Now this is badge engineering at its best.
Chevy has developed a new version of the brand’s iconic bowtie logo that improves the performance of its upcoming Camaro Z/28 sports car by simply pretending that it’s not there.
While looking for ways to increase the amount of air reaching the car’s radiator at speed, rather than remove it all together, one engineer came up with the idea of cutting out the center of the large badge located in the center of the grille.
Now just an outline, the so-called “Flowtie” allows an extra three cubic meters of air to pass through each minute, enough to lower engine coolant and oil temperatures by an average of 2 degrees during track use.
The feature will be standard on the $75,000 Z/28 when it goes on sale in a few months, and unique to the model for now.
But it’s not the only GM badge that puts substance on par with style.
The new wide-body, wreathless Cadillac shield debuting on the 2015 ATS Coupe was engineered to accommodate a radar device for the model’s adaptive cruise control system.
This type of technology is typically protected by an unsightly housing that allows the radar waves to pass through it unabated, but the new shield is comprised of a thin printed emblem covered by an acrylic lens with no surface articulation that allows in optimal radar transmission, according to Cadillac.
The new logo, with or without this feature, will be rolled out across the Cadillac lineup next year.