Top speed vs handling? New supercars will have active aerodynamics

For the supercar market you need high top speeds to brag about
and some downforce/handling to be able to get in one piece to the reunion to brag. Also for not to be ridiculed with slow lap times (Top Gear?).

A glorified solar cell racer looking car will not make it to this top market, no matter its top speed.
[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/GM_Sunraycer.JPG[/IMG]

Looks like the story began with the Porsche 959 the first no-lift supercar, a huge improvement over the Ferrari 288 lift.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/427/Porsche-959_1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/eod06/3442.jpg[/IMG]
After that the Ferrari F40 emphasized downforce. This fantastic handling made it an all time favorite.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/172/Ferrari-F40_4.jpg[/IMG]

Bugatti preferred top speed over downforce with its EB110.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1962/Bugatti-EB-110-SS_2.jpg[/IMG]

The top speed vs downforce compromise was seen with the Jaguar XJ220. They made it both the worlds fastest car with venturi downforce tunnels but with a ridiculous car length and front and rear overhangs. Maybe they had to do it to compensate for the production V-6 over the concept V-12.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/223/Jaguar-XJ220_3.jpg[/IMG]

I remember the 90s Lamborghini Diablo and how it surpassed the 200 mph mark but without the flashy and badly needed for handling rear spoiler.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/737/Lamborghini-Diablo-VT-6.0_6.jpg[/IMG]

After that McLaren F1 narrower width and no fixed wing reduced Cd to 0.32, while diffuser created some downforce. As far as I know this was the first supercar to use active aerodynamics. In its high-downforce mode Cd went up to 0.39 by rising its rear spoiler and turning on some airflow redirecting fans.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/quail2010/22691.jpg[/IMG]

Now the Bugatti Veyron used bhp, and low drag to beat top speed records. They had to use variable ride height and a retracting rear wing to reduce aerodynamic drag worsened by its 10 radiators. Some say they used 4wd only to counter relatively poor handling because of its weight. Gordon Murray has repeatedly bashed it.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/3638/Bugatti-Veyron-16.4-Fbg-par-Hermes_1.jpg[/IMG]

Top Gear bashed and crashed the Koenigsegg CCX for not having a rear wing. The Agera has a movable rear wing.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2714/Koenigsegg-CCX_1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/geneva2010/19581.jpg[/IMG]

The Hennessey Venom GT combined Lotus downforce at low drag aerodynamics expertise with turbocharged V-8 power. They finally used an active rear spoiler as well.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/3459/Hennessey-Venom-GT_1.jpg[/IMG]

The Veyron other contender the Ultimate Aero SSC has a moving spoiler/airbrake as well.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2068/SSC-Aero-SC-8T_1.jpg[/IMG]

Porsche refined the aerodynamics of the Carrera GT to generate stabilizing downforce at speed rather than a record-beating low coefficient of drag (Cd) number. It "only" reached 205 mph
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/supercar07/6526.jpg[/IMG]

Porsche 918 also uses a movable rear wing in additon to two adjustable air flaps are opened in the underfloor in front of the front axle, and they direct a portion of the air into the diffuser channels of the underbody structure.
While its top speed is only slightly more than 210 mph it set a Nurburgring record of 6:57.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4792/Porsche-918-Spyder_21.jpg[/IMG]

Thus the Gumpert Apollo lap time record of 7:12 was beaten. In my opinion the Apollo is pretty much a modern F40, but movable aerodynamics defeated its fixed aero.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/geneva2006/1747.jpg[/IMG]

Not surprinsingly a the Lexus LFA a technological flagship used a retractable rear wing getting a Cd of 0.31 for 202 mph. Its Nurburging package set a lap time of 7:14 but with only 181 mph top speed.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4309/Lexus-LFA_1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4492/Lexus-LFA-Nurburgring_1.jpg[/IMG]

The Lamborghini Aventador also uses the now trending movable rear spoiler and adjustable side air intakes to minimize drag.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4644/Lamborghini-Aventador-LP700-4_8.jpg[/IMG]

Now an adjustable rear spoiler is a de facto requirement for sporty cars:

Aston Martin One-77: Spoiler goes up at 100mph

Audi TT S-Line: Spoiler goes up at 75mph

Audi R8: Spoiler goes up at 60mph

Audi R8 V10: Spoiler goes up at 60mph

Bentley Continental GT: Spoiler goes up at 50mph

Bentley Continental SS: Spoiler goes up at 50mph

Chevy Stock Car: Flaps on roof open when driving in reverse at 40mph

Chevrolet Chevelle SS: Vent on hood that opens at WOT

Chevrolet El Camino SS: Vent on hood that opens at WOT

Ford Stock Car: Flaps on roof open when driving in reverse at 40mph

Ferrari Enzo: Spoiler goes up at 60mph and down at 140mph

Lamborghini Murcielago: Vents go up at 100mph and down at 175mph

Lamborghini Reventon: Vents go up at 100mph and down at 175mph

Lamborghini LP670-4: Vents go up at 100mph and down at 175mph

Lamborghini Aventador: Spoiler goes up at 50mph vents go up at 100 and down at 175mph

Mclaren MC4-12: Spoiler goes up at 80mph; Airbrake

Mercedes SL 65 Black Series: Spoiler goes up at 75mph

Mercedes SLS AMG: Spoiler goes up at 75mph

Mercedes SLR Mclaren: Airbrake

Pagani Huayra : Steering-based wing controls

Plymouth GTX: Hood intake (Air Grabber) opens at WOT

Porsche Panamera: Spoiler raises at 60mph

Porsche Carrera GT: spoiler raises

Porsche Cayman R: Spoiler raises

Porsche Boxster S: Spoiler raises

Porsche 911T (997): Spoiler raises

Volkswagen Beetle: Roof Spoiler rises at 40mph

Volkswagen Corrado VR6: Spoiler extends at 70mph

So now lets focus on different active aerodynamics.

The Ferrari Enzo also has some movable underbody flaps if Im not mistaken.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1321/Ferrari-Enzo_9.jpg[/IMG]

It paved the way for the 458 Speciale with movable flaps that vary diffuser angle for low drag or downforce as needed. It also has some flaps that allow or restrict airflow to the underbody or to the front mounted radiator.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/5637/Ferrari-458-Speciale_1.jpg[/IMG]

The F12 berlinetta has Aero Bridge, an air channel running from the bonnet, through the flanks and along the sides of the vehicle, creating an effect that increases downforce. Another feature is Active Brake Cooling ducts, which open to direct cooling air only when the brakes are hot, keeping them closed at other times to reduce aerodynamic drag. The F12berlinetta produces 123 kg (271 lb) of downforce at 200 km/h (120 mph) – an increase of 76% over the 599 GTB – and has a drag coefficient of 0.299.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/5133/Ferrari-F12berlinetta_7.jpg[/IMG]

The Pagani Huayra It is capable of changing the height of the front from the ground and independently operating four flaps placed at the rear and front of the car.[3] The behavior of the flaps is managed by a dedicated control unit that is fed information from systems such as the ABS and ECU, which pass on information about the car's speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, steering angle and throttle position.[7] This is intended to achieve minimal drag coefficient or maximum downforce depending on the situation.[3] The Huayra's designer Horacio Pagani states that it has a variable drag coefficient of between .31 to .37.[8] The system also prevents excess body roll in the corners by raising the "inside" flaps (i.e. the left ones in a left-handed corner and vice-versa), increasing the downforce on that side of the car. The rear flaps also act as an airbrake. Under hard braking, both the front suspension and the two rear flaps are raised to counteract weight transfer to the front wheels and keep the whole car very stable, for instance when entering a corner.[7] Air from the radiator is extracted through an arch in the bonnet at an angle that is designed not to affect the streamline around the body. The side air intakes behind the front wheels create a low pressure zone, resulting in downforce.
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/geneva2013/32911.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4607/Pagani-Huayra_12.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4607/Pagani-Huayra_11.jpg[/IMG]

Hulk: thread no need text, but pictures goooooooood. Hulk like