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90-517: The AMC Spirit is a subcompact car sold by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1979 through 1983. Replacing the AMC Gremlin , the Spirit was available in two different body styles, both of which were two-door hatchbacks – but neither was marketed as such. Instead, AMC offered a restyled Gremlin either as a "Spirit Kammback " or "sedan" , while an additional model with a more gently sloping rear

180-452: A liftback model was added to the previous two-door sedan. Dick Teague 's "more-conventional" design of the new liftback coupe "had a particularly graceful superstructure for such a short car". A road test by Popular Science described the transition as AMC having the "cleverest engineers in Detroit" cementing their reputation of "getting $ 200 worth of looks for $ 100". As a restyled variant of

270-461: A cleaner or less cluttered appearance when the vehicle is parked or traveling at low speeds when it is most likely to be observed. A spoiler that hides may be appealing to vehicle designers who are seeking to improve high-speed aerodynamics (for example, the Porsche 911 or Audi TT ) without drastically changing its appearance. Hiding a spoiler at low speeds can improve aerodynamics as well. At low speeds,

360-572: A faster steering box ratio. New options included power windows, rear window wiper and washer, power antenna, as well as tricolored "rally" stripes. A four-speed manual transmission was standard while the optional three-speed automatic now included a lockup torque converter , and radial tires were standard fitment across the lineup. The 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 was redesigned and made 90 pounds (41 kg) lighter, as well as smoother, higher low-end torque, more economical, and requiring less maintenance. The numerous engineering improvements and

450-486: A field of 120. They were also the fastest entrants using street tires - BFG T/A radials , and had no tire failures. The preparation of the cars and the team's experience of the race itself were covered by a period documentary film , The Ultimate Challenge . The #1 AMX Nürburgring race car "served as a showcar for a few months after the race, then went into storage for about 25 years" and has only about 4,000 miles (6,400 km) on its odometer. The #2 race car returned to

540-417: A fine point. Spoilers are usually made of lightweight polymer-based materials, including: An active spoiler dynamically adjusts while the vehicle operates based on the conditions presented, changing the spoiling effect, intensity, or other performance attributes. Found most often on sports cars and other passenger cars, the most common form is a rear spoiler that retracts and hides partially or entirely into

630-455: A fixed spoiler may increase drag and does little to improve the vehicle's handling due to having little airflow over it. A retractable front spoiler can reduce the scraping of the car on curbs or other road imperfections, while still reducing drag at high speeds. Powered fans, such as in the Chaparral 2J , do the equivalent of spoilers and increase the downforce, hence the traction and handling of

720-562: A group of younger buyers who otherwise shop for used cars. While fuel prices at the time were increasing, the small cars were planned before fuel prices soared; for example, Honda had announced that it would release a subcompact model as early as 2004. By 2008, sales of subcompact cars had dramatically increased in the wake of a continuing increase of fuel prices. At the same time, sales of pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles had dropped sharply. By April 2008, sales of Toyota’s subcompact Yaris had increased 46 percent, and Honda’s Fit had

810-700: A higher compression ratio . It was available with either a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission with special gear ratios or a Borg-Warner HR1 4-speed manual. The AMX model was transferred from the Concord hatchback to the Spirit liftback body for 1979 and came with either the 258 I6 or the 304 V8 engine. The AMX featured a flush blackout grille with an AMX emblem, fiberglass wheel flares, rear spoiler , ER60x14 white-letter tires on 14x7-inch "Turbocast II" aluminum wheels, blackout trim, "GT rally-tuned" suspension, floor shift transmission, an optional hood decal, and other sporty features. Popular Science magazine compared

900-564: A higher average transaction price. Models that were no longer sold in the United States by the end of the decade include the Mazda 2 (discontinued after 2014), Scion xD (2016), Toyota Prius C (2017), Ford Fiesta (2019), Smart Fortwo (2019), Fiat 500 (2019), Toyota Yaris (2020), Honda Fit (2020), and Chevrolet Sonic (2020). Spoiler (automotive) A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function

990-447: A low-pressure zone, increasing drag and instability (see Bernoulli effect ). Adding a rear spoiler could be considered to make the air "see" a more extended, gentler slope from the roof to the spoiler, which helps to delay flow separation, and the higher pressure in front of the spoiler can help reduce the lift on the car by creating downforce . This may reduce drag in certain instances and generally increase high-speed stability due to

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1080-678: A new crosshatch grille with a single crosshair element. New optional " Noryl " wheel covers were added. The leather-clad Limited models were canceled, leaving the DL as the top-rung model. The AMX model was discontinued, but the liftback was available with the GT appearance package, available on both base and DL trims, with both engines. An optional G.T. rally-tuned suspension for the liftback included special front and rear sway bars, tuned strut rod bushings and rear spring iso-clamp pads, heavy-duty adjustable Gabriel Strider shock absorbers, "hi-control" rear leaf springs, and

1170-462: A noticeably different gurgle sound in contrast to the regular stock quiet muffler. For 1980, the V8 option was dropped making the 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engine standard with only a 2.53 rear axle ratio with either the standard floor shifter 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmissions. The Spirit AMX was an innovative concept and was well executed from an engineering standpoint, highlighting

1260-421: A passive situational spoiler called a roof flap . The body of the car is designed to generate downforce while driving forward. These roof flaps deploy when the car's body is rotated to travel in reverse, a condition where the body generates lift instead. The roof flaps deploy because they are recessed into a pocket in the roof. The low pressure above this pocket will cause the flaps to deploy, and counteract some of

1350-493: A record month with an increase of 54 percent. However, low fuel prices and the added room in SUVs impacted subcompact sales negatively in the late 2010s. During this period, industry executives and analysts said that the subcompact car market was returning to historical norms after an unusual period when manufacturers had expanded small car lineups in anticipation of rising demand fueled by rising fuel prices, which has since eased. In

1440-477: A second vehicle for use around town, not as a primary car. The Volkswagen Beetle was marketed with advertising pointing out the car's unconventional features as strengths and to get buyers to "think small." Prompted by the British government for exports, Ford was one of the first companies to try and sell inexpensive small cars in volume. From 1948 to 1970, approximately 250,000 economical English Fords were imported to

1530-552: A special "deep-tone" exhaust system. The package also had a rear spoiler , and other sporty features that offered AMC to have a competitor in design, style, price, size, and performance to the new-for-1979 Fox -based Ford Mustang . A separate GT "rally-tuned" suspension option included tuned front and rear sway bars, "Hi-Control" rear leaf springs with "iso-clamp" pads, special strut rod bushings, adjustable Gabriel "Strider" shock absorbers, as well as heavy-duty brakes and quick ratio steering box. The standard engine on all models except

1620-665: A streamlined fiberglass airfoil above the rear window that became a factory option on the 1969 Javelins. Testing by Car Life magazine indicated no improvement in reducing lift at speeds below 115 mph (185 km/h). This feature was replaced and homologated in 1970 by AMC with a trunk lid-mounted oversized ducktail spoiler designed by Mark Donohue and Roger Penske . This race-proven feature became standard equipment on every 1971 through 1974 AMC Javelin AMX models. However, "the spoilers that feature on more upmarket models rarely provide further aerodynamic benefit." The vast majority of

1710-433: A total of 795,733 miles (1,280,608 km) gave their Spirits "a strong vote of confidence as a basically fine automobile - good-looking, great handling, economical, smooth-riding, and quite comfortable for two people." The 3.8 L I6 was dropped from the lineup, as was the 5.0 L V8 to meet the 20 mpg ‑US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg ‑imp ) average corporate fleet fuel economy standard for

1800-412: Is galvanized on our Spirit, Concord, and Eagle models." to support AMC's new "Tough Americans" marketing campaign highlighting the long warranty and rustproofing measures included in their cars. For the 1981 model year, AMC introduced Eagle models (SX/4 liftback and Kammback sedan) based on both Spirit body styles. Changes to the Spirit for 1982 were mostly mechanical. A new 5-speed manual transmission

1890-654: Is less effective in multiplying downforce than newer technologies like an airfoil , "rear wing running across the base of the tailgate window", or "an electronically controlled wing that deploys at about 50 mph (80 km/h)" The whale tail came on the heels of the 1973 "duck tail" or Bürzel in German (as a part of the E-program ), a smaller and less flared rear-spoiler fitted to 911 Carrera RS (meaning Rennsport or race sport in German), optional outside Germany. The whale tail

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1980-610: Is the same overhead camshaft unit carried over from the Gremlin , and was also available on the Concord . It used the same cast parts as the Porsche 924 (both made by VW/Audi ), but was assembled in an AMC plant in Indiana to different specifications than that of the Porsche engine. The AMC version was only offered with a 2-barrel carburetor while the Porsche unit had electronic fuel injection and

2070-438: Is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across the body of a vehicle in motion, usually manifested as lift , turbulence , or drag. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams . Spoilers are frequently fitted to race and high-performance sports cars , although they have also become common on passenger vehicles. Spoilers are added to cars primarily for styling and either have little aerodynamic benefit or worsen

2160-582: The A-segment/city car category (such as the Chevrolet Spark and Smart Fortwo) are sometimes called subcompacts in the U.S., because the EPA's name for this smaller category — "minicompact" — is not commonly used by the general public. The prevalence of small cars in the United States increased in the 1960s due to increased imports of cars from Europe and Japan. Widespread use of the term subcompact coincided with

2250-673: The Ford Mustang II temporarily downsized from the pony car class to become a subcompact car for its second generation. The Monza with its GM variants Pontiac Sunbird , Buick Skyhawk , Oldsmobile Starfire , and the Mustang II continued until the end of the decade. The Chevrolet Chevette was GM's new entry-level subcompact introduced as a 1976 model. It was an 'Americanized' design from Opel , GM's German subsidiary. Additionally, subcompacts that were imported and marketed through domestic manufacturers' dealer networks as captive imports included

2340-706: The Gremlin name on the restyled models. Performance versions of the AMC Spirit competed in road racing. In 1979, B.F. Goodrich sponsored a two-car team of Spirit AMXs in the Nürburgring 24 Hours . The AMXs were the first American entries and they finished first and second in their class out of a 120-car field. Spirits were also privately campaigned in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Champion Spark Plug Challenge and Racing Stock Class events, as well as in drag racing . The AMC Spirit

2430-457: The HANS device ), actor James Brolin , Lyn St. James , and automotive journalist Gary Witzenburg. Two street-stock cars (both with AMC 304 cu in (4.98 L) and four-speed manual transmissions ) were supplied to "Team Highball" for Group One race modifications less than three weeks before a transport ship would sail to Europe. With almost no prior driving time on the racecourse, and with

2520-562: The Renault Le Car and the Ford Fiesta . In 1977, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to use a new vehicle classification system, based on interior volume instead of exterior size. Sedans with up to 100 cubic feet of passenger luggage volume were classified as subcompact. There was not a separate subcompact station wagon class with all up to 130 cubic feet of volume classified as "small." In 1978, Volkswagen began producing

2610-683: The Suzuki Cultus (a three-cylinder hatchback, badged as the Chevrolet Sprint) and the Isuzu Gemini (a four-cylinder hatchback/sedan badged as the Chevrolet Spectrum). Subcompact cars were highly popular in the 1990s due to their affordability and fuel efficiency. These cars typically had engines under 1.6 liters and were ideal for city driving. During the 1990s GM offered the Geo brand featuring

2700-456: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) car size class definition, the subcompact category sits between the "minicompact" and " compact " categories. The EPA definition of a subcompact is a passenger car with a combined interior and cargo volume of 85–99 cubic feet (2,410–2,800 L). Current examples of subcompact cars are the Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Mirage . The smaller cars in

2790-475: The drag coefficient and lift. Sports cars are most commonly seen with front and rear spoilers. Even though these vehicles typically have a more rigid chassis and a stiffer suspension to aid in high-speed maneuverability, a spoiler can still be beneficial. This is because many cars have a relatively steep downward angle going from the rear edge of the roof down to the vehicle's trunk or tail, which may cause airflow separation. The airflow becomes turbulent, creating

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2880-625: The "Rabbit" version of the Golf — a modern, front-wheel drive design— in Pennsylvania. In 1982, American Motors began manufacturing the U.S. Renault Alliance — a version of the Renault 9 — in Wisconsin. Both models benefiting from European designs, development, and experience. To replace the aging Chevette in the second half of the 1980s, Chevrolet introduced marketed imported front-wheel drive subcompact cars:

2970-399: The 1979 AMX was AMC's 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 and it was the last AMC passenger car to have a factory-installed V8 engine. With the required emission devices and lowered compression ratios, the car felt adequately powered and could still deliver highway fuel economy ratings of about 20 mpg ‑US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg ‑imp ). Motor Trend described

3060-417: The 1979 World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. A Spirit was driven by Joe Varde and Dave Cowart in the 6 Hours of Talladega finishing the race in third place (an AMC Concord finished first, an AMC Gremlin was second, and an AMC Pacer was fourth) out of starting field of 49 cars. Five other AMC Spirits were also racing on 1 April 1979. On 1 June 1979, an AMC Spirit driven by Dennis Shaw and Don Whittington won

3150-410: The 1980 model year. The VW-based I4 was replaced with a Pontiac-built 2.5-liter I4 that was "better suited to the cars' size and weight specs." The 4.2 L I6 remained most popular, and the only engine available in the AMX model. To comply with the 1980s' much tougher emissions, computer-controlled carburetors were designed for better economy and operation. No major exterior changes were seen, except on

3240-610: The 6-Hour Champion Spark Plug Challenge at the Daytona International Speedway covering 151 laps and a distance of 933.162 km (579.840 mi) averaging 155.101 km/h (96.375 mph). AMC Spirits also finished in 5, 6, 11, 29, 37, and 42 places out of a total 62 starting cars. The 1980 World Challenge for Endurance Drivers began with an AMC Spirit driven by Keith Swope and Mauricio DeNarvaez finishing in fourth place at Daytona's 6-Hour Champion Spark Plug Challenge on 29 June 1980. Eleven other Spirits placed out of

3330-518: The 72 cars that started in the race. A team consisting of Lou Statzer, Amos Johnson, and Dennis Shaw ran a Spirit AMX 84 laps in the GTX class at the 28th Annual Coca-Cola 12 Hours of Sebring on 22 March 1980. Two AMC AMX Pace cars were prepared to serve as four official safety cars each year in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) for the 1980 and 1981 auto-racing seasons. The objective

3420-447: The AMX was a 121 cu in (2.0 L) EA831 inline-four supplied by Audi. Optional were AMC's 232 cu in (3.8 L) and 258 cu in (4.2 L) inline-sixes (the latter standard on the AMX). The 304 cu in (5.0 L) AMC V8 engine was offered as an option only on the liftback. The 1979 model year would mark a one-year reprieve for V8 availability in

3510-436: The AMX's performance as not bad for the day. Given the "emissions-choked" two-barrel Motorcraft carburetor, a three-speed automatic transmission, and "freeway-friendly" rear differential gearing, the AMX reached a top speed of slightly more than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), going 0 to 60 mph in 10.6 seconds, and the quarter-mile dragstrip in 17.6 seconds. The 304 V8 equipped AMXs came with "sport-tuned exhaust" that made

3600-519: The AMX, as its grille emblem moved to the center. All AMCs, including the Spirit, received a new rust-proofing process called Ziebart Factory Rust Protection. This included aluminized trim screws, plastic inner fender liners, galvanized steel in every exterior body panel, and a deep-dip (up to the window line) bath in epoxy-based primer . AMC backed up the rust protection program with a five-year "No Rust Thru" component to its comprehensive "Buyer Protection Plan". The 1981 model year AMC Spirits received

3690-668: The Spirit DL, the "Spoke Styled Wheels" which were standard on the Spirit G.T., and the "Turbocast II" aluminum wheels which were optional on all models. Fifteen exterior paint colors were available in 1981. They were Olympic White, Classic Black, Quick Silver Metallic, Steel Gray Metallic, Medium Blue Metallic, Moonlight Blue, Autumn Gold, Sherwood Green Metallic, Cameo Tan, Copper Brown Metallic, Medium Brown Metallic, Dark Brown Metallic, Oriental Red, Vintage Red Metallic, and Deep Maroon Metallic. Interiors were available in "Deluxe Grain" vinyl in black, blue, beige, and nutmeg. "Coventry Check" fabric

AMC Spirit - Misplaced Pages Continue

3780-620: The Suzuki-built Metro subcompact. Subcompact cars of the 1990s typically featured a small footprint, lightweight design, and engines with displacements generally under 1.6 liters. They were designed to provide maximum interior space while maintaining a compact exterior, making them ideal for city driving and parking. Several models defined the subcompact car market during the 1990s. Some of the most notable include: The 1990s focused on fuel efficiency and emissions, leading to innovations in fuel injection and aerodynamics. These subcompacts set

3870-574: The U.S. in limited volumes, including the 1930 American Austin (later called the American Bantam) and the 1939 Crosley . From the 1950s onwards, various imported small cars were sold in the U.S., including the Nash Metropolitan , Volkswagen Beetle , and various small British cars. The term subcompact did not yet exist, so the Metropolitan was labeled a "compact or economy car" and marketed as

3960-536: The US while over 235,000 went to Canada. Models such as the 1960 Ford Anglia were promoted as "The world's most exciting light car." Due to the increasing popularity of small cars imported from Europe and Japan during the late 1960s, the American manufacturers began releasing competing locally-built models in the early 1970s. The AMC Gremlin was described at its April 1970 introduction as "the first American-built import" and

4050-420: The United States, the segment experienced a 50 percent drop in sales in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019. In Canada, the subcompact share of the car market shrank to 1.6 percent for the year ending 2020, down from 2.4 percent in 2019. As a result, manufacturers stopped offering subcompact models and focused on larger cars instead, including subcompact crossover SUVs which offer higher profit margins and

4140-467: The aerodynamics. The term "spoiler" is often mistakenly used interchangeably with "wing". An automotive wing is a device designed to generate downforce as air passes around it, not simply disrupt existing airflow patterns. Rather than decreasing drag, automotive wings actually increase drag. Aerodynamics plays a critical role in a car's behavior at higher speeds. Vehicles must be stable and balanced first at lower speeds through their mechanical grip on

4230-1035: The automotive media. An AMX version of the Spirit liftback was offered for 1979 and 1980 as a way of invoking the memory of the original two-seat 1968 through 1970 AMX . Spirit AMX model featured special body color-matched fender flares and front air dam, "Rally-Tuned" suspension with 1.06 in (27 mm) front and 0.75 in (19 mm) rear sway bars , high-effort power steering gears, front and rear three-way adjustable "Strider" Gabriel (brand name) shock absorbers, heavy-duty semi-metallic 10.8 in (274 mm) front disk brakes with ribbed 10x1.2-inch (254x30.5 mm) rear drum brakes, unique AMX grille, "Turbocast II" 14x7-inch aluminum road wheels with ER60x14 Goodyear "Flexten" GT radial RWL (raised white letter) tires, rear spoiler , special striping package, hood and door decals, console shifted automatic or manual transmission with "Rallye Gauge" package (total of eight dials including an intake-manifold vacuum gauge), as well as simulated aluminum dash overlays with AMX badge on

4320-470: The creative thinking and skilled engineering on a low budget that characterized AMC's efforts." The Spirit line was markedly improved and performed well, but AMC was unable to overcome the perception that its products were outdated. Moreover, the Spirit AMX was introduced the same year as the similar but new Fox Platform Ford Mustang . The Spirit AMX was discontinued after the two model years and replaced with

4410-561: The dashboard, steering wheel, and floor gearshift knob, and fluorescent-display digital clock. The top trim Limited model included leather seats and trim, air conditioning, AM/FM radio, an adjustable steering wheel, dual remote outside mirrors, a full-length center console with armrest, and many more features. The GT package was available on the Spirit liftback and included among other features, blacked-out exterior trim, radial tires with styled wheels, black leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and console, tachometer, and "Rallye" gauges, as well as

4500-436: The designs do not do anything, except the factory units on competition and high-end sports cars, while some manufacturers disclose that their "spoilers are for looks only". Moreover, "attention must also be paid to the sides of the car" to achieve drag reduction such as techniques to reduce the cross-sectional area at the rear of the car to reduce the volume within the wake as in the case of a boat-tail design that extends back to

4590-510: The early 1970s increase in subcompact cars built in the United States. Early 1970s subcompacts include the AMC Gremlin , Chevrolet Vega , and Ford Pinto . The term subcompact originated during the 1960s. However, it came into popular use in the early 1970s, as car manufacturers in the United States began to introduce smaller cars into their line-up. Previously, cars in this size were variously categorized, including "small cars" or "economy cars". Several of these small cars were produced in

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4680-677: The first U.S. built subcompact car. Also introduced in 1970 were the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto . Plans for the subcompact AMC Gremlin pre-dated Vega and Pinto by several years because of AMC's strategy to recognize emerging market opportunities ahead of the competition. Sales of American-built "low weight cars" (including subcompacts) accounted for more than 30% of total car sales in 1972 and 1973, despite inventory shortages for several models. The Gremlin, Pinto and Vega were all rear-wheel drive and available with four-cylinder engines (the Pinto

4770-537: The four-cylinder Spirit with the Chevrolet Chevette , Dodge Omni 024 , and the imported Plymouth Champ describing the Spirit's "generous updating of the chassis and body have kept it fresh-looking." Despite its imported engine, with its heavy chassis it was "no economy standout ... what is special about the Spirit is the luxury finish ... with the look of a high-priced car." A Popular Mechanics survey of one-thousand owners after they had driven their cars

4860-494: The front spoiler, but had little effect on speed. Moreover, since the AMXs were "rather crude" compared with the smaller, lighter cars they were racing against, they lost time in the turns. Nevertheless, Witzenburg said the cars "ran great," especially on the straights where they reached about 140 mph (230 km/h). After driving almost 2,000 miles (3,219 km), they finished first and second in class, 25th and 43rd overall out of

4950-578: The fuel filler cap. The Spirit offered a generous cruising range with its "fuel tank capacity of 21 gallons and probable fuel mileage of 25 mpg or more ... enabling the car's driver to travel over 500 miles between fill ups". Standard equipment levels and convenience features were increased on the new Spirit compared to the Gremlin. For example, the DL models featured upgraded trim inside and out, including color-keyed wheel covers, custom bucket seats in corduroy fabric or "sport" vinyl upholstery, wood accents on

5040-558: The glove compartment door. Changes in the standard AMX equipment for 1980 were exclusively flat-finished black flares and air dam, standard 14x6-inch "Magnum 500" styled road wheels with the wider aluminum wheels now made optional, and deletion of the simulated aluminum dash overlays. Although the car "wasn't actually fast, it sure looked the part" with an "aggressive appearance." The quick-ratio power steering, large-diameter front and rear sway bars, as well as racing-tuned shock absorbers, provided excellent handling." The biggest powerplant on

5130-439: The higher level of standard equipment in both Spirit DL and Spirit GT, which sold for US$ 5,995 and US$ 6,495, respectively. The Spirit GT version was compared to the liftback version of Ford's Mustang. For the 1983 model year, AMC introduced the new Renault Alliance , which was a much more modern, space-efficient, fuel-efficient, front-wheel-drive subcompact car than the rear-drive Spirit, with its 14-year-old platform. The Spirit

5220-519: The lift generated by the car, making it more resistant to coming out of contact with the ground. These devices were introduced in 1994 in NASCAR following Rusty Wallace's crash at Talladega . When the Porsche 911 Turbo debuted in August 1974, with large, flared, rear spoilers, they were immediately dubbed whale tails. Designed to reduce rear-end lift and so keep the car from oversteering at high speeds,

5310-401: The line in 1983, along with the 2.5 L I4 and the base model liftback. All 1983 Spirits were 4.2 L-equipped liftbacks in either DL or new GT trim. The Spirit GT's performance was described as "neck-snapping quickness" compared to the competing sporty cars with 4-cylinder engines. The GT package became its own model separate from the DL for the Spirit's last year. Advertisements stressed

5400-417: The needs of racing on a given track or to suit the talents of a particular driver, with the overall goal of reaching faster times. The goal of many spoilers used in passenger vehicles is to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency . Passenger vehicles can be equipped with front and rear spoilers. Front spoilers, found beneath the bumper, are mainly used to decrease the air underneath the vehicle to reduce

5490-821: The official pace car for the Milwaukee 150 on 7 June 1981, for the 14 race series. This was the final chapter in AMC's AMX racing story and the car went to AMC's Vice President of Design, Richard Teague. It has since been maintained by collectors with the AMX Turbo regularly appearing at automobile shows. Exploiting the ease and low cost of modifying an AMC Gremlin for higher performance, as well as their inherent strength, Spirits were used in drag racing . According to Hot Rod magazine, "these little cars are very cool, and while they're not traditional muscle cars, they're plenty strong in terms of performance." Subcompact car According to

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5580-426: The onboard computer or other electronics, usually based on vehicle speed, driver setting, or other inputs. Often, the driver can manually deploy the spoiler if desired, but may not be able to retract the spoiler above a certain speed because doing so could dangerously diminish the high-speed handling qualities of the vehicle. Active spoilers can offer additional benefits over fixed spoilers. Cosmetically, they can allow

5670-410: The operation of a spoiler varies depending on the particular effect it is trying to spoil. Standard spoiler functions include disrupting airflow passing over and around a moving vehicle. A standard spoiler diffuses air by increasing amounts of turbulence flowing over the shape, "spoiling" the laminar flow and providing a cushion for the laminar boundary layer. However, other types of airflow may require

5760-450: The previous Gremlin, the Spirit featured distinctly larger rear quarter windows while retaining the instrument panel introduced on the 1978 Gremlin, with a wood grain overlay on DL and Limited models. Riding on the same wheelbase as the sedan, the liftback was identical to the sedan from the doors forward and featured a sloping roof (compromising rear headroom) and a hatchback with a more shallow Kammback tail. The rear license plate hid

5850-406: The race practice cut short by fog, the team qualified the cars in 20th and 21st overall. The #1 Johnson/Shaw/Brolin car was given the faster set-up, with the objective of winning the race. In the race, the #1 car suffered broken front shock absorbers and a slipping clutch, and the engine burned oil. Witzenburg reported the brakes and both front shocks "all but gone" in #2 – pumping the brakes dragged

5940-456: The racing circuit for several years, but has been located and reunited with the original drivers after over 25 years. AMC Spirits also campaigned in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Champion Spark Plug Challenge and Racing Stock Class events. With only limited support from AMC, mainly with some technical help, AMC Spirits were prepared by "Team Highball" and driven by Amos Johnson and Dennis Shaw. Several AMC Spirits were entered in

6030-474: The rear axle's wheels. Trains may use spoilers to induce drag (like an air brake). A prototype Japanese high-speed train , the Fastech 360 , is designed to reach speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph). Its nose is specifically designed to spoil a wind effect associated with passing through tunnels, and it can deploy 'ears' that slow the train in case of emergency by increasing its drag. Some modern race cars employ

6120-472: The rear of the vehicle, then extends upwards when the vehicle exceeds a specific speed, such as the active spoiler in the Bugatti Veyron . Active front spoilers have also been implemented on specific models, in which the front spoiler or air dam extends further toward the road below to reduce drag at high speed. In most cases, the spoiler deployment is achieved with an electric motor controlled automatically by

6210-400: The rear spoiler, the "teatray", a boxier enclosure which accommodated the intercooler, and was also an option for the 911SC. The whale tail car spoilers of the Porsche 911 caught on as a fashion statement, and the term has been used to refer to large rear spoilers on a number of automobiles, including Ford Sierra RS , Chevrolet Camaro , and Saab 900 . Whale tail spoilers also appear at

6300-463: The reduced rear lift. Due to their association with racing, spoilers are often viewed as "sporty" by consumers. In 1968, Craig Breedlove set a flying mile record of 161.7335 miles per hour (260.28 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a prepared production 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 AMC Javelin featuring Breedlove's unique roof-mounted spoiler. Stylists at AMC later made

6390-401: The road via the chassis, suspension, and tires. Aerodynamic aids can then be used to provide the necessary balance and stability characteristics at higher speeds. Spoilers and wings on a vehicle have little effect at low speeds as improper designs may create undesirable responses and lower stability or efficiency for the car at high speeds. Since "spoiler" is a term describing an application,

6480-425: The rubber edges of the whale tail spoilers were thought to be "pedestrian friendly". The Turbo with its whale tail became recognizable. From 1978, the rear spoiler was redesigned and dubbed 'tea tray' because of its raised sides. The Porsche 911 whale tails were used in conjunction with a chin spoiler attached to the front valence panel, which, according to some sources, did not enhance aerodynamic stability. It

6570-431: The short 96 in (2,438 mm) wheelbase AMC chassis. The last time this configuration was available was in the 1976 Gremlin. All engines could be mated to either a standard 4-speed manual transmission or an optional 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission with floor shift, depending on trim and options. A 3-speed manual transmission was available as a delete option with the 232 engine. The four-cylinder engine

6660-468: The similar Eagle SX/4, a sporty four-wheel-drive successor. This model was the last car to wear the AMX name and has achieved popularity with AMC enthusiasts. Some owners modify the cars since it is easy to install a larger displacement AMC engine. In October 1979, the B.F. Goodrich sponsored a pair of AMXs in the annual FIA Group One 24-hour race held at Germany 's legendary Nürburgring . The 1979 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8-powered Spirit AMX

6750-422: The spoiler to operate differently and take on vastly different physical characteristics. While a mass travels at increasing speeds, the environment's air affects its movement. Spoilers in racing are combined with other features on the body or chassis of race cars to change the handling characteristics that are affected by the air of the environment. Often, these devices are designed to be highly adjustable to suit

6840-477: The stage for modern small cars, emphasizing efficiency and reliability. Because of consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars during the mid- to late-2000s, sales of subcompact cars made them the fastest growing market category in the U.S. In 2006, three major subcompact models were introduced to the market, the Toyota Yaris , Honda Fit , and Nissan Versa . These models were released by their manufacturers to aim at

6930-409: The substitution of aluminum for iron and steel made the venerable AMC engine "the lightest in-line Six in the domestic industry", at 445 lb (202 kg). The 1981 AMC EPA fuel economy figures for the 49 states were: There were four kinds of wheel treatments this year that included the "Custom Wheel Cover" or standard full wheel discs, "Full Styled" wheel cover made of Noryl which was standard on

7020-518: The vehicle (See ground effect ). Research continues on the use of fans to alter the aerodynamics of vehicles. Heavy trucks, like long haul tractors , may also have a spoiler on the top and sides of the cab to lessen drag caused by air resistance from the trailer it is towing, which may be taller than the cab and reduce the aerodynamics of the vehicle dramatically without the use of this spoiler. The trailers they pull can also be fitted with under-side spoilers that angle outward to deflect passing air from

7110-433: Was a highly modified fastback constructed by Autodynamics of Troy, Michigan under contract from PPG Industries . Designed by Dick Teague , AMC's Vice President of Automotive Design, the body has a more aerodynamic efficient, fiberglass shell with smooth bumpers. A unique ram air induction system was designed into the rear quarter panel while the rear featured an integrated spoiler with a high center fuel fill. The interior

7200-520: Was already homologated for European Group One Touring Car races. The cars were the first-ever American entries in this grueling race. They would compete against smaller-engined, but more agile competitors from BMW, Ford, Opel, VW, Renault, and Audi. Drivers Amos Johnson and his partner Dennis Shaw were the team principals in the North Carolina -based "Team Highball." Supporting drivers were factory Mazda driver Jim Downing (who would later co-develop

7290-668: Was also available with a V6 engine, and the Gremlin was also available with I6 and V8 engines). The Pontiac Astre , the Canadian-originated re-badged Vega variant was released in the U.S. in September 1974. Due to falling sales of the larger pony cars (such as the Chevrolet Camaro and first-generation Ford Mustang) in the mid-1970s, the Vega-based Chevrolet Monza was introduced as an upscale subcompact and

7380-405: Was always a company that took chances in the name of innovation and promoted the 1982 Spirit in an unusual television ad campaign. Trying to differentiate their cars from the competition, and to make a point that the "Tough Americans" come with Ziebart rustproofing and a five-year rust warranty, the ads show a new Spirit dropped into 30 feet (9 m) of saltwater. The Spirit sedan was deleted from

7470-520: Was available in black, blue, beige, and nutmeg. American Motors led the way in galvanized steel news for 1981, by applying one-sided and two-sided galvanized materials to all of the exterior body panels on all its models. AMC tied these applications into its warranty program and the Spirit was advertised as "One Tough American Economy car" highlighting its galvanized steel in every exterior body panel. According to Dale E. Dawkins, AMC's vice-president, "Every square inch of inner surface on exterior body panels

7560-560: Was canceled as AMC released the Alliance-based Encore hatchbacks for 1984. In addition, the front-wheel drive Renault Fuego , "a nicely executed sports coupe," was also sold by AMC dealers as an alternative to the Spirit GT. The Fuego had distinctive styling, four-passenger room, fuel economy ( U.S. EPA rated at 39 mpg ‑US (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg ‑imp ) on the highway), and it received good reviews in

7650-630: Was introduced as the "Spirit Liftback " or "coupe" . Due to budget constraints, the Spirit shared the Gremlin's platform – its floorpan , powertrains , and many other parts were carried over. AMC also offered a four-wheel drive cross-over version using the Spirit's bodywork, marketed from 1981 through 1983 model years as the AMC Eagle SX/4 and Eagle Kammback (1981-1982 only). Spirits were manufactured by AMC in both Wisconsin and Ontario, as well as under license by V.A.M. in Mexico where they retained

7740-655: Was largely a restyled Gremlin , which had been manufactured from 1970 through 1978. Engineering and equipment upgrades introduced on the 1978 Concord carried over to the subcompact Spirit. The suspension system was revised with "soft-ride" mountings for the coil springs over A-arms in the front and the rear live-axle with leaf springs to improve ride and handling. Features included enhanced sound-deadening and corrosion protection as well as lightweight aluminum bumpers, lock-up automatic transmission converter, and higher-compression six-cylinder camshaft and pistons for economy, performance, and emissions. The body received new styling and

7830-433: Was modified to include new front racing bucket seats along with a special roll bar and cage. The turbocharged and fuel-injected 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 was built by Turbo-Systems Inc. to produce 450 bhp (336 kW). The car is equipped with Goodyear Eagle GT low profile 245/50x16 tires on 16 in × 8 in (410 mm × 200 mm) Gotti aluminum alloy wheels. The car made its debut as

7920-568: Was offered as an option, thus the "Spirit GT became America's first pony car available with a 5-speed gearbox." New low-drag front disc brakes were standard. Together, they allowed the 2.5 L Spirit to achieve 37 mpg ‑US (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg ‑imp ) on the highway, according to the 1982 EPA estimates. For automatic transmission-equipped cars, the Chrysler sourced three-speed TorqueFlite ratios were more widely spaced to afford better mileage. American Motors Company

8010-620: Was originally designed for Porsche 930 and Porsche 935 race cars in 1973, and introduced to the Turbo in 1974 (as a part of the H-program ); it was also an option on non-turbo Carreras from 1975. Both types of spoilers were designed while Ernst Fuhrmann was serving as the Technical Director of Porsche AG . In 1976, a rubber front chin spoiler was also introduced to offset the more effective spoiler. By 1978, Porsche introduced another design for

8100-418: Was to create one pace car for each of the four major American car companies based on the existing production models of that time. Both used the Spirit liftback body with the first one shown by PPG Industries featuring a white/red/blue/black painted production 1979 Spirit AMX with covered headlamps and integrated and smoothed front bumper and air dam unit. The current status of this car is unknown. The 1981 car

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