So what exactly is a Rear Wing Spoiler?
According to the “experts”, a Spoiler is NOT a Wing, and vice versa. Their missions in life are different. A rear spoiler is a device mounted on the rear deck of a car or truck ( or the rear roof of a van or SUV ) whose purpose is to “spoil” any air movement that doesn’t help keep the car on the road. They help with vehicle stability and fuel mileage. They are to be found on many high performance sports cars, as well as on some everyday passenger cars.
The Rear Wing, on the other hand, is designed to generate a “down-force” at the back end of the vehicle, helping it to stay low to the ground. It is very effective for high speed cornering and general stability on the road, keeping the car “grounded”. It is called a Wing because of its resemblance to an aircraft wing, although mounted in reverse.
The term Rear Wing Spoiler, then, is a bit of a misnomer as it implies some type of combination of the two. What most of us drive around with, whether factory mounted or an aftermarket version, is a Rear Spoiler. While some styles may imitate wings or foils, they are usually just for looks. But most spoilers will help reduce drag and improve gas mileage, which is good enough!