Top 10 Coolest Stock Hoods You Can Buy
They’re not as flashy as big spoilers or gullwing doors, but not all hoods have to be boring.
For the most part, a hood serves the utilitarian purpose of protecting the engine bay and more often than not, they are rather mundane. But some automakers turn to functional hood scoops and vents to not only make their hoods cool, but to keep the engine bay even cooler and get more air into their forced induction systems.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 Coolest Types of Hood Ornaments
Other cars get fancy on how their hoods open, while some just have a real cool design. Check out AutoGuide.com‘s picks for the top 10 coolest hoods on today’s cars below.
10. Cadillac ATS-V
It might seem a bit old that a luxury car like the Cadillac ATS-V has a vented hood, but it fits well with the aggressive styling of the ATS-V and it’s rather classy for a luxury car. Cadillac could have gone over-the-top with the design but kept it conservative enough that it looks right at home.
9. Subaru WRX STI
The Subaru WRX STI’s hood does more than just give the sports sedan a more aggressive appearance: It helps keep the turbocharged four-cylinder engine nice and cool, making sure performance is always up to par. It has also become a trademark feature of the car’s design, having been present for many generations.
8. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a track-focused model featuring special aero components, adjustable suspension, and exclusive tires. Its hood is a bit more subtle than what’s seen on the Subaru WRX STI, but we love how sleek and stylish it looks on the coupe. The same style hood is found on the standard ZL1 but we love the black treatment Chevy gave it for the 1LE.
7. BMW i8
The hood on the BMW i8 is an interesting one. The styling of it fits the BMW i8’s futuristic design quite well, and the front vent makes it a bit more aggressive. But what’s so interesting about it is that opening it is a lot more complicated than it should be. To open the hood on the BMW i8, owners have to pull on two latches that are hidden beneath plastic covers on both A-pillars. After that, the hood will unlatch and you’ll need two people to pull the hood upwards and towards the front to tilt it open. Also, there’s no hood prop to keep it open, so you’ll have to insert screwdrivers into the pinholes located on the hood’s hinges to keep it open.
6. LaFerrari Aperta
Technically speaking, under the hood of the Ferrari LaFerrari is its trunk because the engine is located at the rear of the car. But that didn’t stop the Italian automaker from outfitting the compartment with a pair of cooling fans for the front radiators. Don’t expect to put much inside the compartment as space is limited, but the stylish hood and its vents give the LaFerrari much more appeal than if it had something flat.
5. Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar F-Type isn’t a Plain Jane luxury sports coupe. The British automaker gave it a fancy front-hinged hood and even has an official video posted with instructions on how to properly open and close it. There’s also a pair of vents to give the F-Type some breathing room, which may not be a huge necessity for the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but is welcomed on the range-topping SVR model powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine.
4. Aston Martin DB11
The Aston Martin DB11 is arguably its best-looking model yet, and what makes it extra special is the clamshell hood housing the engine. It opens frontward just like the F-Type’s hood, but what makes it different is that it was engineered so the headlights stay in place even though the hood surrounds the headlights. The clamshell hood is a subtle design touch that helps make the DB11 so gorgeous. Plus, they call it a bonnet, which is delightful.
3. Dodge Shaker
There’s nothing that screams “ Dodge” more than a Shaker hood. For the latest Challenger, the Shaker hood features an engine-mounted scoop and an exposed high-flow element for true cold-air induction. And to live up to its name, the scoop shakes when you stomp on the gas.
2. Ford GT
Like the LaFerrari, the Ford GT’s hood isn’t entirely functional since the engine sits in the rear. But we love the giant air-extracting nostrils on the front that pays homage to the design of the original GT40. Ford hasn’t been very open to what lurks under there and we can’t find any images showing details of what’s inside.
1. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
We just had to reserve the top spot on the list for the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Dodge says the Demon has “the largest functional ‘Air Grabber’ cold air intake hood ever installed on a production vehicle, measuring more than 45 square inches,” that feeds air into a larger airbox compared to the regular Hellcat. Combined with the two “Air Catcher” headlamps, the automaker says the Demon’s air intake temperatures are up to 30 degrees cooler than the regular Hellcat. So it’s not only functional, but it also has the bragging rights of being the largest production hood scoop around, helping make the Demon’s 840 horsepower a reality.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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what about hoods for cars that people can afford, most of us are not millionaires or want to pay more for a car than our home.