Body Kits Explained: Lips, Skirts, Diffusers, Wings and Widebody
Every body kit part explained: front lips, splitters, canards, side skirts, diffusers, spoilers, wings and widebody flares, plus materials and fitment tips.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
"Body kit" can mean anything from a small lip to a complete widebody conversion. Here's a parts-by-parts guide so you know what you're looking at, and what you want.
Front
- Front lip: a thin extension under the bumper. The easiest, most popular aero mod.
- Splitter: a flatter, more pronounced lip, often with supports; motorsport style.
- Canards (dive planes): small fins on the bumper corners.
- Replacement bumper: a whole new front bumper with different intakes.
- Vented hood: hood with heat extraction vents.
Sides
- Side skirts: extensions under the doors that visually lower the car and connect front and rear aero.
- Fender vents: cosmetic or functional vents behind the front wheels.
Rear
- Diffuser: fins under the rear bumper; often paired with exhaust upgrades. See exhaust upgrade guide.
- Spoiler: lip or ducktail on the trunk; see spoiler vs wing.
- Wing: raised airfoil on stands; more aggressive.
- Roof spoiler: on hatchbacks.
Widebody
Fender flares, bolt-on or molded, that allow much wider wheels. The biggest visual change, and often requires cutting the original fenders. See widebody cars and widebody kit cost.
Materials
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane (PU) | Flexible, durable, survives scrapes | Heavier |
| ABS plastic | Affordable, decent fit | Can crack in impacts |
| Fiberglass (FRP) | Cheap, easy to repair | Often needs fitting work |
| Carbon fiber | Light, looks great | Expensive; UV care needed |
Fitment tips
- Buy from brands with good fitment reviews and photos on cars like yours.
- Test-fit before painting.
- Consider ride height, since deep lips and low cars meet curbs.
- Keep your original parts for resale; see mods and resale.
Preview kits on your car
CarForge's Add Accessories includes body kits and spoiler wings, and styles like time attack, widebody and drift missile apply complete aero packages to a photo of your car. See body kit visualizer.
Frequently asked questions
What parts are in a body kit?
Typically a front lip or bumper, side skirts and a rear diffuser or bumper, sometimes with a spoiler and fender flares.
What is the best body kit material?
Polyurethane is most durable for street cars; carbon fiber is lightest and most premium; fiberglass is cheapest but needs fitting work.
Does a front lip improve performance?
Functional splitters can reduce front lift at high speed; most street lips are mainly cosmetic.
Do body kits need painting?
Unless they're carbon or pre-painted, yes. Paint-matching adds to the cost.
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