Cosworth rebranding K&N intakes?
 

I heard that Cosworth was coming out with some Subaru intakes, so I went to check them out. They looked awfully familiar.

Here is the "Cosworth" 02-07 WRX/STI intake:

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...44_general.jpg

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...51_general.jpg

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...98_general.jpg

And here if the K&N (that has been out for years):

http://kandn.com/images/news/WRX_STiLg.jpg

<Instruction sheet here with exact same exploded drawing as Cosworth>



Here is Cosworth's 2008+ WRX/STI intake:

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...00_general.jpg

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...71_general.jpg


And here is the K&N:

http://www.knfilters.com/images/m/69-8004TTK.jpg

Instruction sheet here

The Cosworth has a different MAF sensor location on this one, but in my experience the K&N sensor location is better. I don't know why they had K&N change it for them. Maybe there was some interference with the Cozzy FMIC or something.

Cosworth EVO-X intake:

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...270_detail.jpg

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...08_general.jpg

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...79_general.jpg


K&N EVO-X intake:

http://www.knfilters.com/images/l/69-6546TWR.jpg

http://www.knfilters.com/images/m/69-6546TWR_Eng1.jpg

Instruction sheet

You know... if they've used them on their test cars and been happy... why not resell them with the Cosworth name and a blue filter for twice as much? They won't make any money off the informed consumer who will just buy the original, but they'll make money off the guys that buy anything with the Cosworth name on it, and the R&D/manufacturing costs are nil.

Oh the threads I've read regarding eBay exhausts, intakes, ROTAs, etc that so strongly argued with this mentality (which I share)....

Blue filters and cosworth stickers add 10-15 more hp than k&n.... I thought everyone knew that?

True, but it just doesn't seem very Cosworthian, ie. over-engineered. These intakes max out the MAF Sensor at about 350whp on the WRX/STI and 450whp on the EVO-X. You don't need a $15k Cosworth long block to make 350whp, that's for sure. What intakes would they recommend for cars that actually need their other hi-$$$$ parts?

The Cosworth pricing is close to the K&N pricing, maybe $20 more.

By the way, K&N has taken over marketing and (I think) manufacturing of AEM DryFlowfilters.

Send them some samples of KSpeed gear. Maybe they'll be happy to slap their name on your parts instead? :cool:

I'm not sure if they're using WRB or Cusco Blue, but either way I'm sure it's good for more than just 15hp :P

Cosworth - "...8" Lift...tuckin 19's"

There's a difference between rebranding the same product vs. attempting to copy someone elses design.

Now Perrin (of all companies) is rebranding an intake too:

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2015-sti...ir-intake.html

Why "of all companies"? Is Perrin supposed to be cooler than that or something?

They were just well known for doing lots of in-house design for Subaru stuff AFAIK. Lots of their stuff has been ripped off by others.

Gotcha. Kinda like Grimmspeed?