From the half-moon gills of the Ferrari 250 GTO to the “letterbox” of the Subaru Impreza STI, many models have adopted sometimes very elaborate air intakes on their hoods. L’argus looks back on some of the most emblematic, without neglecting a few more “general public” vehicles.
Turning a handicap into an asset: this is what automotive designers have always strived to do. A real calorie sink, the heat engine forces them to compete with tricks to optimize cooling. On most mass-produced models, vents in the bumper and grille are sufficient. But sometimes the urge to breathe fresh air or release heat is even stronger. Air intakes may then appear on the hood. Sportswomen are obviously the first to be affected by this phenomenon. On the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the letterbox-style slot had even ended up obstructing the vision of the road by increasing size! Also designed for rally homologation, the Toyota Celica Carlos Sainz or GT-Four, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Ford Escort Cosworth and other Nissan Sunny GTI-Rs also featured heavily drilled hoods.
>> Discover our slideshow of the most striking air intakes <<
When the V12 Vantage inspires the Cygnet
The V12 Vantage never intended to perform miracles in the WRC stages. But to slip its big, atmospheric V12 into its smaller model, Aston Martin had to agree to sacrifice the elegance of the V8 version a bit. Even if it means curling the tuning by adding four carbon vents that the Fast and Furious saga would not deny! Derived from the Toyota iQ, the city car Cygnet will then be inspired by this gimmick. Long before that, in the 1960s, the DB4 GT already sported a fairly prominent wide slit above its distinctive grille. While the “enemy” Ferrari 250 GTO offered itself three small half-moon-shaped slits at the end of its endless muzzle, which today are an integral part of the myth. On the other side of the Atlantic, however, we are not left out. In 2017, the Dodge SRT Demon even boasted of having the ” larger functional hood air intake »Never created. This was needed to supply its 717 hp compressed 6.2 V8 with fresh air!
From diesel RAV4 to electric Cooper S
Hood air intakes are also found on much wiser models. Especially when they are equipped with a turbo, which generates additional calorific constraints. On the second generation of Toyota RAV4 as on certain Subaru Legacy, this was also how we recognized the diesel variants. A good number of Japanese pick-ups, whether Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota or Isuzu, were also entitled to it. As for the Mini Cooper S, since the brand belongs to BMW, it has made it a real signature… to the point of keeping it today when it is no longer of any use to it. Even its electric variant Cooper SE has chosen to keep it. But since this type of engine has much less cooling requirements, don’t expect too much to see hood air intakes flourish in the next few years.
Renault Clio 16S.
