All posts in “patent”

McLaren 720S Spider patent drawings prove droptop is in the works

McLaren announced recently that it would be launching many new models and variants through 2025. And some European patent drawings seem to reveal one of those models. They show a McLaren 720S without a roof, indicating that it will be a 720S Spider convertible.

That’s very literally what these drawings are, since it only shows what section of the coupe’s roof will be removed, and it doesn’t show any of the structure or folding roof that will take its place. The result is a little strange to look at, with proportions that, if we didn’t know there was an engine in the way, would almost suggest a rear seat. With the McLaren 570S Spider as a guide, though, we expect that there will be some long, curved cowls behind each of the seats to help retain the coupe’s profile, even when the roof is down. We also expect that it will use a folding metal roof like that of the 570S.

We also suspect that the 720S Spider will follow the 570S Spider’s lead in offering open-air driving without sacrificing performance. The 570S impressively had the same top speed (top up), the same fuel economy and roughly the same acceleration to 60 mph as its coupe twin, even with a 101-pound weight penalty. The 720S will probably be similar with a minor weight penalty, greater price, and almost identical performance.

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October 1, 2018 / Comments Off on McLaren 720S Spider patent drawings prove droptop is in the works
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Patents hint at active aerodynamics for C8 Chevy Corvette

In May of 2016, General Motors filed patent applications for an active aerodynamic system. The patent papers featured drawings of a C7 Chevrolet Corvette, and described aero aids that the system could operate on, including a front splitter, air dam, grille shutters, and rear diffuser. That patent was published nearly a year later, in March 2017. Last month, GM had another three patents published for specific active aero mechanisms: active side skirts, active spoilers, and downforce-generating ducts. The application again used C7 Corvette drawings, leading people to believe that the C8 is in line for the aero gadgets.

The previous patent described the use of a sensor to measure body height, and a controller used to adjust various aero surfaces to maintain the ideal height relative relative to a reference plane. One special feature of that system was that it accounted for suspension action and tire deflection.

The latest patent app goes into the features such a system might control. The active side skirts would be able to extend toward the road in order to contain airflow under the car and streamline airflow around the rear wheels. The active spoiler could raise and lower the entire structure by moving stanchions within rails set into the fenders, as well as pivot just the wing portion. And get this, one image in the patent app shows a movable spoiler on the roof. The downforce-generating ducts, potentially placed on the roof and the lower portion of the vehicle, would hasten airflow past the car, and could otherwise be used to produce a venturi effect. Should the mid-engined Corvette wear such appurtenances, America’s sports car would get more ammo to join a tech conversation dominated by European marques.

After pulling a no-show at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, rumors say we’ll see the C8 in Detroit next year. Or who knows, we might be seeing three – a standard flavor with an evolution of the current 6.2-liter V8, one with the new 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V8, and a twin-turbo version of that V8 with about 800 horsepower. Best to wait and see, though; looks like whatever we’re getting, and whenever we get it, it’ll be pretty good.

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August 16, 2018 / Comments Off on Patents hint at active aerodynamics for C8 Chevy Corvette
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New Ferrari Patent Is Intriguing

An interesting patent has come out of the Ferrari wheelhouse: a new engine layout. It has been reported by AutoGuide that they recently uncovered a possible four-cylinder engine for Maranello.

The concept itself isn’t a big deal as lots of vintage Ferraris had four-cylinder racing engines in the past, but it’s the way that it’s designed. Basically, they have an electronic turbine that works to reduce turbo lag and(!) to control exhaust pitch. Now, that’s the intriguing part,

[…] But whereas most exhaust valves operate by being either ‘on’ or ‘off ‘, the turbine wheel allows for greater differentiation in tone. Due to the generator that stores energy away, the engine won’t suffer a dip in performance if the electronic control unit slows the turbine wheel down in order to deliver the desired exhaust tone.

We posted the detailed patent application and it’s quite a read, to say the least. To sum things up, what we’re looking at here could be the next Ferrari four-cylinder or half of a hybrid V8 that has a way of controlling exhaust sound. Let’s see where the future takes us on this one.

July 21, 2018 / Comments Off on New Ferrari Patent Is Intriguing
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