EOI: Carbon Fiber CAI

[leighaus]

hey guys, this is just an informal query to see how many people would put down money for a well dressed and shrouded CAI.

I have been speaking with Simon from Viezu who in part runs VARdesign, who we know make quality products. I currently run a VARdesign dump pipe and Viezu tune and love it.

The VARdesign CAI kits are carbon fiber, and I've checked out some of the R&D prototype works (for other vehicles) that has gone on at their Melbourne head distributor.

id love to get something like this on my 1.8T GTI, but a solo production is just not viable. even a very small run may not be sufficient.


Personally, I see a battery re-location required for a decent CAI, and there will be other niggles as well.

Speaking purely out of interest, who here would be keen for a CAI of this caliber. I have no idea on cost, or if it would even go ahead, but it would be in the higher bracket considering the materials used i guess.

Once again, i have no affiliation with Viezu, i just wanted to get an idea of whether its worth floating the idea to the guys.

Cheers.

[Stan]

it looks awesome, but dont know if I could afford it... would consider buying one though

[leighaus]

yea, to be honest, no idea on pricing. being that it would have to be R&D'd a bit, and considering 15 people havent responded straight away, i think its safe to say this will never happen. ah well.

[SLAJ]

Re: EOI: Carbon Fiber CAI

I would be more than interested

[remy]

Would be interested. As for how much would I pay for it? Probably not more than what a Gruppe M intake costs which is around the $700 mark if I remember correctly.

[Stan]

what about one made in abs plastic with carbon film? A lot cheaper to produce, does the same job, and lighter than carbon...
Yes not as glamorous as carbon, but I dont think I'm willing to pay 700 bucks for a CF box and tube

[remy]

I'm guessing performance gains for something like this would be similiar to the BMC filters with a tube to a frontal air intake right? So I probably wouldn't pay too much more than what one of those costs, even though it does look a lot nicer.

[vwthunder]

There are heaps of CAI's available for MK4's, dont know why you would need any more, compared to my polo 9n3, there is nothing

[MK4Golf]

Where does the MAF go?

[leighaus]

would have to be a 3 piece setup I'm guessing mate. As stated, thats a different application, just an idea of how CF CAI's look made by VARdesign.

vwthunder, i want a CAI, not a hot air intake. Most the "cai" are just sucking in engine bay heat. I also dont want a pod running in my front bar. I want a boxed out varient like you see above. Ive only found one other brand like this, but cannot get it sent here and the price is quite expensive.

If there was enough interest to warrant production, then im guessing youd get a superior product for around the same price. Some people are happy to run a pod on a pipe, thats fine and this thread isnt directed at you.

[Stan]

the design of it looks good, and as you point out leighaus - it is taking air directly from outside the car, not from within the engine bay. good idea - just don't know why they cost so much. Where do you want to import from?

[leighaus]

it would be locally sourced, if it were to go ahead.

[SLAJ]

Re: EOI: Carbon Fiber CAI

Let me know if this does go ahead, if not, I would even be interested in doing something like this with ABS plastic and wrapping it in carbon like someone said on here earlier.

[kendog]

interested, but unlikely to purchase in the price range this will end up in.. Do you have a link to the other one you've seen leighaus? Interesting to see how they piped it, what the design is..

[2000MN]

With the amount of CF required to create something like that, the cost would far out weigh any performance gains IMO. Just look at the Gruppe M, Carbonio/VWR intakes as a comparsion..

Relocating the battery or any other part for that matter to fit an intake seems like a redundant exercise to me, unless of course you were building a serious motor.

The CF will still suffer from some level of heat soak, I don't think there would be any further gains to be had as compared to the proven Carbonio CAI for example.

Just my 2c