15:25 31-12-2025

How Porsche's active aero keeps the rear window clean

Porsche once again shows that when it comes to aerodynamics, the brand is willing to complicate even things that have worked the simple way for decades. A new patent describes a setup with flow-guiding elements arranged around the rear window to redirect the airstream. The logic is simple: if the air doesn’t hug the glass, it won’t carry water, dust, and road grime onto it, so the window stays cleaner for longer without a rear wiper.

But the idea doesn’t stop there. The patent also mentions an active mode: the elements can move from a non-operating position to a working one and steer airflow directly across the glass, effectively trying to clear a dirty surface on the move. In other words, it’s active aero in the name of rearward visibility, with a potential bonus for stability, since the same pieces can be used to manage flow and downforce over the rear axle. On paper, it comes across as a neat bit of multi-tasking hardware.

The practical caveat is clear: this kind of cleaning depends on movement and speed, and in gridlock or wet snow the concept looks questionable. Even so, for sporty, elegant models where a wiper is treated as unnecessary clutter, the approach fits the brand’s philosophy. In everyday use, it would make the most sense at speed rather than at a crawl.