Maybe I am wrong but is this trim to keep the nose down on it? odd that it isn't a screen to let wind thru?

 

Assume you're referring to the black trim piece in middle... unless you have the 3rd (center) radiator, it's just a solid filler panel as you have.

 

Yes the black middle plastic piece, it would seem to cause drag. Just a thought.

 

agreed.

I look at mine all the time and wonder why is such a flat piece (highest Drag Coefficent) is sitting up front and center on my 997.

 

Of course, it is for looks.

But,... I would bet the drag caused by this recessed part is not much different than the drag from an un-recessed flat bumper.

Drag is proportional to the Coefficient of Drag times the frontal Surface Area. If my hunch is correct, the Coefficient of Drag of the bumper with this part is probably verrrrrrrrrrry close to the Coefficient of Drag of a smooth flat bumper. (If it really made a significant difference, Porsche would have used a different design).

The drag on a vehicle also depends on how smooth the air flows around it, and how the air flow separates in the rear. So there are other aspects to the car's aerodynamics that probably contribute much more to the the overall drag, than this small part (even though it is in the front, and you intuitively think it would play a bigger role).

 

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...d-opening.html , something like this, i have long wondered the same

 

Improved airflow thru the side radiators, don't need the one in the middle.