Carbon fibre... who doesn't love them. Enthusiasts love them for its
lightweight yet strong material for the automotive industry but for most, for its
hipnotic weave and looks. Its aesthetic attributes is something car freaks would
die for to be reckon with. Racecraft International, or more widely known as
Racecraft Carbon Products had recently officially hopped aboard
Zerotohundred.com as a supporting merchant. The relationship is not new.
Racecraft International has been with Zerotohundred.com since last year as an
exhibitor partner during the Asian Motorsports Festival
Racecraft exhibited their line of exotic, Japan-imported carbon products
from their fine, pure carbon fibre bonnets, bucket seats to strut braces. Its
carbon material and construction line up stretches far beyond coloured carbon
fibre materials, silver carbon fibre, carbon kevlars to even extensive dry
carbon construction products!. Whether hand-made or machine manufactured, both
Racecraft's construction quality, and finishes are world-class.
That's it for Racecraft's introduction. Moving on to induction. Right. it
seems that the induction system or known as the intake system is one of the
primary focus for engine performance. Intake system also provide one of the most noticeable
differences one can feel in terms of performance, looks, and of course
self-satisfaction and not forgetting the most affordable. So, again, choices. It
comes in many shapes and sizes from, drop in panels, pods, sponge, paper, metal
mesh, you name it. Unless you want to keep it subtle and the
"looks-like-you-didn't-do-anything-to-it" look, the pod-type is for you.
Pod-type. You love the sound it makes and the performance it extracts. But you
hate it when it take it all back from you. -during traffic jams in the hot
afternoon sun. What do you do? create a heatshield! or even a cold air intake
with hoses and all. Practical? yes. -But you're missing out. Most probably in
terms of efficiency, looks, wow factor, praises, and probably, even price.
Currently retailing at RM350 in Links Power and some good outlets in Sunway,
Introducing the Racecraft Carbon Fibre Intake System. It's a steal. Don't
agree?. Now, it comes with the full works. The high-quality carbon fibre barrel,
the filter element (essentially a pod), mounting frames, hose clips, and, get
ready,... *drums* the aluminium foldable, stretchable hose enough to channel the
outside air from your bumper to your passenger seat. Now, That's value for
money!
[break]
Getting interesting? It's universal as well but to a certain extend. you also
need some space for this. Okay, let's head on to the important details.
Performance. As we all know, the cooler the air, the denser it is, the denser it
is, the better it is, the better it is, the wider your smile gets. Heat is the
enemy. The engine is full of it. The only way is to keep your factory air box.
or build a proper, proper cold air intake.
No?. You like the thing in the picture above? alright. What the Racecraft
Carbon Fibre Intake is, is a proper, proper cold air intake system in a barrel.
Pipe the hose that channels the cold/cool air from the outside into the opening
of the barrel and through the barrel, pipe the outlet into your intake section.
After some simple calculation, what we have here is dummy-proof.
Performance Figures?
Links Power Sunway. What's Links Power? They are one of the most established
professional performance garages around. Mr. Kee of Links Power was happy to
borrow Zerotohundred.com their dyno (dynamometer) facility for this test. Yes,
Links Power also carries Racecraft Carbon Products (find their contact at the
bottom of this review). They specialize in most performance cars and offers
professional, no-nonsense tuning expertise and facilities
For this review, my car was used (again). It's a 1989 BMW E30 325i running on
a single cam 12 valve 6 cylinder with minimal goodies. Links' technical team
strapped the BMW to the dyno. Notice the clean enviroment and 4-wheel drive
Hyper Power Dynamometer facility, well managed safety harness, lots of
monitoring gadgets from monitors, "in-flight" displays, "in-flight" remote
keyboard to tuning gadgets ensure a professional, quality and worry-free service.
[break]
Test Begins:
Before Processs:
-Generic sponge filter pod with no heat shielding from the engine heat
-Air conditioning turned on
-Temperature sensor place near air filter pod
-Dyno was done with the bonnet closed..
Engine was left to run at idle to spin the rear wheels in 1st gear for
5minutes:
Engine compartment temperature near the intake area in length of 5 minutes
was:
53 ~ 58 degrees Celsius with the auxiliary fan on simulating driving/moving
70 ~ 75 degrees Celsius without auxiliary fan on simulating traffic jam/idle
Result:
137.0 RWHP (*Rear Wheel Horsepower)
202nm torque
After Process:
-Racecraft Carbon Fibre Intake fitted
-Aluminium hose channeled from grill area into intake opening
-Air Con turned on
-Temperature sensor fitted into intake
-Dyno was done with the bonnet closed..
Engine was left to run at idle to spin the rear wheels in 1st gear for
5minutes:
Engine compartment temperature in the intake area in length of 5 minutes was:
32 ~ 33 degrees Celsius with the auxiliary fan on simulating driving/moving
33 ~ 35 degrees Celsius without auxiliary fan on simulating traffic jam/idle
[break]
Result:
145.4 RWHP (*Rear Wheel Horsepower)
204 nm torque
Verdict:
1) Performance Figures:
Seriously, the gains achieved seems almost unbelievable. There will be doubts
and suspicions I'll leave it to the dyno chart for you to decide. There are of
course, crucial factors to consider, in terms of the enclosed engine bay
enviroment which produced huge amounts of heat and especially when tested right
after heat generated under such condition. Again the results are as above.
2.1) Feel: Scenario 1: Low Speed cruising to full throttle
I noticed a difference in increased acceleration especially during
accelerating while cruising at low speeds which most probably, is due to the
pressure collected in cool, dense air buffer contained in the intake barrel.
2.2) Feel: Scenario 2: Full-throttle to partially closed throttle to
Full-throttle
Significant difference was also felt during re-accelerating from partially
closed throttle back to full-throttle which, due to the similar fact of the air
buffer collected.
3) Sound:
Sound wise, for loud induction freaks, sorry to disappoint, but induction
note has been significantly muted. Compared to other open-type pod filters, like
my sponge filter pod before, you would notice a decrease in induction note
though deep-throat noises still does linger in the barrel. It is actually due to
the fact that the sound absorbent fibrous nature of carbon fibre barrel
construction as opposed to the nature of plastic cylinders which amplifies
sound.
Pros:
-Practical choice for performance upgrade
-Value for money
Cons:
-Might not fit smaller cars
-Induction sound sacrificed
Summary:
Overall, I love the product. I love it for the wow-factor, the price, the
performance gains achieved, the fact that I now have a carbon fibre product in
my car and most importantly, there's nothing i don't like about this product. So
that's my summary.
Thanks to:
Racecraft Carbon Products:
RaceCraft International
Jalan Sarjana, Taman Connaught,
Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-91300391 Fax: +603-91300392 Email:
[email protected]
Links Power:
Links Dyno Tune
No. 30, Jalan PJS 11/3, Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 5636 9901 Fax: +603 5636 7701 Email: [email protected]
lightweight yet strong material for the automotive industry but for most, for its
hipnotic weave and looks. Its aesthetic attributes is something car freaks would
die for to be reckon with. Racecraft International, or more widely known as
Racecraft Carbon Products had recently officially hopped aboard
Zerotohundred.com as a supporting merchant. The relationship is not new.
Racecraft International has been with Zerotohundred.com since last year as an
exhibitor partner during the Asian Motorsports Festival
Racecraft exhibited their line of exotic, Japan-imported carbon products
from their fine, pure carbon fibre bonnets, bucket seats to strut braces. Its
carbon material and construction line up stretches far beyond coloured carbon
fibre materials, silver carbon fibre, carbon kevlars to even extensive dry
carbon construction products!. Whether hand-made or machine manufactured, both
Racecraft's construction quality, and finishes are world-class.
That's it for Racecraft's introduction. Moving on to induction. Right. it
seems that the induction system or known as the intake system is one of the
primary focus for engine performance. Intake system also provide one of the most noticeable
differences one can feel in terms of performance, looks, and of course
self-satisfaction and not forgetting the most affordable. So, again, choices. It
comes in many shapes and sizes from, drop in panels, pods, sponge, paper, metal
mesh, you name it. Unless you want to keep it subtle and the
"looks-like-you-didn't-do-anything-to-it" look, the pod-type is for you.
Pod-type. You love the sound it makes and the performance it extracts. But you
hate it when it take it all back from you. -during traffic jams in the hot
afternoon sun. What do you do? create a heatshield! or even a cold air intake
with hoses and all. Practical? yes. -But you're missing out. Most probably in
terms of efficiency, looks, wow factor, praises, and probably, even price.
Currently retailing at RM350 in Links Power and some good outlets in Sunway,
Introducing the Racecraft Carbon Fibre Intake System. It's a steal. Don't
agree?. Now, it comes with the full works. The high-quality carbon fibre barrel,
the filter element (essentially a pod), mounting frames, hose clips, and, get
ready,... *drums* the aluminium foldable, stretchable hose enough to channel the
outside air from your bumper to your passenger seat. Now, That's value for
money!
[break]
Getting interesting? It's universal as well but to a certain extend. you also
need some space for this. Okay, let's head on to the important details.
Performance. As we all know, the cooler the air, the denser it is, the denser it
is, the better it is, the better it is, the wider your smile gets. Heat is the
enemy. The engine is full of it. The only way is to keep your factory air box.
or build a proper, proper cold air intake.
No?. You like the thing in the picture above? alright. What the Racecraft
Carbon Fibre Intake is, is a proper, proper cold air intake system in a barrel.
Pipe the hose that channels the cold/cool air from the outside into the opening
of the barrel and through the barrel, pipe the outlet into your intake section.
After some simple calculation, what we have here is dummy-proof.
Performance Figures?
Links Power Sunway. What's Links Power? They are one of the most established
professional performance garages around. Mr. Kee of Links Power was happy to
borrow Zerotohundred.com their dyno (dynamometer) facility for this test. Yes,
Links Power also carries Racecraft Carbon Products (find their contact at the
bottom of this review). They specialize in most performance cars and offers
professional, no-nonsense tuning expertise and facilities
For this review, my car was used (again). It's a 1989 BMW E30 325i running on
a single cam 12 valve 6 cylinder with minimal goodies. Links' technical team
strapped the BMW to the dyno. Notice the clean enviroment and 4-wheel drive
Hyper Power Dynamometer facility, well managed safety harness, lots of
monitoring gadgets from monitors, "in-flight" displays, "in-flight" remote
keyboard to tuning gadgets ensure a professional, quality and worry-free service.
[break]
Test Begins:
Before Processs:
-Generic sponge filter pod with no heat shielding from the engine heat
-Air conditioning turned on
-Temperature sensor place near air filter pod
-Dyno was done with the bonnet closed..
Engine was left to run at idle to spin the rear wheels in 1st gear for
5minutes:
Engine compartment temperature near the intake area in length of 5 minutes
was:
53 ~ 58 degrees Celsius with the auxiliary fan on simulating driving/moving
70 ~ 75 degrees Celsius without auxiliary fan on simulating traffic jam/idle
Result:
137.0 RWHP (*Rear Wheel Horsepower)
202nm torque
After Process:
-Racecraft Carbon Fibre Intake fitted
-Aluminium hose channeled from grill area into intake opening
-Air Con turned on
-Temperature sensor fitted into intake
-Dyno was done with the bonnet closed..
Engine was left to run at idle to spin the rear wheels in 1st gear for
5minutes:
Engine compartment temperature in the intake area in length of 5 minutes was:
32 ~ 33 degrees Celsius with the auxiliary fan on simulating driving/moving
33 ~ 35 degrees Celsius without auxiliary fan on simulating traffic jam/idle
[break]
Result:
145.4 RWHP (*Rear Wheel Horsepower)
204 nm torque
Verdict:
1) Performance Figures:
Seriously, the gains achieved seems almost unbelievable. There will be doubts
and suspicions I'll leave it to the dyno chart for you to decide. There are of
course, crucial factors to consider, in terms of the enclosed engine bay
enviroment which produced huge amounts of heat and especially when tested right
after heat generated under such condition. Again the results are as above.
2.1) Feel: Scenario 1: Low Speed cruising to full throttle
I noticed a difference in increased acceleration especially during
accelerating while cruising at low speeds which most probably, is due to the
pressure collected in cool, dense air buffer contained in the intake barrel.
2.2) Feel: Scenario 2: Full-throttle to partially closed throttle to
Full-throttle
Significant difference was also felt during re-accelerating from partially
closed throttle back to full-throttle which, due to the similar fact of the air
buffer collected.
3) Sound:
Sound wise, for loud induction freaks, sorry to disappoint, but induction
note has been significantly muted. Compared to other open-type pod filters, like
my sponge filter pod before, you would notice a decrease in induction note
though deep-throat noises still does linger in the barrel. It is actually due to
the fact that the sound absorbent fibrous nature of carbon fibre barrel
construction as opposed to the nature of plastic cylinders which amplifies
sound.
Pros:
-Practical choice for performance upgrade
-Value for money
Cons:
-Might not fit smaller cars
-Induction sound sacrificed
Summary:
Overall, I love the product. I love it for the wow-factor, the price, the
performance gains achieved, the fact that I now have a carbon fibre product in
my car and most importantly, there's nothing i don't like about this product. So
that's my summary.
Thanks to:
Racecraft Carbon Products:
RaceCraft International
Jalan Sarjana, Taman Connaught,
Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-91300391 Fax: +603-91300392 Email:
[email protected]
Links Power:
Links Dyno Tune
No. 30, Jalan PJS 11/3, Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 5636 9901 Fax: +603 5636 7701 Email: [email protected]
