When you first think about modifying your car, what comes to mind first? Perhaps it’s a set of coilovers, some more aggressive wheels or a stainless steel exhaust system. But for many people, the first mod on their to-do list is an induction kit.

Simple to install and much more affordable than the other mods listed above, induction kits remain one of the most popular car modifications out there. But why is this? Do they really represent great value for money, and do they really deliver a performance benefit? We’re going to uncover the truth right here.

What is an induction kit?

First up, what actually is an induction kit? Otherwise referred to as an aftermarket air intake (or simply an intake), an induction kit is intended to replace your car’s factory-fit air filter and ducting.

Most cars leave the factory with a panel air filter, which is tucked away neatly inside a plastic compartment (known as the airbox). Cold air enters this box from the front of the car, before being filtered of any dirt and contaminants by the panel filter and entering the engine.

Induction kits do away with this entire assembly, replacing it with a larger metal or silicone pipe and a prominent cone filter. You’ll certainly notice the difference when you open the bonnet.

What does an induction kit do?

Although a standard airbox and panel filter setup is great at keeping contaminants out of the intake, it’s not ideal from a performance standpoint. The reason for this is simple: due to the small size of the airbox and the intake pipe feeding it, it’s harder for the engine to draw air in. An induction kit remedies this issue. The much larger air filter is able to draw far more air into the engine, removing the bottleneck created by the factory setup. 

Fitting a larger air filter and removing the sealed plastic airbox also alters the sound of your engine a little. With an induction kit installed, you’ll notice a more prominent induction sound on acceleration - and more turbo noise if your car has one fitted. For OEMs looking to prioritise refinement and keep the cabin quiet, this is a bad thing - but for petrol heads, it’s quite the opposite. 

So, induction kits allow your engine to breathe more freely and could help make it sound more exciting too. But what impact do they really have on performance?

Does an induction kit increase bhp?

There’s no straightforward answer to this question, because it depends so much on the car you drive and the other supporting mods you install. By supporting mods, we mean things like a free-flowing exhaust, an uprated fuel pump or an ECU remap. 

On some cars - particularly naturally aspirated models - the standard intake setup isn’t much of a bottleneck at all. That means you won’t notice much of a difference in performance after you fit an induction kit.

But in the case of turbocharged vehicles, a quality induction kit can make a real difference. Depending on the car in question, you could expect roughly 10 extra horsepower just from fitting the induction kit. If you then fit a few supporting mods and get the ECU remapped (and the boost increased), gains of 30-50 horsepower aren’t out of the question.

Are induction kits bad for your engine?

As an added bonus, quality induction kits are every bit as good at filtering out contaminants from the air, keeping your engine safe and sound. If you’re worried about an induction kit negatively impacting your car’s reliability, don’t be. Provided you choose a kit from a reputable brand, your engine will be every bit as happy as it was before.

So, are induction kits worth it?

Ultimately, there’s a reason why racing cars and track specials don’t have plastic airboxes and panel filters. A larger, more free-flowing intake will help any engine breathe more easily and produce more power, provided it’s breathing in cold air and not hot air from the exhaust manifold. 

This is why choosing a quality induction kit is important: it’s not just the size of the filter and pipework that matters, but the placement of the filter itself. Poor-quality kits often come with short pipework that runs too close to the exhaust system, resulting in power losses rather than gains.

So yes, as long as you choose a quality induction kit, you’ll be onto a winner - particularly if you drive a turbocharged car and plan on adding a few more engine mods in future.

Finding the right kit for your car

Ready to start shopping for an induction kit for your car? You’ll find plenty of options to suit your vehicle here at LK Performance.

As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of performance parts, we stock a vast range of quality induction kits from top brands like Pipercross. Offering the very best in filtration and flow, our range of induction kits can help release the full potential of your engine, delivering performance improvements and a more exciting soundtrack to go with them.

Explore the complete range online today, or get in touch with our team of experts for advice.