Road & Track Illustrated Automotive Dictionary
by John Dinkel
downforce Downward air pressure, generated by a car's body, that pushes the car onto the road with increasing force the faster it is driven. Downforce can be increased with aerodynamic devices such as spoilers and wings, originally developed for certain types of racing cars to enhance straight-line high-speed stability but which are also seen on some limited-production high-performance road cars. Also see airfoil, ground effects, and wing.
Excerpted illustration from Road & Track Illustrated Automotive Dictionary
, page 69
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