cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/26201585
So, I don’t know much about cars, but I generally expected for that part to be flush with the body. Is there any reason for there to be a grill like thing in front of the front door?
Apparently it’s for cooling tires or maybe for a sporty look.
To appear sporty
Is that an enthusiast thing? I initially thought it was a manufacturing defect.
It should be a pressure relief channel coming from the wheel arch: wheel rotation creates a complex air flow and I think this channel lets trapped air flow outwards (and stay attached to the vehicle sides, improving aerodynamics). Probably I got much wrong and more probably still, it’s of no real use for a road car driving under 200km/h.
Edit: could also be linked to brake cooling, now that I think of it…
I support your answer with my basic knowlede of car aerodynamics. Since this duct is so small, i highly doubt it has a significant or even measurable effect. Brake cooling would make sense though especially in a sporty electric vehicles that often suffer from brake overheating.