WRX Intake Systems

The stock Subaru WRX's intake system has serious room for improvement. In this section, I will go over several possible upgrades that can be done on your own with limited mechanical ability, and a few that may require a trip to the local speed shop. Either way, these upgrades are a great way to increase the breathability of your WRX and ultimately increase power.

It should first be pointed out that the deeper you get in your modifications on any vehicle, the more likely that it may be required to upgrade the ECU or "brain" of your engine. A few minor bolt-ons such as a cold air ram intake system or a cat back exhaust upgrade may not produce enough extra power to warrant a ECU check-up but when you start playing with new turbos, intercoolers, boost controllers and such, in order to unlock the real power of these upgrades, a ECU upgrade is in order. With that said, let the intake upgrades begin!

Air Filter

The most basic of intake upgrades for the WRX would be to simply install a new aftermarket air filter. An aftermarket filter will allow the most air possible to flow through the stock intake system. A great aftermarket air filter is the K&N version. It comes with a Million-Mile Limited Warranty™ and is completely washable and reusable. In other words, it is the last filter you will ever need to buy. The guys at AutoPartsGIANT.com have some of the best prices online and they even offer Free Shipping on all orders over $50.00!

Cold Air Intake

If you're looking for more horsepower increase than a simple air filter upgrade, the next logical step would be to install a cold air intake system. By installing a cold air intake system on your WRX, you are modifying the intake system to allow more air to be inhaled by the engine. You are also benefiting by the fact that the air that is flowing into the engine is generally cooler and therefore more dense than the air that was being produced by the stock intake system. By increasing the density of the intake air, there is more room for fuel and air in the cylinder and can result in a more powerful engine stroke and therefore, more power.

An excellent air intake system that I have installed on my personal car is the AEM Ram Air intake System. This item alone can increase your power output on a 2002 WRX by as much as 39 horsepower! That is a serious bump in power for only one modification! The best place I have found to purchase the AEM Intake System for the WRX is The Tire Rack . They have an incredible website with the ability to remember your vehicle for quick future shopping.