I was watching top gear and as they were introducing the new Mclaren MP4 12c, they showed off the air brake system here:

http://youtu.be/4bc44Sa1bTg?t=4m30s

Basically the rear spoiler flips up, and acts as an air brake when the brake pedal is applied hard. I think it would be a pretty cool idea to play with. Has anyone tried this with a MINI?

 

Bump

 

are you serious?

the amount of hardware you would have to install (and basically create from scratch) would be expensive and difficult to make not to mention heavy. besides how frequently are you going 150?

 

Who cares, others have done much more difficult projects, what makes this any different?

 

Could theoretically be done with the Coupe, as it already has an electronic spoiler. And it would be pretty awesome if implemented correctly, and still tasteful.

 

Actually, I think that's pretty cool.

 

If we're going that far, then I'd like for someone to design and implement retractable wings so one can simply glide over traffic once you get enough lift. It's the first step towards hover cars like in Back to the Future II. The future is here already you guys:



I'll start holding my breath in 3...2...1....

 

Those shoes don't autolace, though.

 

Sadly, no

 

Why the hate? All I'm asking about is if someone has tried it on their cars, it could be a fun project to attempt. Why not?

 

No hate here. And I agree it would be a fun project. Sometimes I guess I take an idea and run with it

 

It would be amusing, and interesting, but not overly useful IMHO. Air brakes are generally only useful at rather high speeds unless they are huge. The spoiler on a MINI would have a rather small effect at anything remotely resembling a sane speed.

It would be some "bling" though, to have the spoiler tilt way up when your brake lights went on. You could tap the signal for the 3rd brake light, and use that to trigger the "raise the spoiler" function. Run that tapped signal to a relay, and have the relay run the motor that lifts and lowers the spoiler.

You'd have to fabricate the linkage for that, and find a good place to stash the motor. Those would be interesting, in part because the hatch opens up so the spoiler would either have to move with it or would have to be mounted to it. Hrm...

Anyway, it sounds like a good bit of work for just some "bling".

 

Waste of time and monies. Your energy and time can be focused somewhere else that would actually benefit the MINI.