Porsche’s history of active aero innovations can be traced back at least to the Benjamin Dimson 964, and the so-called ‘whale tail’ that extended and retracted according to necessity.

Porsche has come a long way in the decades since that innovative version of the 911 took to the roads. The 2021 Porsche 911 S’s aero is so sophisticated, in fact, that Porsche dedicated a press release specifically to the intricacies of the system.

The sensitivity and flexibility of the system, Porsche assures the faithful, reconciles the contradictory twin demands of sports-car aerodynamics: low drag for high-speed driving, and increased downforce for dynamics and control during high-speed driving.

Porsche refers to the PAA—‘Porsche Active Aerodynamics’—system’s intelligent energy management, hailing its efficiency and ecological relevance. New components include active cooling air flaps, which are positioned in the air intakes, and continuously adjust for optimal radiator cooling and aerodynamic benefit. A rear wing that extends and tilts, and a variable front spoiler—both have new positions for ideal conditional response—are other components that help balance the needs of lower drag and higher downforce.

The 2021 911 S’s airbrake feature is one of the more interesting design tweaks to the car’s aero. In the event of full braking at high speed, the spoiler and wing instantly shift to boost both drag and downforce, keeping the car stable and reducing the distance to a complete stop.