The Filings on a C7, Too
Chevrolet filed a new patent application that shows some new active aero flaps for the Corvette that could help the car become even better than it currently is. Right now, most active aero applications focus on horizontal elements like large rear wings and fins on the front of the car to maximize downforce. The new patent filing by Chevrolet shows active aero on the sides of the car.
It was spotted by the guys at MidEngine Corvette Forum and then spread from there. According to Motor1, the point of these new aero elements is to help improve turning and braking inputs. The aero components would react in turns and under heavy braking.
By adding drag to one side of the vehicle, the car would corner quicker. Think of it like using a brake for torque vectoring, but in this case, the brake is the aero that uses the drag of the air. The same would be said for the typical braking. Both sides of the car would deploy active aero and help slow the car.
What’s interesting is that the patent application shows a C7 Corvette. That could mean one of two things. Either Chevy didn’t want to give the press a drawing of the C8 Corvette and have everyone speculate as to whether or not it would come with these new active aero applications, or the company could still put out a C7 special edition with this technology.
Chevy will most likely use this tech on the new C8 mid-engine Corvette and not the C7. Chevy’s mid-engine car is close to its debut and the company will phase out the C7 once it does. Also, just because Chevy filed the patent doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to appear on a production car. Time will tell if this new tech makes the cut.
