In the world of cars, there's always something to upgrade—whether it's the interior or the exterior. One of the most noticeable ways to showcase an upgrade is by installing a body kit. But did you know that enhancing your car’s exterior isn’t just about making a bold statement? It also improves performance, boosts aerodynamics, and reflects your personal style.

Body kits are a must-have for any car enthusiast looking to make a statement on the road. Whether you're aiming for sleek, subtle designs or bold, aggressive looks, Mars Performance offers the perfect solution. So are ready to elevate your car’s style and performance?

In this article, we’ll explore the world of car body kits, covering their components, benefits, and key considerations for choosing the best kit for your car.

What Is A Body Kit? 

A body kit is a set of modified or additional components installed on a car to enhance its appearance and performance. It typically includes a combination of exterior parts such as:

• Front and rear bumpers
• Side skirts
• Spoilers
• Diffusers
• Widebody fenders
  

These components can dramatically change your car’s appearance which often gives it a wider, more sculpted, or aggressive look that reflects your personal style. Body kits are typically crafted from materials like polyurethane, fiberglass, carbon fibre, or aluminium, each offering different benefits in terms of weight, durability, and flexibility.

Types of Body Kits

1. Widebody Body Kits

A wide body kit includes components that extend the width of your car’s fenders, often featuring flared arches, extended side skirts, and sometimes replacement front and rear bumpers. It’s a popular choice for aesthetic purposes for its aggressive and race-inspired look. Wide body kits also allow for the installation of wider wheels and tyres, improving grip, stance, and handling. However, they can add extra weight and increase rolling resistance, which may negatively affect acceleration and braking performance, especially in everyday driving conditions.

2. Aero Body Kits

An aero kit (short for aerodynamic body kit) focuses on enhancing your vehicle's aerodynamics. It serves the purpose of reducing lift at high speeds and improving the airflow under and around the vehicle. They are common in motorsport or track-focused builds, but are also increasingly used in aggressive street styling. These kits often include: front lips/splitters, side skirts, rear diffusers, and spoilers or wings. 

3. Universal Body Kits

For those seeking versatility, universal car body kits are compatible with a wide range of makes and models. These kits are not designed for any specific vehicle and include generic fitment parts like lips, side skirts, diffusers, and canards. They offer a budget-friendly option for enthusiasts and can be trimmed or modified to fit various cars. However, they require more effort and professional fitting, and fitment is not guaranteed.

Types of Components in a Body Kit

1. Front Splitters: Front splitters enhance a car's aerodynamics by creating downforce and improving airflow over the vehicle, especially at high speeds. Mounted on the lower part of the front bumper, they help divert air away from the car's underside, increasing stability and traction.

2. Side Skirt Splitters: Side skirt splitters install along the lower sides of the car in order to improve airflow along the sides of the car, reducing drag, and enhancing stability. Additionally, rear side splitters, located behind the rear wheels or along the rear bumper, complement side skirts by reducing turbulence and further improving high-speed stability.

   

3. Spoilers: They are designed to increase downforce and improve grip by altering airflow and reducing lift, keeping the car stable and planted at high speeds. They come in various forms, such as front spoilers, lip spoilers, and more aggressive wing spoilers, each contributing to performance by enhancing aerodynamics and overall driving stability. Learn more about their functions and styles in the Mars Performance Car Spoilers Guide.

4. Rear Diffuser: Mostly located beneath the rear bumper, a diffuser manages underbody airflow, reduces drag, and enhances rear downforce making it a must-have for performance-focused builds. As air exits from underneath the car, the diffuser channels it to decrease turbulence and improve high-speed stability.

   

The Mars Performance Style Matt Black Rear Bumper Bar Diffuser for the BMW 6-Series is a rear diffuser that improves aerodynamics. It's made from durable, easy-to-repair polypropylene (PP), ensuring long-term reliability.

5. Bumpers: The bumper is often the most noticeable part of a body kit, widely recognised for its aggressive, bold look, giving the car character and attitude. Body kits typically include both front and rear bumpers, which add visual weight and transform an otherwise ordinary appearance. Beyond its aesthetics, bumpers also serve a functional purpose for safety by absorbing impact during low-speed collisions, helping protect both the vehicle and its passengers.

The MY19 C63-S Style Rear Bumper Bar Diffuser Bodykit for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 (2014–2021) is an example of a custom rear bumper upgrade that adds a sportier, more aggressive look to your vehicle. It is made from high-quality polypropylene (PP), that offers durability, flexibility, and ease of repair, perfectly aligning with luxury car standards and daily performance demands.

Benefits of Body Kits

Adding body kits offers several merits beyond appearance and performance. Here are the top benefits of installing a body kit:

1. Increased Vehicle Value (for Enthusiasts)

A well-installed and tastefully chosen body kit can appeal to performance buyers and increase interest in the market, as potential buyers who appreciate the same sporty look your car has will definitely see the added value from body kit installations.

2. Enhanced Aesthetics

It allows you to customise and enhance the overall aesthetics of your vehicle to your liking, adding a more aggressive, sporty, or refined look, depending on the design. From sharp front lips to bold widebody arches, body kits instantly make your vehicle stand out from stock models.

3. Improved Aerodynamics

Aerodynamic kits made from carbon fibre use lighter materials, increasing the downforce on your car. Performance-focused body kits, such as aero kits, optimize airflow over, under, and around the vehicle. Components like splitters, diffusers, side skirts, and spoilers reduce drag and increase downforce, boosting stability at high speeds.

4. Better Handling & Grip

Widebody kits allow you to install wider wheels and tyres, enhancing your vehicle’s footprint and road contact. This means increased traction and better handling, especially in performance applications like cornering.

5. Long-Term Investment

Modern body kits made from polypropylene (PP), ABS plastic, PU, or carbon fibre provide excellent durability and impact resistance. Mars Performance kits use PP and PU, ensuring long-term reliability without sacrificing fitment. That means you're making an investment that's worth it.

Legal and Roadworthy Considerations

In Australia, body kits must comply with ADR (Australian Design Rules) and must use high-quality materials and fitment for safety and performance—or else, you can say goodbye to your car, as illegal modifications can lead to fines or lack of insurance coverage. 

Mars Performance body kits are ADR-compliant and tailored for the Australian road scene. So wherever you are across Australia, you have to make sure when you customise, you’re following the ADR guidelines set for your state. 

Choose Body Kits for Your Car with Mars Performance

At the end of the day, the best way to decide which body kit your car needs or which material to choose for your custom design is to seek advice from experienced enthusiasts or professionals. And if you prefer to go solo, thorough research is the key.

Being well-informed about the body kit you want is one of the best things you can do as a car enthusiast. It helps you understand the different types and components available, and guides you to the best aftermarket options for your build.

If you're searching for "body kits near me" on Google, worry no more—start exploring our range today at Mars Performance, an Australian-owned leader in aftermarket car parts and accessories. We offer unparalleled quality products and services designed to enhance your vehicle’s everyday performance while delivering the kind of head-turning style you can be proud of.

At Mars Performance, you’ll find a wide range of aftermarket car parts and accessories tailored to fit your specific car model. All our products ship directly from Australia, ensuring fast and reliable delivery to both local and international customers.

Unleash your creativity and give your car the personalised touch it deserves with a high-quality body kit from Mars Performance.