected upward more and more with higher speeds.

I don't know what force would channel the air downward at the end of the hood to pass through the aero bridge?

In other words I doubt the aero bridge does anything aero. Placing a few air speed sensors could measure the true effect.

But it makes a splash for design

 

On airfoils, air will follow the contour until the angle of attack is too steep causing burbles and ultimately departure. This ain't an airfoil. But they definitely wouldn't have sculpted a design that would cause the air to burble, and the drag coefficient proves it. That path though would tend to add some lift to the front of the car with downforce toward the rear. If has any real effect at all, that means it may also shift the CG rearward ever so slightly at higher speeds.