Ferrari's Future: Exploring Shape-Shifting Vehicle Technology

Active aerodynamics have evolved significantly over the past 40 years. A handful of performance models in the 1980s offered simple versions of the tech, such as a deployable rear spoiler. Today, the latest systems can make minuscule adjustments to tailor the airflow to what the driver demands from the car, such as the Zenvo TSR-S' four-way tilting back wing. Ferrari is also no stranger to active aero. For example, the 458 Italia used deformable "aeroelastic" front winglets, and the SF90 featured a two-piece rear wing that combined an active fairing. CarBuzz recently uncovered a patent filed by the Italian automaker that would take this technology even further. The Best Of Both Worlds As Ferrari describes in the patent, the "aesthetic needs" of vehicle design sometimes don't align with the "aerodynamically optimal elements." The company is illustrating a situation in which the designers might want a certain flourish that looks good, but the engineers would want something else to maximize the aero performance. The newly patented tech would solve this dilemma. Ferrari incorporates the new active aero element into the rear fender, which is "section 5" in the patent drawing above. The new tech would apply an elastically deformable morphing material for channeling the airflow. The documentation is clear that this is just one example of what's possible. The term "elastically deformable" could also apply to "door, the engine hood, the trunk, the fuel flap, the nose, the tail, ailerons, side skirts, etc." It seems like any piece of bodywork could conceivably take advantage of this tech. Ferrari doesn't go into much detail about what it would use to create these elements. The company simply calls the stuff "a material comprising both a composite material and elastomers." It describes the substance as being able to "elastically bend or stretch, when subjected to a given stress, and regain its original shape, when it is no longer subjected to the aforementioned given stress." Underneath the skin, there's a corrugated element that adds extra stiffness against loads. Ferrari Keeps Its Bodies Smooth As a result, a vehicle using this technology would undergo progressive changes in its aerodynamics. Under low stress, the material would respond one way, and the shape would adjust in response to the forces the driver subjects the car to. The company could also combine this idea with conventional active aero elements using electric or hydraulic adjustments. Beyond this, there could be a tensioning system inside the bodywork that wouldn't be visible from the outside, thanks to a covering over the top. For clarity, patent images don't have to apply to their actual use. The filings just have to show how the tech could work. Despite Ferrari focusing on the rear of the vehicle in these photos, the company could apply this idea to any part of the exterior. It appears that the automaker has a clever idea with this patent. In theory, a vehicle could appear one way sitting still, and have a different silhouette on the road. The vehicle in these images appears to be a Ferrari 812 with a few elements from the 12Cilindri. However, the company is simplifying certain elements for this patent filing. The differences show that the automaker doesn't mean to indicate that this tech could apply to any specific product.