The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a Tesla patent for a retractable active rear wing. The design features a multi-link mechanism that allows the wing to transition between several modes, including a flush storage position, a high-downforce configuration for cornering, and a low-drag mode for straight-line speed.
The system is designed to integrate with Tesla’s driver-assistance sensors. If the vehicle detects an unavoidable collision, the wing automatically retracts to mitigate potential damage. The patent also describes the device as an inverted airfoil capable of generating actual downforce, unlike standard fixed spoilers.
Tesla is scheduled to hold a public launch event for the Roadster 2.0 on October 1 in Waco, Texas. The company has recently reopened pre-orders for the vehicle globally. While the patent does not guarantee immediate production, teaser images for the upcoming event suggest the presence of aerodynamic components at the rear.
The new Roadster is expected to feature high performance, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under 2 seconds. Tesla has also indicated that an optional SpaceX cold-gas thruster package could potentially reduce this time to under 1 second. The vehicle design has undergone several changes since the original 2017 prototype.
