The Best Cold-Air Intakes for 2020 - Present C8 Corvettes
These are the top cold-air intakes for C8 Corvettes. A cold air intake is one of the easiest mods you can make to let your engine breathe and unlock additional horsepower.
About Our Cold-Air Intake Recommendations
Founded in 2014, the CorvSport team has been 'Vette obsessed for as long as we can remember. While we've spent nearly a decade writing about all things Corvette, we've been driving them for much longer than that!
When creating our Corvette mod lists, we focused on three areas:
Performance - Any cold-air intake that gets our stamp of approval needs to add power/torque while maintaining factory-like reliability.
Build quality - A good cold-air intake for your C7 Corvette will not have sloppy welds, cheap connectors, or flimsy plastic.
Value for money - Cold-air intakes that give a lot without costing a lot are the type we love to recommend!
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Best Entry-Level C8 Cold-Air Intakes
Priced under $800.
K&N Performance C8 Cold Air Intake
Price: $599
Where to Buy: Corvette Garage
Why?
The K&N Performance C8 Cold Air Intake is a full replacement backplate and filter for the standard airbox. By implementing a high flow, washable air filter that feeds a larger-than-stock intake tunnel, the K&N system flows about 20% more air than the standard air filter and intake tunnel, which in turn leads to potential gains of 20+ HP and 10+ lb-ft of torque. Also, since the tunnel is made of HDPE, it is heat resistant and extremely durable, and should last the lifetime of the car.
Key Specs & Features
Washable, durable K&N conical filter
Replaces the backplate and intake tunnel of the standard airbox
Gains up to 20+ HP
Fitment
2020+ Corvette C8
Best Mid-Range C8 Cold-Air Intakes
Priced $800 - $1000.
Halltech Hornet C8 Cold Air Intake
Price: $800
Where to Buy: Halltech Systems
Why?
The Halltech Hornet is not so much a cold air intake as it is a cold air intake and flow optimizer. While other cold air intakes don’t do much to shape the flow of the incoming air, the Hornet has been designed with high airflow in mind. The intake “lid” has a recessed central area that prevents stale air from building up, instead directing it down through the intake tube.
The genius of this is that the Hornet is quite literally a drop-in solution—requiring only a few bolts to be fitted and tightened—and it fits within the stock airbox. With its optimized flow and massive filter area of over 600 square inches, the Hornet provides up to 17 HP and 25 lb-ft of torque.
Key Specs & Features
Performance gains up to 17 HP
No tuning or modification necessary
One of the few intakes that also pays attention to airflow, creating a velocity stack effect
Fitment
2020+ Corvette C8
aFe Power Track Series Cold Air Intake (Dry Filter)
Price: $905
Where to Buy: aFe Power
Why?
The aFe Track Series Cold Air Intake system is a full replacement for the stock airbox. Using Magnum Flow PRO 5R conical filters, the Track Series takes direct feed air from the side scoops of the C8 and shapes it down a Y-split plenum that is larger than the stock plenum. This allows flow to be 10% to 15% greater than stock, boosting power by over 10 HP and over 10 lb-ft of torque.
Like its bigger brother, the Black Series, it is a very quick plug-and-play solution, requiring only minimal modification, and is built to be able to handle the rigors of the track with high-quality silicone seals and stainless steel clamps. It also seals directly to the trunk cover, preventing any hot air from the engine bay to enter the airflow.
Key Specs & Features
High quality Magnum Flow 5R conical filters use cotton weave technology to provide maximum airflow and have a maintenance period of ~50,000 miles
With a minimal modifications, this is about as plug-and-play a system as you can get
High quality materials that are heat resistant and are meant for track use, day in and day out
Fitment
2020+ Corvette C8
Best High-End C8 Cold-Air Intakes
Priced over $1000.
aFe Black Series Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake (Dry Filter)
Price: $1475
Where to Buy: aFe Power
Why?
The aFe Black Series Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake system not only replaces the stock airbox, but also uses a Y-split intake plenum to take in as much air as possible and direct it to the engine.
Using a pair of Magnum Flow PRO 5R dry conical filters, this allows for 15% more airflow over the stock intake, and has been tested on the dyno to provide up to 12 extra HP and 10 extra lb-ft of torque. As well, by using dry filters over oiled filters, the mass airflow sensor is not affected.
Key Specs & Features
100% carbon fiber construction
Dry filters mean that the mass airflow sensor is not affected by blockage or oil
Free-flowing high-performance filtration
Fitment
2020+ Corvette C8
Corsa Performance Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake w/ Drytech Filters
Price: $1435
Where to Buy: CorsaPerformance.com
Why?
The Corsa Performance Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake system is optimized to deliver incoming air directly through two Drytech conical filters and into the Y-shaped intake plenum. The goal with the Corsa system is to minimize “dead air” inside the airbox, and as can be seen in the image above, it is a very tightly built unit.
As it is inboard from the side scoop tubes, some installation and modification is required, but the end result is up to 14 HP and up to 13 lb-ft of torque. As well, being made of carbon fiber and using the absolute latest in filter technology, the maintenance period for the filters is 50,000 miles, and the entire unit has a limited lifetime warranty as long as it is installed and maintained as per the instructions.
Key Specs & Features
100% carbon fiber construction
Latest dry high flow filter technology
Limited lifetime warranty
Fitment
2020+ Corvette C8
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