---
title: "Porsche Patents Retractible Rear Diffuser"
description: "Might make a nice addition to those moving front and rear spoilers on the 911 Turbo S."
date: "2017-05-01"
modified: "2017-05-01"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/9858/porsche-patents-retractible-rear-diffuser"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Patents"
  - "Porsche News"
tags:
  - "active aerodynamics"
  - "Patent"
  - "porsche"
  - "rear diffuser"
---

# Porsche Patents Retractible Rear Diffuser

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/05/porsche-diffuser-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

If there are two things you can say about the engineers and executives at Porsche, it's that they love technology...and they love going fast. As a result, the carmaker is always looking for [ways to combine the two](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrDS3G4U8yM>), whether it's [dual-clutch transmissions](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/6609/the-porsche-911-turbo-s-is-the-powered-exoskeleton-drivers-need-now.md>), [all-wheel-drive](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/3773/porsche-911-targa-4s-first-drive.md>), or [gas/electric hybrid powertrains](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/7869/porsche-panamera-turbo-s-e-hybrid-packs-680-gas-electric-horsepower.md>). Now, judging by a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Porsche is exploring a retractable rear diffuser for its sports cars.

Filed on April 27th and [discovered by *Car and Driver*](<https://blog.caranddriver.com/active-aero-application-porsche-patents-rear-diffuser-technology/>), the Porsche patent describes a retractable concave flap mounted on the lower rear end of a car that extends to add downforce when needed at high speeds, much like the rising rear spoiler found on Porsche's sports cars and sedans. (You can [read the whole six-page patent filing here, if you like](<https://pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?PageNum=0&docid=20170113741&IDKey=6E48284B14F6&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526co1%3DAND%2526d%3DPG01%2526s1%3DPorsche.AANM.%2526OS%3DAANM%2FPorsche%2526RS%3DAANM%2FPorsche>).) As Porsche points out in the patent filing, a movable rear diffuser would have several advantages over a conventional, fixed one; it could allow for greater ground clearance, has more room to work with on the car's body than an underbody-affixed one, and doesn't run into the same design issues.

![message-editor%2F1493678982737-porsche-rear-diffuser-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493678982737-porsche-rear-diffuser-2.jpg>)
**U.S. Patent and Trademark Office**

![message-editor%2F1493679006558-porsche-rear-diffuser-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1493679006558-porsche-rear-diffuser-1.jpg>)
**U.S. Patent and Trademark Office**

Unlike the occasional automotive-themed patent that crosses our path every now and again, there's nothing about this retractable diffuser that seems particularly pie-in-the-sky. Besides, active aerodynamics are becoming increasingly popular as manufacturers search for new ways to take better advantage of their sports cars' power; [Lamborghini used the technology to help the Huracan Performante](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/9328/watch-lamborghini-explain-the-huracan-performantes-active-aero-system.md>) set a new production car Nurburgring lap time, and [Chevrolet is expected to use active aero on its new Corvette ZR1](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/8601/will-the-chevy-corvette-zr1-use-active-aerodynamics.md>). Porsche has had moving aerodynamic parts on the rear end of its sports cars for decades; adding a moving diffuser would just be moving the ball down the field.

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)

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