A hood scoop is an air vent on the hood of an automobile that either allows a flow of air to directly enter the engine compartment, or appears to do so. It may be closed, and thus purely decorative, or serve to enhance performance in several possible ways.

Cool air
One possible use of a hood scoop is to admit outside air into the engine's intake ahead of the air cleaner and carburetor or fuel injection manifold. In most modern automobiles, internal combustion engines "breathe" under-hood air or air ducted from under the front bumper through plastic and rubber tubing.

Ram air
At higher road speeds, a properly designed hood scoop can increase the speed and pressure with which air enters the engine's intake, creating a resonance supercharging effect that can add an additional 10-15 horsepower (7.5 to 12 kW).

Intercooler scoops
Some engines with turbochargers or superchargers are also equipped with top mounted intercoolers to reduce the temperature and increase the density of the high-pressure air produced by the compressor.

HOOD SCOOP