Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a fore portion, an aft portion, and an underbody portion. The vehicle additionally includes a panel pivotably coupled to the underbody portion proximate the aft portion of the body. The panel has a fore edge and an aft edge and is pivotable about the fore edge. The panel is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position the aft edge is spaced a first distance from a driving surface and in the deployed position the aft edge is spaced a second distance from the driving surface. The second distanced is less than the first distance. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator configured to move the panel between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to satisfaction of an operating condition.

Abstract: A vehicle having an active panel is disclosed. The vehicle defines a rearmost surface. The vehicle includes a frame defining a D-pillar, an active panel, and an actuation system. The active panel extends in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and covers at least a portion of the D-pillar. The active panel defines a trailing edge that is oriented towards an aft direction and is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuation system is operatively connected to the active panel and is configured to extend the active panel from the stowed position into the deployed position and from the deployed position into the stowed position. The trailing edge of the active panel is substantially aligned with the rearmost surface of the vehicle in the stowed position and extends beyond the rearmost surface of the vehicle in the deployed position.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a fore portion, an aft portion, and an underbody portion. The vehicle additionally includes a panel pivotably coupled to the underbody portion proximate the aft portion of the body. The panel has a fore edge and an aft edge and is pivotable about the fore edge. The panel is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position the aft edge is spaced a first distance from a driving surface and in the deployed position the aft edge is spaced a second distance from the driving surface. The second distanced is less than the first distance. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator configured to move the panel between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to satisfaction of an operating condition.