The few cars you can still buy with bonnet scoops
Once prevalent across the industry, factory bonnet scoops are disappearing fastBonnet scoops were once commonplace in the local and global auto scenes as a signature indication as to the presence of either a turbocharger or a supercharger, and more often than not, some tasty performance to match.
Subaru immediately springs to mind here with models like the WRX, Levorg and classic Forester XTs all fitted with obtuse air intakes to try and feed their intercoolers as much fresh air as possible, while of course looking epic in the process.
The same principal applied to turbo-diesels of the time, albeit for the generation of low-end torque rather than outright performance.
It’s ironic then that as forced induction, more specifically turbocharging, becomes increasingly prevalent across the market, the number of new vehicles fitted with bonnet scoops has dropped off dramatically, with there now being just four models fitted with one from the factory, soon to be three.
As such, here are the few remaining models still offered in Australia with bonnet scoops – and by bonnet scoops, we mean the ones rising up towards the sky, not the inverted set-up like on the Honda Civic Type R, for example.
1. Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX is the spiritual owner of the bonnet scoop and has been since its inception in the 1990s.
Few models have taken a key design feature and made it their signature quite like the WRX adopted the bonnet scoop, something it’s worn as a badge of honour and a proud symbol of its identity for five generations now.
While the WRX’s scoop-game arguably peaked in the model’s second-generation, it’s refreshing to see Subaru persevere with the signature design cue – even if there is no hot STi coming – and mark the ‘Rex apart from its fading hot hatch and sports sedan competition.
2. Mahindra Pik-Up
Definitely one of the older, more humble and perhaps surprising features on this list is the venerable Mahindra Pik-Up, which uses a subtle, centrally-mounted bonnet scoop to feed air into the intercooler of its 103kW/320Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.
In addition to its primary function, the scoop gifts the frumpy but utilitarian pick-up an injection of visual spice to help it live-up to the adventurous workhorse brief Mahindra sells it on.
3. Chevrolet Silverado HD
Operating on a similar basis but much, much, further upmarket is the Chevrolet Silverado HD, the ram air of which feeds a colossal 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8.
Good thing too seeing as the monstrous powerplant burbles out 350kW of power and 1322Nm of torque, that latter enough to see it crowned Australia’s torquiest internal combustion vehicle – third overall only to the electrified Mercedes-AMG GT S E Performance (1400Nm) and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (1340Nm).
4. RAM 1500 TRX
The only reason the RAM TRX is included in this feature is because carsales understands there are still a couple of unsold Final Editions floating about the national dealer network.
Indisputably the performance king of pick-up trucks, the TRX is an outlier in this company since its bonnet scoop feeds a monstrous supercharged – as opposed to turbocharged – V8 petrol engine.
One look at the scoop and it’s abundantly clear it’s there for dramatic effect just as much as its mechanical functionality, adding a completely understandable and appreciable amount of menace into an already aggressive-looking package.
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