Types of Spoilers – 12 Types of Car Spoilers for Aesthetics & Performance

The spoiler is a car body feature that helps reduce the amount of drag and lift by generating downforce.

Spoilers are often located at the rear of cars and have become standard on race cars, such as Formula One and Le Mans prototypes due to their ability to generate large amounts of downforce with little drag penalty.

In this post, we’ll be looking at the different types of spoilers you need to know as a car lover.

1. Rear Deck Spoiler

A rear deck spoiler is a common type of spoiler that is attached to the trunk lid. They are usually made from fiberglass or polyurethane and can be painted to match the vehicle’s paint job.

They are easy to install and are relatively inexpensive compared to other types of spoilers like a blade or duckbill.

The rear deck spoiler will add an aggressive look to your vehicle while improving its aerodynamics without affecting your gas mileage too much.

2. Pedestal Spoiler

Pedestal spoilers are a type of spoiler, and can be found on many vehicles. The jagged lines of this type of spoiler are usually mounted to the rear deck or upper surface of the car trunk. They’re made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, depending on your preference and budget.

The main goal of pedestal spoilers is to change the airflow leaving the car’s rear and increase downforce on the rear wheels (or both). This improves traction in rear-wheel-drive cars, allowing for more grip when accelerating out of turns at high speeds.

In addition to improving handling characteristics for racing enthusiasts, pedestal spoilers also improve fuel economy by reducing drag created by wind resistance.

3. Universal Spoilers

Universal spoilers are not specific to a vehicle. They are typically used on a variety of vehicles and can be installed on any car type. If you’re looking for the most color options or design flexibility, this is the best choice for you.

4. Active Spoilers

Active spoilers are controlled by a computer. The spoiler can be adjusted in response to changes in speed or direction.

When the car is moving at a high speed, the spoiler rises to provide additional downforce on the rear wheels. When it slows down, the spoiler lowers to reduce drag and increase efficiency.

Active spoilers are usually rear-mounted and can be any type of spoiler. They’re typically used for performance enhancement as opposed to simply aesthetics because they need space behind them where they’re mounted – an amount of space that isn’t required for other types of spoilers you might see on a car’s roof or hood.

Examples of cars with active spoilers: are the Audi TT, Porsche 911, and Bugatti Veyron.

5. Front Spoiler or Air Dam

Front spoilers, or air dams, are a type of car body modification that can have many different names. Front spoilers are typically found on the front of the vehicle and help to reduce drag and lift at high speeds by redirecting airflow around the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Sometimes, front spoilers also act as oil coolers for engines with turbochargers. They’re almost always placed low enough on a vehicle so that they don’t interfere with other drivers’ views, but high enough to create an aesthetic balance with other body parts like bumpers and headlights.

6. Side Skirt Spoiler

Side skirt spoilers are also known as side skirts. They are usually found on the sides of an automobile and work to reduce drag and improve fuel economy. They do this by directing air around the wheels, rather than over them. Side skirts are most often made from plastic or carbon fiber.

A side skirt spoiler can be installed in conjunction with front spoilers since they work together to adjust airflow under the car and create a lower air pressure below it.

This design creates downforce, which helps keep cars firmly planted on pavement and reduces lift caused by wind resistance at high speeds.

7. Roof Spoiler

A roof spoiler is a small rear wing that is mounted on the roof of a car. It helps to reduce lift when the car is traveling at high speeds, or when there are conditions such as crosswinds or turbulence that can cause lift.

Roof spoilers have become increasingly common in sports cars and performance vehicles due to their aerodynamic benefits over larger spoilers. But nonetheless, they’re still sometimes installed on family and economy cars for aesthetic reasons.

They’re typically made of plastic or carbon fiber and mounted to the roof with screws. Roof spoilers are most commonly found on hatchbacks, station wagons, and SUV-style cars with small trunks or rear windows that make fitting a lip or pedestal spoiler difficult.

8. Illuminated Spoiler

Illuminated spoilers are used on cars in racing. They’re made of plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber and have LED lights that illuminate when the vehicle is moving. They can be controlled with remote control, which makes them useful in many situations.

Illuminated spoilers may be trunk-mounted or roof-mounted depending on your needs and preference. They are especially useful in avoiding collisions with cars you can’t see well, such as those coming up from behind a curve or around a bend.

9. Ducktail Rear Spoiler

A ducktail spoiler is a type of lip spoiler that can be found on many classic muscle cars, as well as trucks and SUVs. It’s installed on the rear edge of the trunk lid and adds an aggressive look to any vehicle.

The classic Porsche 911 model popularized this style of spoiler because it makes it easier for drivers to see out when they are backing up or changing lanes.

10. Whaletail Spoiler

The whale tail spoiler is a rear spoiler found in high-performance sports cars and luxury car models. It is much flatter and more wing-shaped, with less upward sweep than the ducktail spoiler. The large rear spoilers were designed to limit any rear-end lift, preventing over-steering when driving at high speeds.

11. Pickup Truck Load Bed Spoiler

One of the most popular types of spoilers is a pickup truck load bed spoiler. This type of spoiler increases stability at high speeds, makes the vehicle more aerodynamic, and protects the body from damage.

Pickup truck load bed spoilers are also known as underbody spoilers or under-car diffusers because they make your car more aerodynamic by creating an area underneath the vehicle that creates downforce.

The problem with these spoilers is that they create turbulence which increases drag and reduces fuel efficiency by creating drag force that pushes backward on your car. They also add unnecessary wind resistance to vehicles that already have enough problems with wind pressure as it is (e.g., SUVs).

12. Pickup Truck Cab Spoiler

Pickup truck cab spoilers are designed to be mounted on the cab of a pickup truck. These are usually made of fiberglass or ABS plastic, as these materials can withstand the elements and harsh conditions that come with driving around in a vehicle.

The main purpose of this spoiler is to reduce drag by redirecting airflow around the cab of the truck. It also has an aesthetic purpose.
If you want to add some style and functionality to your car, then installing a cab spoiler may be right for you.

Conclusion

In this article, we have tried to summarize the different types of car spoilers available in the market. The different categories we have discussed are Rear Deck Spoiler, Pedestal Spoiler, Universal Spoiler, and Active Spoiler. Front Spoiler Or Air Dam, Side Skirt Spoiler, Roof Spoiler, and Illuminated Spoiler. With the information here, you should be able to easily find out which type of spoiler will work for your car either for aesthetics or increased performance.