OK what is up with these vents?!
07-09-2012, 07:38 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
OK what is up with these vents?!
OK, now that we know the Jalopnik C7 renderings are accurate, (and the Car and Driver pic below) what do you think is the purpose behind these vents at the top of the rear fenders??
07-09-2012, 07:47 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Just maybe they FINALLY designed a flow thru system so when your windows are down and / or the top is off you don't sound like you're sitting in a freaking wind tunnel! 
07-09-2012, 07:49 PM
#3
Race Director
Thread Starter
07-09-2012, 08:43 PM
#6
Drifting
I think it's just something they threw in there as a decoration, like that horrible chrome trim around the side fender openings as shown in the side view rendering.
This kind of crap seems to be the in thing at GM.
This kind of crap seems to be the in thing at GM.
07-09-2012, 08:53 PM
#7
Race Director
Thread Starter
It would be hard to believe they have come to that. All the aerodynamics work they have done would be wasted if those were just ornamental grills on the hood and fenders with no real purpose.
07-09-2012, 09:05 PM
#8
Team Owner
...or they could be rear brake/rear differential cooling ducts (moved up top from down below where the little scoops on the C6 are located)? 
07-09-2012, 09:18 PM
#10
The position is very similar to the intake that the 550 Maranello had for its transaxle cooler: http://www.thecarpictures.info/image...llo-012-1.jpeg
The direction of the vanes in the Jalopnik renderings suggest an extractor, so possibly something to relieve wheel-well pressures for reduced lift. It's positioned a little forward for that, though.
The direction of the vanes in the Jalopnik renderings suggest an extractor, so possibly something to relieve wheel-well pressures for reduced lift. It's positioned a little forward for that, though.
07-09-2012, 09:23 PM
#11
Race Director
Thread Starter
I can only guess based on this Viper description...
Could be that.
The only other thing I can think of is some crazy way to vent air out from under the C7, reducing lift and adding to rear end downforce.
Hood, roof and decklid are carbon fiber; doors and rockers are aluminum. All vents functional including the B-pillar scoops for the differential cooling. Windshield and side-view mirrors are the only carryover parts.
Could be that.
The only other thing I can think of is some crazy way to vent air out from under the C7, reducing lift and adding to rear end downforce.
07-09-2012, 09:23 PM
#12
The Consigliere
Member Since: May 2006
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My guess is to reduce lift. Brake cooling vents obviously forward of rear wheel well.
Hadn't thought of transaxle cooling, but that's possible as well.
Or it could be to slowly introduce Corvette owners to visual concept of air intakes/vents in that location - ya know, get them used to the sight of it - so when they see similar intakes/vents, but even more prounounced, on the mid-engined C8 for its engine, they don't freak out about the styling aspect of it. . . . .
Hadn't thought of transaxle cooling, but that's possible as well.
Or it could be to slowly introduce Corvette owners to visual concept of air intakes/vents in that location - ya know, get them used to the sight of it - so when they see similar intakes/vents, but even more prounounced, on the mid-engined C8 for its engine, they don't freak out about the styling aspect of it. . . . .
07-10-2012, 12:19 AM
#13
Safety Car
Member Since: Dec 2003
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I have yet to see a "rendering" that looks close to the actual car in person.
I have seen photos of cars that look great and the car in person looks worse. What does all this mean? Hell, I don't know
Until I can get up close and personal I'll save my opinion until then.
****, my crack pipe just went out.....
I have seen photos of cars that look great and the car in person looks worse. What does all this mean? Hell, I don't know
Until I can get up close and personal I'll save my opinion until then.
****, my crack pipe just went out.....
07-10-2012, 03:19 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
Or it could be to slowly introduce Corvette owners to visual concept of air intakes/vents in that location - ya know, get them used to the sight of it - so when they see similar intakes/vents, but even more prounounced, on the mid-engined C8 for its engine, they don't freak out about the styling aspect of it. . . . .
07-10-2012, 04:34 AM
#15
Here's an explanation for fender vents to reduce pressure/lift on another forum which (I think) makes sense:
"One reason is that the airflows around the fender and underbody ahead of the wheel well tends to be of higher velocity and lower pressure. So when it dumps into the larger (diffusing) volume created by the wheel well, the airflow naturally loses velocity and locally increases in pressure.
To mitigate this situation, closed wheel race car bodywork use spoiler lips at the front edge of the wheel opening, fender louvers above the wheel well, and extractor ducts behind the wheel well*. All of these devices serve to create a zone of reduced airflow pressure within the wheel well volume."
Within that discussion was mention of Jim Hall's Chaparral race cars, which used fender vents for that purpose: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/image...hevrolet_8.jpg
Some of the streamlined "Rekordwagens" of the '30s seemed to employ a similar method, even with vents in front of the rear axle line, so I guess that could work on the C7 too.
http://tinyurl.com/7j5vq72
http://tenamp.com/slot/carrera-27355-10.jpg
*If the Jalopnik renderings are any indication, then the C7 like the new Viper will have functional extractors at the rear too, perhaps the vertical slats in the lower rear fascia. The louvers on the covers of the camouflaged mules point to a top fender extraction vents as well.
http://www.corvetteconti.com/photo-g...E-PICTURES.jpg
"One reason is that the airflows around the fender and underbody ahead of the wheel well tends to be of higher velocity and lower pressure. So when it dumps into the larger (diffusing) volume created by the wheel well, the airflow naturally loses velocity and locally increases in pressure.
To mitigate this situation, closed wheel race car bodywork use spoiler lips at the front edge of the wheel opening, fender louvers above the wheel well, and extractor ducts behind the wheel well*. All of these devices serve to create a zone of reduced airflow pressure within the wheel well volume."
Within that discussion was mention of Jim Hall's Chaparral race cars, which used fender vents for that purpose: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/image...hevrolet_8.jpg
Some of the streamlined "Rekordwagens" of the '30s seemed to employ a similar method, even with vents in front of the rear axle line, so I guess that could work on the C7 too.
http://tinyurl.com/7j5vq72
http://tenamp.com/slot/carrera-27355-10.jpg
*If the Jalopnik renderings are any indication, then the C7 like the new Viper will have functional extractors at the rear too, perhaps the vertical slats in the lower rear fascia. The louvers on the covers of the camouflaged mules point to a top fender extraction vents as well.
http://www.corvetteconti.com/photo-g...E-PICTURES.jpg
Last edited by Guibo; 07-10-2012 at 04:37 AM.
07-10-2012, 08:21 AM
#16
Race Director
Thread Starter
07-10-2012, 08:30 AM
#18
Race Director
Thread Starter
07-10-2012, 08:38 AM
#19
Instructor
Here's an explanation for fender vents to reduce pressure/lift on another forum which (I think) makes sense:
"One reason is that the airflows around the fender and underbody ahead of the wheel well tends to be of higher velocity and lower pressure. So when it dumps into the larger (diffusing) volume created by the wheel well, the airflow naturally loses velocity and locally increases in pressure.
To mitigate this situation, closed wheel race car bodywork use spoiler lips at the front edge of the wheel opening, fender louvers above the wheel well, and extractor ducts behind the wheel well*. All of these devices serve to create a zone of reduced airflow pressure within the wheel well volume."
Within that discussion was mention of Jim Hall's Chaparral race cars, which used fender vents for that purpose: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/image...hevrolet_8.jpg
Some of the streamlined "Rekordwagens" of the '30s seemed to employ a similar method, even with vents in front of the rear axle line, so I guess that could work on the C7 too.
http://tinyurl.com/7j5vq72
http://tenamp.com/slot/carrera-27355-10.jpg
*If the Jalopnik renderings are any indication, then the C7 like the new Viper will have functional extractors at the rear too, perhaps the vertical slats in the lower rear fascia. The louvers on the covers of the camouflaged mules point to a top fender extraction vents as well.
http://www.corvetteconti.com/photo-g...E-PICTURES.jpg
"One reason is that the airflows around the fender and underbody ahead of the wheel well tends to be of higher velocity and lower pressure. So when it dumps into the larger (diffusing) volume created by the wheel well, the airflow naturally loses velocity and locally increases in pressure.
To mitigate this situation, closed wheel race car bodywork use spoiler lips at the front edge of the wheel opening, fender louvers above the wheel well, and extractor ducts behind the wheel well*. All of these devices serve to create a zone of reduced airflow pressure within the wheel well volume."
Within that discussion was mention of Jim Hall's Chaparral race cars, which used fender vents for that purpose: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/image...hevrolet_8.jpg
Some of the streamlined "Rekordwagens" of the '30s seemed to employ a similar method, even with vents in front of the rear axle line, so I guess that could work on the C7 too.
http://tinyurl.com/7j5vq72
http://tenamp.com/slot/carrera-27355-10.jpg
*If the Jalopnik renderings are any indication, then the C7 like the new Viper will have functional extractors at the rear too, perhaps the vertical slats in the lower rear fascia. The louvers on the covers of the camouflaged mules point to a top fender extraction vents as well.
http://www.corvetteconti.com/photo-g...E-PICTURES.jpg
07-10-2012, 09:00 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
Its a Vette. They will be functional. I am starting to like what I see.