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Who's your wingman? 10 new cars with over-the-top aero

In many cases, rear wings can be tastefully subtle additions to new cars. Others are garishly large. Here are some of the bigger wings available from automakers today, most of which are indeed functional.

Jon Wong
Jon Wong was a reviews editor for CNET Cars. He test drove and wrote about new cars and oversaw coverage of automotive accessories and garage gear. In his spare time, he enjoys track days, caring for his fleet of old Japanese cars and searching for the next one to add to his garage.
Jon Wong
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
1 of 15 Porsche

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Forged aluminum uprights lift the GT3 RS' carbon wing up high, creating one of the most noticeable aerodynamic tweaks on Porsche's most track-capable 911. The wing, along with a set of front wheel arch air outlets, help give the GT3 RS more downforce for improved stability at speed.

That extra downforce will be appreciated when you pedal the 500-horsepower GT3 RS around a racetrack, or when you decide to test out the car's 193-mph top speed.

2016 Subaru WRX STI Hyper Blue
2 of 15 Subaru

2016 Subaru WRX STI Hyper Blue

A favorite with tuners, Subaru's WRX STI easily sets itself apart from lesser WRX models with its massive rear wing. With a rich rallying history, there's definitely a cool factor to the STI's wing, but Subaru offers customers the option of forgoing it on certain models.

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3 of 15 Subaru

Subaru WRX STI Hyper Blue

With a track-tuned suspension, all-wheel drive and a potent 305-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed manual, the STI packs plenty of performance to back up its looks.

2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce
4 of 15 Lamborghini

2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce

As the purest-performing Lamborghini Aventador to date, the Superveloce doesn't have sound deadening or a navigation system. The absence of these helps contribute to a weight reduction of 110 pounds. But it does have a honkin' carbon-fiber wing to help keep the car planted at speeds above 200 mph, which is frighteningly fast. Motivation for the all-wheel-drive supercar comes from a 6.5-liter V-12 engine with 740 horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque, enough to get the special-edition Aventador to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds.

2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
5 of 15 Ford

2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

For those who plunk down their hard-earned dollars for Ford's most track-worthy Mustang, it will be difficult to blend in with rest of the Blue Oval's other pony cars, because the Shelby GT350R has a seriously big wing. Its carbon-fiber element is functional, helping to move the car's center of pressure rearward while also improving downforce.

The GT350R also receives a 5.2-liter, flat-plane-crank V-8 that brings 526 horsepower to the party, along with carbon-fiber wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, Brembo brakes and a unique suspension with magnetorheological dampers.

2016 Bentley Continental GT3-R
6 of 15 Bentley

2016 Bentley Continental GT3-R

Drawing inspiration from its GT3 race car, the Continental GT3-R is the most performance-focused, road-going car Bentley has ever built. A bi-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 produces 592 horsepower on overboost, and is connected to a revised eight-speed automatic transmission. Bentley says the GT3-R reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 189 mph -- a speed at which the large carbon-fiber rear wing doubtlessly comes in handy.

To improve handling, the GT3-R features a lower ride height and loses a bit of weight compared to the regular Continental GT, thanks to a titanium exhaust system, removal of the rear seats, and a higher dose of carbon fiber for various bits and pieces.

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7 of 15 BMW

2016 BMW M4 GTS

For the first time, BMW is bringing a special-edition M model to the USA, its 2016 M4 GTS. A total of 700 examples will be built, of which 300 are earmarked to come stateside. The track-focused M4 receives a water-injection system to boost output of the turbocharged inline six-cylinder from 425 horsepower to 493. The extra power helps propel the GTS to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.

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8 of 15 BMW

2016 BMW M4 GTS

BMW's latest track star has also undergone a substantial weight reduction of 200 pounds, thanks the removal of its rear seats as well as more extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber. Other performance goodies include standard carbon-ceramic brakes, three-way adjustable coilover suspension, lightweight front bucket seats, a roll bar and, of course, a larger rear wing.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR
9 of 15 Dodge

2016 Dodge Viper ACR

Dodge's Viper ACR is a street-legal racecar that wouldn't exactly be low-key even if it didn't have a massive, adjustable carbon-fiber wing. Along with a rear diffuser, unique vented hood, front splitter extensions and dive planes, the ACR can generate almost 1 ton of peak downforce at its top speed.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR
10 of 15 Dodge

2016 Dodge Viper ACR

While the 8.4-liter V-10 engine delivers the same 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque as regular Vipers, the ACR receives a lot of other performance items, including a Bilstein coilover suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes and super-sticky Kumho tires developed specifically for this special model.

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11 of 15 Pagani

Pagani Huayra BC

Want an even crazier-looking Pagani Huayra? You've got it in the Huayra BC, which only shares its roof with the already wild base Huayra. Among all of the BC's new body parts is a fairly substantial rear wing.

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12 of 15 Pagani

Pagani Huayra BC

The $2.5-million supercar features a 12-cylinder engine with 789 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque sourced from Mercedes-AMG. With all 20 copies of the Huayra BC already sold, you'll have to talk one the lucky owners into parting with theirs at what is likely to be a not-so-small price premium.

Mitsubishi Lancer Final Edition
13 of 15 Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Lancer Final Edition

Even though 2015 was technically the last model year for Mitsubishi's fabled Lancer Evolution, there are still some examples floating around dealer lots, including this special Final Edition model. Like the Subaru WRX STI, the Evolution has a history intertwined with rally racing, which explains its big wing, all-wheel drive and 303-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.

Exclusive touches for the Final Edition include dark 18-inch Enkei wheels, a black-painted aluminum roof panel, red accent stitching inside the cabin and special badges. Mitsubishi only brought 1,600 Final Edition models to the US, so if you want one, you'd better get hunting.

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
14 of 15 Porsche

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4

While not as massive as the aerofoil fitted to its big-brother GT3 RS, the Porsche Cayman GT4's wing is still sizeable enough to clearly signal its track aspirations. Well, that, and other aerodynamic alterations, not to mention a lower ride height from a reworked suspension, 20-inch wheels and a 3.8-liter boxer six-cylinder engine with 385 horsepower.

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
15 of 15 Porsche

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4

The GT4 is prepared for serious track work, and with a six-speed manual transmission, it should please hard-core driving enthusiasts, too.

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