Porsche Patents Active Rear Diffuser — Shave Off Precious Time Of A Hot Lap

Porsche initially filed for the patent on September 27, 2016, later the United States Patent and Trademark Office published it on April 27, 2017. Porsche's patent for 'Active Rear Diffuser' sketches reveals that the active diffuser would move directly below the bumper, only to be seen when it's in use.

As per Porsche's filing, active diffusers beneath a vehicle already exist. However, they are "highly cumbersome about installation and integration in the underbody region."

The company's new design differs where the diffuser would move to being directly below the bumper. The active rear diffuser would also have a curved inner shape so that the aero element would combine into the body when not in use.

When active, the extended diffuser would direct the air with an elongated section of the tail aiding the vehicle's aerodynamics.

Porsche thinks that there could be several flaps along the rear of the vehicle, and they might function individually. "The embodiment that runs over the entire width of the rear end may be implemented, for example, in vehicles without exhaust-gas tailpipes, such as electric vehicles," the company's filing said.

Models like the Porsche 911 GT3 could profit from the aero improvements on track. Even lower variant models could utilise this for improving the way that they cut through the air.