TRD airbox from the Long Beach celeb race cars

[ahausheer]

Originally Posted by swift996

Interesting they stuck with an accordion style inlet. Does anyone know the airflow benefits of that design? I'd assume it might be better for low end but it seems like it would create some unnecessary turbulence at higher revs.

Might just make it easier to replace the filter.

[zooki]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

lol....right....

I don't understand why everyone thinks those filters on a stick are any good... No air straighteners... over-sized piping... poor filtration... and "gains" that are not even outside of standard deviation. $20 of material sold for $300.

Umm, "because racecar"? Sorry, couldn't resist...LOL

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by WolfSongX

Actually the exhaust was probably the worst example you could've used. TRD, STi or Nismo or what have you are just louder exhausts that sound sportier. I have yet to see these produce any more than a few token HP at the most. They are marketed to fanboy types that will realize that they could've spent half as much and gotten so much more.

This, on the other hand, could actually be the real deal... it's not flashy enough for a fan boy even though it has those magical three letters on it. What it does offer is a relatively straight shot into the throttle body and a good setup for a velocity stack post-filter to naturally compress that air a little more on the way in. Without seeing all the pieces of the puzzle, we're just speculating on what this is that the other intakes aren't.

But the one thing we do know is that this is on a FACTORY PREPARED RACING CAR so it is there for a reason. This tells us that there IS an improvement to be made to the factory air box or else why would they have replaced it? I've been around motorsports of one kind or another for over 40 years and the golden rule of buiding a real race car is "You don't waste time/money on anything unless there's a benefit."

It won't be cheap... but it won't be without merit either...

Good in theory but the "FACTORY PREPPED RACING CAR" have the TRD exhaust. These cars are more mobile billboards than proper race cars. All the TRD parts are on there to advertise them, not to make the car more race worthy.

Having said that i still think the intake is likely better than stock. I just disagree with your reasoning.

[wootwoot]

I'll agree that the TRD exhaust is overpriced, but I'll bet it gives the same performance gains as most other cat back systems.... negligible at best.

[WolfSongX]

Originally Posted by Turdinator

Good in theory but the "FACTORY PREPPED RACING CAR" have the TRD exhaust. These cars are more mobile billboards than proper race cars. All the TRD parts are on there to advertise them, not to make the car more race worthy.

Having said that i still think the intake is likely better than stock. I just disagree with your reasoning.

Actually these cars are race cars and are built to comply to all rules and regulations laid down by a sanctioning body. They would not be able to race at speed on a closed course without that, especially where amature drivers are involved. You seriously demean the effort that go into prepping these cars by calling them "rolling billboards".

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by WolfSongX

Actually these cars are race cars and are built to comply to all rules and regulations laid down by a sanctioning body. They would not be able to race at speed on a closed course without that, especially where amature drivers are involved. You seriously demean the effort that go into prepping these cars by calling them "rolling billboards".

I don't mean to belittle the effort that was put into developing them, they look like safe, fun race cars. I just think the majority of effort would have gone into the safety aspects such as roll cages, brakes, extinguisher systems etc. not the performance side. Scion/TRD are in the business of making money and i am sure in areas that didn't effect safety marketing people had an input on the car.

[WolfSongX]

Originally Posted by Turdinator

I don't mean to belittle the effort that was put into developing them, they look like safe, fun race cars. I just think the majority of effort would have gone into the safety aspects such as roll cages, brakes, extinguisher systems etc. not the performance side. Scion/TRD are in the business of making money and i am sure in areas that didn't effect safety marketing people had an input on the car.

The marketing people are making their due on the other end of things, like sponsorship and livery and what famous butt will wind sitting up in that safe, fun race cars. I personally wouldn't mind a closer look at those cars to see what else they've done with them.

You are right in that a majority of the prep is concerned with saftey. The cars will retain some stock systems like PS and climate control, but will be gutted on the interior to save weight. Keep in mind that these cars are a promotional expense which Toyota can use to offset taxes and other expenses so they won't be penny pinching on them, butif you have an in-house part that does the trick it makes sense to use it.

The TRD exhaust is probably mostly there for the extra noise, so that they know when to shift. Or it might be a few pounds lighter. From what I've seen of the exhaust, flow-wise there isn't a lot of improvement to be had. There's also no reason to think that the TRD exhaust they are using is the exact same part that has been sanitized by the legal department for sale in this market. But I'm pretty sure that there is a reason, however small it may be, for it being there past a marketing plan.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

watch as it comes standard on the 2014 models

This is the kind of stuff that makes me second guess my recent purchase. Didn't some article state that it will make more power and be over a 100lbs lighter then the current car?

So when does the '14 model get released anyway?

[boead]

Originally Posted by solidONE

This is the kind of stuff that makes me second guess my recent purchase. Didn't some article state that it will make more power and be over a 100lbs lighter then the current car?

So when does the '14 model get released anyway?

Don't jump so fast! That's always the case and everything comes with a price!!
Its fairly obvious that the marketing on this car has a long plan already in place.
LOW intro price, too low really - so says everyone. Ultra positive reviews, world wide recognition and awards and all in a first year production model!! Unheard of mostly.

The reality is that this car was hard to produce with all the options and finishing for under $30 sell price. Its base price is low and so is its finishing.
Look, Scion hasn't even released a limited or premium version like Subaru has, yet! The BRZ packages were closer to $30k and still stark!

In a year or two a $24,200 MT FRS is gonna be impossible to get and likely to become a world famous "base" car than few order. The models (upgraded finishing from the first year) dealers are gonna sell are going to be just under and just over $30k and with a "turbo" version closer to $35k, maybe even $40k with bumper to bumper upgrades.

Everything has its price!

People say its a nice cheap car but its NOT a cheap car. Pound for pound most competition gives you more.
Toyotas biggest fear with this car was another super-car failure; an overpriced car that wont exceed R&D fast enough. This car HAD to be profitable and flexable and it IS!
Start low and let people spend as much as they want; let them draw the line.

[solidONE]

Well, I'm sure some minor changes in the components, made with materials similar or identical to what it's already equipped with, is not going to cost much more to manufacture. I doubt this TRD intake cost much more to produce than the current stock unit for instance. A different tune on the ECU will probably cost them next to nothing. Lighter more free flowing exhaust, etc.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by solidONE

This is the kind of stuff that makes me second guess my recent purchase. Didn't some article state that it will make more power and be over a 100lbs lighter then the current car?

So when does the '14 model get released anyway?

I'm betting next MY cars aren't very different, but the official order date for the BRZ is in July. Deliveries by October for MY14 cars.

[boead]

Originally Posted by solidONE

Well, I'm sure some minor changes in the components, made with materials similar or identical to what it's already equipped with, is not going to cost much more to manufacture. I doubt this TRD intake cost much more to produce than the current stock unit for instance. A different tune on the ECU will probably cost them next to nothing. Lighter more free flowing exhaust, etc.

Of course it is! They are already tooled up for making tens of thousands of cars as you see them! Some minor changes for the sake of model year and the use of existing trim and parts for package models. Toyota a Subaru ALLREADY have stuff now being used in the US, all tooled and ready to use. Their strategy is easy to see and typical.

Don't expect much more and it will ALL come with a price. That TRD box is gonna cost $500 one way or another - don't EVER expect to get it inclusive - LOL!!

But what do I know :-/

[Bonburner]

I'm excited for this guy because there's no bend and maximized filter surface area

[GregV]

Originally Posted by swift996

Interesting they stuck with an accordion style inlet. Does anyone know the airflow benefits of that design? I'd assume it might be better for low end but it seems like it would create some unnecessary turbulence at higher revs.

I think it is done for rigidity to prevent the hose from collapsing from vacuum pressure.