Automotive 

Front Splitters: Benefit A Boost in Aerodynamic Tuning

Tim Glock

Front-mounted automotive spoilers, technically known as splitters, are among the popular, yet least understood of all high-performance ground effects. That’s because unlike rear-mounted spoilers whose function is to spoil (not smooth) airflow over the rear of a vehicle to create downforce, the flow dynamics behind successfully engineered front-mounted splitters are a science unto themselves.

Front-mounted splitters are designed to divide the air into two distinct over/under high pressure and low pressure zones. As sluggish high pressure air rolls over the top of a vehicle, the downward push of fast to moving low pressure air along the underside of the splitter creates a vacuum that effectively draws it closer to the ground. Ideally, they offer an aerodynamic advantage that’s good at any speed – not just high speed – and are less likely to run a foul of ADR compliance, or draw unwanted attention during a roadside inspection than any other ground effect on the market.

Frontend Splitters Deliver Superior Handling Every Time

Let’s be honest: when it comes to aftermarket ground effects that are guaranteed to improve performance, lightweight front splitter extensions are in a class all their own. These vehicle-specific attachments are engineered to provide stable increases in downward frontend pressure and stability. And as the added downforce created by a properly designed splitter contributes to an all round reduction in drag, the increase in aerodynamic efficiency can actually improve the benefits of a vehicle’s other ground effects.

From shallow ramp, one-piece airdams with side fences, to extended length, undercar extensions with their own flat bottom construction, there’s no shortage of front lip splitters on the market. What’s important for auto enthusiasts and potential splitter buyers to remember, however, is that while some splitter designs are noticeably more effective than others, their core benefits are unchanged, to include:

  • Improved downforce, by way of reduced lift. The pressure differential created by splitters effectively sucks vehicles toward the road surface, allowing high pressure air passing above it to provide the necessary downforce to combat unwanted lift.
  • Increased handling and stability. The reduction in lift created by splitters makes handling and stability more predictable, reduces understeer when cornering and helps improve traction at all speeds.
  • Enhanced engine performance and cooling. A splitter’s natural ability to improve airflow and aerodynamic efficiency means that engines don’t have to work as hard to overcome drag, while braking systems and coolant and oil radiators are able to benefit from the low pressure air cooling.

The fact is, while front splitters are better known for their aesthetic appeal than for their technical advantages, professional auto body tuners and competitive aerodynamic engineers are under no illusions about precisely how beneficial they are. Under ideal conditions, premium ADR-compliant front lip splitter extensions can deliver as much as 90 kgs of added downforce to a vehicle’s front end. That makes them must-have components for any setup where superior handling is expected.

A Wide Range of Models and Materials Make Splitters the Total Package 

source: shutterstock.com

In Australia, tunnel-tested splitter extension/splitter winglet combinations from manufacturers like ADRO, Flow Design and Zero Offset are the standard for high-quality automotive ground effects. They understand that it takes more than a few sharp edges to build premium performance-minded car front splitter products. That’s how they’re able to offer one of the best lineups of frontend effects for some of Australia’s hottest and most exotic sport and sport touring cars, including:

  • M3, M5, and 4 Series BMWs;
  • Porsche 992 GT3s;
  • Ford S550 Mustangs and Fiesta STs;
  • Lamborghini Gallardos; and,
  • Honda Accords, EP3 Civics, and AP1/AP2 2000s.

They also understand that in addition to top-notch engineering, it takes premium quality materials to make a splitter perform. A splitter that lacks rigidity or is prone to flexing or bending can lead to high speed instability and catastrophic steering problems. That’s why splitter manufacturers depend strictly on the lightest and strongest composites available, to include:

  • Reinforced carbon fibre. With a tensile strength that’s up to 5 times stronger than steel by weight, resin pre-impregnated, vacuum-formed carbon fibre offers a combination of strength and stiffness and is 20% – 30% lighter than any other extrusion-formed composite.
  • Durable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Lightweight ABS is one of the most widely used composites in automobile construction, and its strength and affordability make it the perfect choice for splitters for all but the most exacting competition environments.
  • Indestructible high density polyethylene (HDPE). While HDPE enjoys many of the same qualities as ABS, its strength and abrasion and chemical resistance give it ideal qualities for front splitters that are exposed to heavy sunlight, UV rays and moisture.

With their wide range of high tech composites, choice of one- and two-piece construction, and compatibility with a host of components like air dams, diffuser tunnels and cooler ducts, front splitters are the optimal solution for aerodynamic efficiency. Proper aerodynamic tuning revolves around a total performance package, though, not just a single component. That’s why special attention has to be given to ensuring that once a splitter’s installed, that the balance of a vehicle’s aerodynamic package is set up to accommodate a splitter’s enhance performance.

Balance Is the Key to Getting the Most From Front Splitters 

From the massive airflow separation and downforce creation, to the added pressure cooling, a properly designed front splitter is arguably the single most impactful ground effect that can mounted on a vehicle. That’s also why it’s a mistake to view it strictly as standalone component.

The impact that a splitter can have on a vehicle’s steering and traction, especially extra-length flatbottom extensions, can be considerable. That’s why careful attention has to be given to the overall balance of a vehicle’s complete aerodynamic package, with emphasis on the following areas:

  • The type and placement of rear wings and diffusers needed to compensate for the increased risk of rear end squirrelling;
  • The potential for unpredictable steering characteristics due to the increase in frontend downforce; and,
  • The risk of insufficient frontend ground clearance creating a rolling hazard.

Ultimately, after a splitter’s installed, owners need to be sure that their side and rear ground effects, as well as their steering and suspension systems aren’t overwhelmed. Balance is the key to premium splitter performance and all of these parts need to work seamlessly together for maximum aerodynamic benefit.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, it takes premium engineered ground effects to defeat drag and wind resistance. Some parts and materials are more essential for aerodynamic tuning than others though, and that’s precisely the case with ADR-compliant front-mounted splitters.

Front lightweight splitter extensions are the key to superior frontend aerodynamic engineering. They’re an investment in high performance that produces results at any speed.