Bumper Canards

To achieve the fastest speeds and lowest lap times at the race track, a car must have the right mix of downforce and drag. Downforce is necessary for traction, both for acceleration and steering. However, too much downforce can create excessive air resistance and drag, and slow the car down. Some components, like air dams, side skirts, and spoilers, have a major effect on vehicle aerodynamics, while others like bumper canards are used for fine tuning.

Bumper canards are small triangular shaped, wing-like devices that attach to the corners of the bumper. They are angled to redirect the oncoming air upward, thereby creating a downward force on the canards and the front of the vehicle. The front ends on some vehicles lift or get lighter at high speeds, so creating downforce is necessary to maintain power delivery on FWD cars, and to provide traction for proper steering performance.

Bumper canards are often used in conjunction with vortex generators, which look like smaller canards. The vortex generators are positioned slightly above the canards at the bumper corners. The canards/vortex generators create vortices along the sides of the car, which prevent high pressure from getting under the car. Components like air dams, side skirts, and diffusers work together to create low pressure under the car, in effect drawing the car down toward the pavement and increasing downforce. If high pressure were allowed under the car, this effect and the downforce would be reduced.

While more and more purpose-built racing machines are being fitted with canards and vortex generators, they were originally developed to improve the downforce on race cars that were based on production vehicles. While almost all modern cars are aerodynamic in the interest of performance and fuel economy, a production vehicle is by nature a compromise and bumper canards are just one of the many devices that can be used to optimize the vehicle’s shape and improve speed and handling. But even if you never drive your car fast enough to realize the performance benefits of bumper canards, the appearance boost is unmistakable.

We offer both universal fit and model specific bumper canards in a range of materials including composite, urethane, and carbon fiber. Some are sold in pairs, while others are 4-piece sets, essentially the bumper canards plus the vortex generators. While bumper canards can be used as standalone devices for improving your car’s performance and appearance, they really shine and you’ll realize the greatest benefits, when they’re installed in conjunction with other aero mods, like air dams, skirts, and spoilers.