aFiberglass and urethane components have long been the standard for altering the appearance of your factory hood. More and more Mazda RX8 enthusiasts are equipping the exterior and interior of their rides with carbon fiber components.  And the hood seems to be one of the first and most common mods.  Simply for the fact that carbon fiber is a very strong and resilient material, but more importantly because of the amount of weight you reduce on your ride when you switch to a carbon fiber hood.  Swapping an OEM steel hood with any carbon fiber hood can save up to 25 pounds, which adds yet another benefit of carbon fiber; better fuel efficiency.  Another great thing about carbon fiber is that no sanding, prepping or painting is required. This is a huge cash savings considering how much quality paint work will set you back. Most carbon fiber parts are ready to install right out of the box and many can be artificially colored to match your car.  

One would assume something that's lightweight lacks strength and durability but thats not the case with carbon fiber.  Its strength is in the construction. It's manufactured using the same technology and design as modern bullet-proof vests. The fibers are tightly woven together in a multi-layer crisscross pattern and then a high-strength resin is used between the layers to hold it all together.  Its not an indestructible material by any means but is generally tougher than your standard fiberglass or comparable lightweight material.  All in all bolting on a carbon fiber hood will do wonders for your vehicles appearance.  Plus, the CF hood advantages such as weight savings, strength, and longevity make it highly sought after among serious Mazda enthusiasts. Not to mention the hood looks great.

Carbon Fiber Hood Key Points:

• Significantly reduces your RX8 weight
• Allows for better fuel efficiency
• CF hood are generally quick and easy to install right out of the box
• Strong and resillient material, virtually lasts a lifetime