Everyone is free to make their own choices and do their own tests. I am just barely old enough to remember the joy when manufacturers abandoned oil element and bath filters in the 60's and have no real interest in going back 50 years. Again, look at the Racing Beat gains with a full, sophisticated CAI system - less than 2 hp avg with 5 or so at an rpm seldom used (9,300). Simply changing the air filter to K&N isn't gonna do squat. It's great that K&N will stand with me in court over warranty-related issues, but standing in court is not my idea of fun in any way what-so-ever.

If you have a K&N with some miles on it, it would be interesting to see the light-box comparison though. It might come out better than the $75 AFE.

 

Racing Beat has contracts with Mazda. I believe it was Racing Beat themselves that engineered the OEM airbox in tandem with Mazda. There would be a conflict of interest if they came out and said that the OEM airbox is restrictive and not good enough. In many many ways their intake is exactly the same as the OEM airbox, for that reason.

What they did change though, is the filter. An oiled K&N filter was used. And I believe that, in combination with the duct (which is the key to this airbox design because it brings up fresh air, unlike the vfad) is where Racing Beat can claim it's gains.

I also have reason to believe their claims of HP are modest.. that's to say that intake design gets you more then advertised.

 

Could be. It certainly does look cool!