Bottom breather
Front-engine automobile
A bottom breather is a front-engine automobile that takes in air from below the front fascia (nose) rather than through a conventional grille at the front of the vehicle. This styling can provide a more aerodynamic front end, or the appearance of better aerodynamics, or the look of a rear-engined sports car such as the Porsche 911. A potential disadvantage of having a lower air intake is the greater chance of items being sucked into the engine such as water or debris.