With the stance movement in full swing, it seems a lot of car enthusiasts have stopped buying body kits and have instead opted to buy a coilover kit to follow the pack. A few years ago, body kits were big business, but the influx of cheap (read substandard) and ugly kits turned many wearers away. But use them wisely and with the right stance and wheels, body kits have a place in today’s automotive world. We’re not talking here, however, about kits that make a Civic emulate a Ferrari Testarossa. Those days are gone, at least we fervently hope so. Nowadays, putting on a tasteful body kit can give your car a unique look that pleases the eye instead of giving it a more elegant look.
To get an idea of what we’re talking about, take a look at performance base car models from the likes of BMW and Mercedes. BMW M models replace the bumper/air spoiler with slightly deeper lips, add side skirts and a slightly higher lip. It’s also common today to see rear diffusers paired with quad tailpipes. As for Mercedes, its AMG models have a more aggressive look, with open air intakes up front and, in the case of the Black Series cars, actual wings instead of mere spoilers. These latest Mercedes also get wider fenders with rear vents to prevent pressure buildup in the wheel arch that can increase drag. Along with these body improvements are suspension enhancements that, while significantly improving handling performance, still make room for coil-over suspensions that allow the savvy owner to fine-tune the way the car handles.
So who’s to say that body kits are happening? Some automotive forums we’ve visited have a lot of stubborn people saying that putting a body kit on your car is so 2000. That the look to emulate today is to drop the car to the point where it can’t leave a path. Sloped driveway without a plank to hand. We say there is room for everyone. This is what makes the automotive scene so interesting, where daring souls who dare to defy convention try new ideas. In the end, a car is an extension of the owner’s tastes and philosophy, so what may be ugly to some people is uniquely bespoke to others.
