Ten of the Coolest Ways Cars Use Active Aerodynamics

​Modern tech makes it possible to use the air to help control our cars.

In addtion to the ultra cool flying buttresses on the new Ford GT, there is a deployable rear spoiler that adjusts its angle based on driver input and drive mode. In this video, the car also drops its ride height depending on what position the spoiler is at.

The LaFerrari is Ferrari's ultimate hypercar, so you can be sure it's full of advanced technology. It's active rear wing deploys under braking to create drag and stop the car, while smaller pieces at the rear diffuser come out to improve downforce.

We may think of active aero as a relatively new piece of technology, but back in 2009 the Lexus LFA debuted, complete with an active rear wing. It stayed hidden in the rear of the car until the car reached speeds over 50mph to distribute adequate downforce.

In addition to the huge active wing in the back and the slotted vents in the front, the Porsche 918 Spyder has two underbody flaps, positioned in front of the front axle, which open in race mode. These openings guide air into the diffuser channels of the underbody structure, and keep the car suctioned to the ground.

Koenigsegg claims to have produced the world's first fully foldable, top-mounted active rear wing for it's new Regera Hypercar. The wing provides needed downforce and drag for braking, and tucks neatly into the body when not in use.

In the McLaren P1, "race mode" is all you need. In this setting the car drops the ride height and raises the wing to its maximum extension. The wing also swings up under braking to create additional drag and stop the car as quickly as physics allow.

The Pagani Huayra is one of the more outlandish cars to use active aero. It has four separate wings, one on each corner of the car. The wings rise and lower based on speed on acceleration, as well as braking and steering input, and react within milliseconds.

The new Giulia is Alfa's latest sports sedan, a proper RWD, manual, turbocharged machine. In this reveal video, Alfa shows off the car's active chin spoiler, which most likely raises and lowers based on speed and driving mode, and looks the business.

Bugatti recently revealed their highly anticipated Veyron replacement, the Chiron. As expected, the hypercar has some insane tech onboard, including an active front diffuser and retractable wing that acts as an air brake to slow the car from 260+ mph speeds.

The new Panamera has finally been revealed, and it's not ugly. Newly designed from the ground up, it features a really neat folding rear wing that seamlessly tucks away when you're not hitting your nearest back road.