Pivotally deployable air dam utilizing active material actuation

An active air dam adapted for use with a vehicle, said dam comprising:

• a deflector coupled and pivotally translatable relative to the vehicle, so as to define a pivot axis and achieve stowed and deployed conditions, wherein the deflector, when in the deployed condition, is configured to occlude an air flow beneath the vehicle, when the vehicle is in motion;
• and
• an active material actuator including an active material operable to undergo a change in at least one fundamental property when exposed to an activation signal, and drivenly coupled to the deflector, such that the actuator is configured to exert a first force upon the deflector that causes the deflector to pivot to one of the stowed and deployed conditions as a result of the change,
• wherein the deflector includes at least one pivot arm defining the axis, the actuator includes a cable attached to the vehicle and a structural fastener interconnecting the arm and cable, the arm is caused to upwardly pivot, so that the deflector is caused to translate to the stowed condition by producing a force vector in the cable, and the deflector and vehicle cooperatively define a detent or a latching mechanism configured to retain the deflector in one of the stowed and deployed conditions, when the material is not exposed to the signal.