Intakes are one of the most basic modifications you can do. They take less than an hour to install and improve throttle response, fuel economy and bump up power anywhere from a couple ponies to 15+hp depending on your car/current mods. Not to mention, they’re also light on the checkbook (for the most part). To accommodate your decision making process, we’ve put together a showcase of intakes from some of the hottest companies around.
Win an AEM intake!
What’s an intake guide without doing something to give back to our readers? We’ve teamed up with AEM to give away a brand new intake kit to one lucky reader. To win, all you have to do is send a photo of your project car along with a brief description of why you want an AEM intake to superstreet247@gmail.com.
| Air Intake Buyers Guide - Air Max
Who: M7 Japan
Application: Subaru WRX/STI
MSRP: Inquire
Where: m7worldshop.com
The beautiful Keiko is helping us showcase M7’s sweet carbon induction kit. It’s a mix of both performance and style by channeling cooler air from the atmosphere and blocking engine heat via a carbon-fiber cover (not pictured). It’s a piece you’d be proud to show off to your friends.
Who: AEM
Application: ’12-13 Honda Civic Si, ’13 Acura ILX
MSRP: Starts at $325
Where: aemintakes.com
Designed for the latest 2.4-liter K-Series motor, this beauty has been engineered and optimized for max performance. Think we’re joking? AEM has dyno-tested this baby to make up to 8hp and 8 lb-ft with the most noticeable increase in mid-range torque. It’s a true cold-air system and can be ordered in either gunmetal or polished.
| AEM Veloster Intake
Who: AEM
Application: Hyundai Veloster Turbo
MSRP: $250
Where: aemintakes.com
This two-piece intake includes a 2.75” aluminum tube along with AEM’s Dry Flow filter. The system relocates the intake down by the Veloster’s front bumper for much cooler air temps. AEM tells us this will help the Veloster turbo gain up to 16hp and 14 lb-ft of torque over stock—pretty damn good gains if you ask us!
| AEM FRS BRZ Intake
Who: AEM
Application: Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ
MSRP: $369
Where: aemintakes.com
Engineered to improve upon the factory Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ airbox, this intake from AEM features an updated box that’ll house its Dry Flow cone filter. It also uses a larger diameter intake tube for more air flow. This kit has been dyno-tested to make about 10hp over stock. These guys know what they’re doing!
| AFE Power Intake Filter
Who: aFe Power
Application: ’06-11 Honda Civic
MSRP: $49.95
Where: afepower.com
This replacement filter has been tested to improve throttle response and gas mileage all while keeping the stock intake box. For the economical 1.8-liter Civics that it fits, it’s an effective and affordable option that’ll still leave you enough money for lunch.
| DC Sports Accord Intake
Who: DC Sports
Application: ’08-11 Honda Accord
MSRP: $289.35
Where: dcsports.com
The bolt-on kings from DC Sports basically have an intake available for whatever car you drive. Here is one of their latest intakes for the eighth-gen four-cylinder Accord. These intakes are manufactured to improve airflow and are legal in 50 states. That’s hard to beat!
| DC Sports Forte Intake
Who: DC Sports
Application: ‘09-12 Kia Forte Koup
MSRP: $289.35
Where: dcsports.com
Thought we were joking when we said DC Sports had everything covered? We’re not! Here’s their intake kit for the Kia Forte, which is also 50-state legal and a high quality bolt-on product for a great value.
| Air Intake Buyers Guide - Air Max
Who: HKS
Application: Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ
MSRP: $725
Where: motovicity.com
Your favorite Japanese tuner now has an intake kit available for that FA20. It’s been designed and tested by HKS Japan’s engineers to increase throttle response throughout the powerband. It also looks damn sexy under the hood, but it’ll cost you a pretty penny.
| Hybrid Racing K Series Intake
Who: Hybrid Racing
Application: Honda K-Series Swap
MSRP: $160
Where: hybrid-racing.com
Designed specifically for a K-swapped Civic (EF, CRX, EG, EK), del Sol and Integra, this intake is a fine piece of work. It works with almost every type of intake manifold and OEM/big bore throttle bodies. It’s a true 3” intake and the tube is made of glass-reinforced silicone that helps insulate the air and keep it cool.
| Air Intake Buyers Guide - Air Max
Who: J’s Racing
Application: Honda S2000
Price: $1163.75
Contact: gotuning.com
The J’s Racing Tuschinoko intake is the best of both worlds—looks and performance. Fitting both AP1 and AP2 S2000s, this completely carbon-fiber intake is an amazing show piece and redirects air from the front bumper for cooler air. But it comes at a price only ballers can afford.
| Air Intake Buyers Guide - Air Max
Who: M7 Japan
Application: Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, Nissan GT-R, Nissan 350Z, various Toyota/Lexus
MSRP: Starts at $50
Where: m7worldshop.com
M7’s Super Street air filter is a solid drop-in replacement if you’re not looking to do a whole intake system. It consists of a high tech fiber filtration system that won’t restrict airflow like other cheap filters out there.
| Spoon Air Filter
Who: Spoon
Application: Most Hondas
MSRP: $90
Where: gotuning.com
Made for most Honda applications, this air filter is a newer version of Spoon’s drop-in filter that features a multilayer urethane material to improve filter efficiency and allows for more air to get drawn in. It’s also yellow and we love anything yellow.
| Takeda USA Accord Intake
Who: Takeda USA
Application: ’13 Honda Accord 2.4-liter
MSRP: $240.45
Where: afepower.com
Takeda’s PRO DRY S filter doesn’t require much maintenance and performs like a champ. For the Honda Accord kit here, it comes with a high quality heat shield to protect the intake against engine temps. Their team has dyno-tested this Accord intake to make up to 9hp and 9 lb-ft of torque over stock.
| Takeda USA Intake
Who: Takeda USA
Application: ’12-13 Honda Civic 1.8-liter
MSRP: $240.45
Where: afepower.com
Netting 6hp and 7 lb-ft of torque, this intake for the Civic 1.8-liter outflowed the factory intake by 17%. Its sealed design is optimal for the car—aFe even tested out a true cold-air in the bumper and it didn’t see better results. The intake includes a one-piece tube that snaps into the factory airbox for a quick install while the lower part retains the factory air scoop.
| Air Intake Buyers Guide - Air Max
Who: Weapon-R
Application: Scion FR-S
MSRP: $460
Where: weapon-r.com
This new system from Weapon-R uses a polyurethane foam cone filter that’s been CAD-designed and flow-benched to improve air flow and air speed over stock. For bragging rights, the entire intake tube features a wicked titanium finish that no one can miss!