A HIGH-PERFORMANCE MOTOR CAR

Abstract: A high-performance motor car includes a body (1) which surrounds the rear wheels (8) and has a tapered front part (4) from which the front steerable wheels (6) project. The front wheels (6) are inserted in respective aerodynamic fairings (7) which can be steered with the wheels (6).

Description: The present invention relates to a high-performance motor car, including a body which surrounds the rear wheels and has a tapered front part from which the front steerable wheels project, the front wheels being inserted in respective aerodynamic fairings. DE-C-499199 describes a motor car of the aforesaid kind, in which the aerodynamic fairings are rigidly connected with the body, making difficult for the driver visually to check the behaviour of the front steerable wheels and further generating additional drag in bends so as to limit the speed of the car. The object of the invention is to propose a high-performance motor car having architecture such as to enable the driver visually to determine the steering angle of the front wheels. According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of the characterizing portion of claim 1. Aerodynamic fairings, or mud guards, steerable together with the front wheels are known per se in a sedan motor car from US-A-1910699. Each of the movable, vertical, fin-like rear part modifies the aerodynamic profile of the respective fairing during steering, so as to make use of the speed of the vehicle to increase the aerodynamic lift of the fairings towards the inside of the bend and thus compensate for any understeering. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a performance car according to the invention, Figure 2 a side elevation of the car, Figure 3 is a plan view of the car from above, and Figure 4 shows a detail of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale. With reference to the drawings, the performance car according to the invention has a body or bodywork, generally indicated 1, defining a central passenger compartment 2 and having a rear part 3 formed so as to surround the rear wheels 8, which are normally the driving wheels. The body 1 has a slender, tapered front part 4, near the end region of which project two aerodynamic side appendages 5 which, as well as defining a front spoiler also enclose the kinematic steering and suspension mechanisms of the front steerable wheels 6 of the car. These steerable wheels 6 are enclosed in two aerodynamic fairings 7 which are pivotable relative to the two side appendages 5 about respective, substantially vertical axes 9. The fairings 7 are pivoted simultaneously with the steering of the front wheels 6. The articulated connections of the fairings 7 or the side wings 5 and the respective means for making them pivot are not shown in detail, since they can be achieved by arrangements within the capabilities of the expert in the art. The pivoting of the fairings 7 enables the driver visually to determine the angular position of the front wheels 6 during steering, whilst he is driving the vehicle, ensuring more precise steering on bends and enabling maximum use to be made of the speed performance of the vehicle. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, each fairing 7 has a movable, fin-like, rear part 10 which is pivotable relative to the fairing 7 about a substantially vertical axis 11. The arrangement is such that, when the two fairings 7 pivot with the front wheels 6 in one sense (that is, towards the inside of the bend), the two fins 10 are pivoted in the opposite sense (that is, towards the outside of the bend). This can be achieved simply by means of tie rods 12 which connect the front edge of each fin 10 to the respective fairing 7 in a region spaced from its pivot axis 9. The two fins 10 modify the aerodynamic profiles of the respective fairings 7 during steering, so as to make use of the speed of the vehicle to increase the aerodynamic lift of the fairings towards the inside of the bend and thus compensate for any understeering.

Claims: 1. A high-performance motor car, including a body (1) which surrounds the rear wheels (8) and has a tapered front part (4) from which the front steerable wheels (6) project, the front wheels (6) being inserted in respective aerodynamic fairings (7), characterized in that the aerodynamic fairings (7) can be steered with the front wheels (6) and that each fairing (7) has a movable, vertical, fin-like rear part (10) which can be moved as a result of the pivoting of the respective fairing (7), so as the trailing edge of the fin-like rear part (10) moves in the opposite direction of the leading edge of the fairing (7). 2. A motor car according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part (4) of the body (1) has two aerodynamic side appendages (5) which define a front spoiler and to the ends of which the fairings (7) are articulated, the side appendages (5) enclosing the kinematic suspension and steering mechanism of the front wheels (6).

Inventors: CORNACCHIA, FELICE, DI GIUSTO, NEVIO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B62D35
IPC codes: B62D35, B62D25, B62D15, B62D37