2016 Cars With Hood Scoops

2016 Subaru WRX STI side profile silhouette

The 2016 cars with hood scoops tend to fall primarily into the high-performance category. More than mere styling elements, they were originally employed to force more air into an engine to help them generate more power. These days, hood scoops most often serve to admit air for cooling purposes, rather than induction purposes—particularly with intercooled turbocharged engines. Perhaps best thought of as a reverse hood scoop, vents are also placed in hoods to allow superheated air to escape; also ensuring high-performance engines maintain their cool.

Alfa Romeo 4C

The mid-engine Alfa Romeo 4C employs a pair of scoops to admit air into its engine compartment. However, because the Alfa’s engine is mounted behind the driver, its “hood scoops” actually reside atop the rear fenders. Fitted to both the coupe and the convertible, these serve to draw in air for combustion and cooling purposes to service the 1.7-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. Output is 237 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs of torque. The mid-engine Alfa’s rear wheels are fed through a six-speed automated manual transmission. Offered in coupe and convertible formats, the spunky little Alfa Romeo 4C’s pricing starts at $53,900.

Photo by FCA Media

Cadillac CTS-V

Among the 2016 cars with hood scoops, one of the most formidable is the Cadillac CTS-V. The most powerful car Cadillac has ever offered uses a carbon fiber hood with a ventilation port to permit the heat generated by the supercharger to exit the engine compartment as quickly as possible. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 makes 640 horsepower and 630 ft-lbs of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to feed the rear wheels of this exceptionally high performing Cadillac sedan. Pricing starts at $83,995.

Cadillac ATS-V

The entry-level high-performance Cadillac model is another of the 2016 cars with hood scoops. The ATS-V also uses a carbon fiber hood to save weight. This engine cover is constructed with venting to aid the cooling process. The ATS-V’s twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 makes 464 horsepower and 445 ft-lbs of torque. The rear wheels get their share of this power courtesy of an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Cadillac’s testing found the ATS-V capable of accelerating from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds. Pricing starts at $60,465.

Chevrolet Corvette

While we know this is an article about 2016 cars with hood scoops, and Corvettes do have vents in their hoods, we take every opportunity we get to remark upon how amazing a value the contemporary Chevrolet Corvette is. Whether you go standard Corvette or Z06, you’ll get one of the best performance cars in the world. Further, if you go Z06, you’ll also get one of the fastest. Corvette is now also one of the most nicely finished cars you’ll find. If you’re looking for a powerful two-seater with a nice interior and extraordinary handling, the 2016 Z06 will run off and leave pretty much anything out there, And, it costs less than any other car with its capabilities. Corvette Stingray starts at $55,400, Z06 starts at $79,400.

Dodge Challenger Shaker

Hellcat. What else needs to be said? The 707-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 has captured imaginations and aroused desire in many an enthusiast. And yes, the Hellcat-fitted Challenger has hood scoops and vent for days. It even forgoes one of its headlights in favor of a cold air intake to feed the ravenous beast. But to focus on the Hellcat would be to overlook the “Shaker” hood fitted to the R/T, R/T Plus, and Scat Pack versions of the Challenger. “Shaker” engine output ranges from 375 horsepower to 485. Transmission choices include an eight-speed automatic and a six-speed manual. Challenger R/T Shaker pricing starts at $35,495

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Dodge Charger

There are three versions of the 2016 Dodge Charger with hood scoops; the R/T Scat Pack, the SRT 392, and of course, the SRT Hellcat. The R/T Scat Pack and SRT 392 share a 6.4-liter V8 good for 485 horsepower and 475 ft-lbs of torque. Rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission complete their drivetrains. The 707-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat enjoys 650 ft-lbs of torque. R/T Scat Pack pricing starts at $39,995, SRT 392 pricing starts at $47,995, and SRT Hellcat pricing starts at $63,995.

Dodge Viper

Perhaps one of the most iconic cars on this list of 2016 cars with hood scoops, the Dodge Viper is a legendary automobile with a well-deserved reputation for extremes. Whether you’re talking about its styling, its handling, its acceleration potential, or the sparseness of its interior, the Dodge Viper constantly assaults the envelope with expansive intent. Offered in four states of trim for the 2016 model year, all share the 645-horsepower 8.4-liter V10 engine with 600 ft-lbs of torque. The rear-wheel drive powertrain uses a six-speed manual transmission. Pricing starts at $84,995.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Time spent studying the design of Ferrari’s top performing coupe is absolutely fascinating. With its entire body an airfoil, the look of the car is purely dictated by aerodynamics. The hood is designed to channel air over its surface and feed it down along the sides of the car to force it to hold the road more firmly at speed. The vent in the hood allows the exit of the very hot air generated by the 731-horsepower 6.3-liter V12, which also makes 508 ft-lbs of torque. A seven-speed automated transmission feeds the F12’s rear wheels. Pricing starts at $319,995.

Ferrari California T Convertible

The twin hood vents in the Ferrari California work in concert with the air intake in its grille to force superheated air to depart after it has been generated by the turbocharged 3.9-liter V8. By the way, this marks the first use of turbocharging by a front-engine roadgoing Ferrari model. The most “affordable” Ferrari model is also the “easiest” to drive. Output is 553 horsepower and 557 ft-lbs of torque, which is fed to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automated manual transmission. Pricing for the folding hardtop convertible Ferrari model starts at $198,973.

Photo by Ferrari

Ford Mustang GT/Shelby GT350

Here’s a tip if you want to quickly identify the most potent versions of the 2016 Ford Mustang. Check the hood. If you see scoops, it’s got the power. However, these rear-facing “scoops” are actually vents. In the case of the Mustang GT, they’re ventilating a 5.0-liter V8 good for 435 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque. The rear-drive Mustang GT is offered with a choice of a six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic transmission. The Shelby GT350 runs a 5.2-liter V8 with a flat-plane crank and a stratospheric 8,200 RPM redline for 526 horsepower and 429 ft-lbs of torque. Mustang GT pricing starts at $32,395; Shelby GT350 pricing starts at $47,795.

Photo by Ford