Here are the pics of the car with the new (heritage) grille installed. Under sunlight, you don't even see it!!!!
You start seeing (through) it as you get closer:
This clear will very clearly allow much more air flow. If flow-tie can change temps by 2 degrees F (GM's claim IIRC), I can easily believe that this grille will have a huge impact compared to the very restrictive original one, and it has no tie or badge whatsoever.