2nd Gen front side air intakes - what are the benifits
 

So I'm not fully versed on what's going with these front side air intakes. I'd really love someone who is well versed in this to add their thoughts.

I assume that its for break cooling, but how does it achieve that when it 'seems' to be just directly hitting the front tires.

In fact, as yet I haven't seen anyone sticking things into it to show if there is any piping to direct that air right into the break. Could it be actually for tire cooling?

I get that, at speed, the vents at the rear of the front tire will actually suck air away from the wheel area, and therefore cool the breaks, but is it a case of that it really needs that front side intake to be able to do that properly?

They were saying that it is basically for improving aerodynamic efficiency. Pretty useless for me on a street car under normal highway speed limits. Reminds me somehow the persistence to go with the big rear carbon wing in the BRZ tS. These solutions are just for the looks and adding to the wow effect (real vents!), but without much effect in reality. They can work only in race tracks like the Nürburgring Nordschleife where you can go top speed.

Brake cooling will be a small side effect of these vents, but without proper air ducts it won't be optimal at all.

I do hope we see some side by sides on say 10 lap track sessions between the stock 86 and stock GR86.

With a bit more cold air to the breaks, the car might be better for those extended break cycles or it might just be all for show, as you say.

From the Subaru press release:
"The aggressive design flows into bold front fenders with a large side vent. The functional side vent reduces drag by ducting air from under the hood and fenders. The released air is directed to a side sill spoiler that creates downforce at speed"

There will most certainly be at least a bit of cooling to the engine bay and possibly the brakes but their prime purpose (or at least explanation) is aero related not heat management.
I am still of the opinion, that when you consider they are moving air from the bay and have added an oil cooler they are addressing a heat issue with the 2.4. Side vents are an expensive way to give a small aero effect.

I guess they will probably reduce the high air pressure build-up in the front wheel well.

Reducing the high P inside the well could lead to more air being sucked into the "brake area" thus providing a cooling effect for the brake system.

Just a guesstimate :)

I guess they will probably reduce the high air pressure build-up in the front wheel well.

Reducing the high P inside the well could lead to more air being sucked into the "brake area" thus providing a cooling effect for the brake system.

Just a guesstimate :)

Fuel economy by drag reduction is my bet. I've seen these start to pop up on some boring cars too. In fact they were so boring I forget what I saw them on.

What's interesting is that so far we have only seen that the vents open into the fenders, not under the hood area. But I haven't seen anyone stick their fingers in the top of the vent yet.

The front side intakes aren't really explained.

The front intakes are part of the whole system. To efficiently pull the air out you need to push some in.
As Niki said earlier the aero effect will probably be totally valueless under most driving conditions. The cooling effect will be even less.

Actually on some cars the vents behind the front wheels reduce drag enough to bump it up 1mpg on the highway, BMW made a big deal about it on the F3X 4 series.

I can buy that.

Makes sense.

It's for bugs to not die on impact. Instead, they could fly thru the vents and back out alive, safely to their families.

The size of those intakes mean a few squirrels could be saved as well!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e2/40...08e45574ee.gif