One of the most exciting developments in road-car aerodynamics is the increasing use of flying buttresses. Cars like the Ford GT, Acura NSX, McLaren 570S, BMW i8, and others move air through their bodywork to generate downforce without resorting to a big wing, or at the expense of increased drag. The Ferrari 599 GTB kicked off this trend, but hilariously, it did so by accident.
Speaking to Evo, the 599's exterior designer Jason Castriota reveals that the car's iconic flying buttresses were originally intended for style–their aerodynamic benefit was just a pleasant side effect. Working at Pininfarina, Castriota initially added flying buttresses to give the 599 a fastback profile and to, as Evo puts it, remove visual weight from the rear of the car. To pass muster with former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezelmolo, though, the buttresses had to have a real functional benefit.
Luckily, Castriota had a hunch that the buttresses would help high-speed aerodynamics–a hunch that was proven by Ferrari aerodynamicsist Luca Caldirola. Working with a scale model in the wind tunnel, Caldirola discovered the buttresses created a vortex of air over the rear of the car that generated downforce, with no drag.
That was enough for Di Montezelmolo, and the 599's flying buttresses stayed in place. "Presumably Luca was impressed," Castriota told Evo.
As Evo notes, the 599 kicked off the trend of marrying aerodynamics and styling at Ferrari, but its design influence is felt across the entire performance car world. And to think it was all started out of the need for style.
Speaking to Evo, the 599's exterior designer Jason Castriota reveals that the car's iconic flying buttresses were originally intended for style–their aerodynamic benefit was just a pleasant side effect. Working at Pininfarina, Castriota initially added flying buttresses to give the 599 a fastback profile and to, as Evo puts it, remove visual weight from the rear of the car. To pass muster with former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezelmolo, though, the buttresses had to have a real functional benefit.
Luckily, Castriota had a hunch that the buttresses would help high-speed aerodynamics–a hunch that was proven by Ferrari aerodynamicsist Luca Caldirola. Working with a scale model in the wind tunnel, Caldirola discovered the buttresses created a vortex of air over the rear of the car that generated downforce, with no drag.
That was enough for Di Montezelmolo, and the 599's flying buttresses stayed in place. "Presumably Luca was impressed," Castriota told Evo.
As Evo notes, the 599 kicked off the trend of marrying aerodynamics and styling at Ferrari, but its design influence is felt across the entire performance car world. And to think it was all started out of the need for style.
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