Intake manifolds

Intake manifolds are used to distribute air from the intake system to the engine’s cylinders and are a central part of the engine’s intake system. They have a major effect on how the engine draws in air, and therefore also on throttle response, flow, torque, and the overall function of the setup. This is why intake manifolds are relevant for standard road cars, tuned street cars, and more demanding motorsport projects.

In tuning and motorsport applications, intake manifolds are often chosen as part of an upgrade where improved air distribution, higher flow, or a solution that matches changes in the throttle body, engine management, porting, or the overall engine configuration is desired. They are used on both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines and can be relevant for everything from replacing the original manifold to custom-built solutions for performance, track day use, and engine swaps.

A good intake manifold must fit the engine, cylinder head, and the rest of the intake system correctly, while also supporting the intended use of the setup. That is why factors such as flange, port design, plenum size, runner design, connections, and material choice are important when selecting an intake manifold for a project.