AEM ETC
This month's pick of the litter is a product of AEM's latest brainstorming session: the Electronic Throttle Control unit or ETC. Newly released for the '04-'06 WRX STI, with more on the way, the AEM ETC allows AEM EMS users to retain, and improve upon, their car's native drive-by-wire throttle system. Previous STI owners running aftermarket standalones either had to convert to manual throttle engagement, or deal with OE programming that tailors throttle opening to limit tailpipe emissions and improve fuel economy. But AEM's ETC allows a constant 1:1 ratio of pedal depression to throttle position, allowing for complete throttle control by the driver, and a switch from idle to wide-open throttle position in quicker than 1/10 of a second. Fail-safe modes can also be programmed, to automatically close the throttle under a variety of dangerous conditions-safeguarding your engine in the event of an emergency. www.aempower.com
Password:JDM Dry Carbon Intake System
Individually hand crafted to high-quality tolerances here in the States, Password:JDM's newest bit of carbon-fiber goodness-this Power Chamber ram-air system for the S2000-was designed in-house from the ground up, using design theories inspired by F1 and ALMS technology. Designed to supply your S2K's hungry F20 or F22 with heaping gulps of cold, clean air, this unit's dry carbon construction keeps weight and heat soak to a minimum, bumps pimp factor sky-high, and installs in less than an hour-without a need to cut up your OE hood for clearance. www.passwordJDM.com
Fidanza Lightweight Flywheels
Yes, Fidanza has been around for years, and no, lightweight aluminum flywheels aren't anything new. But now, owners of the '08 Civic Si and '08 EVO X can share in the quick-revving, increased power and throttle-response fun that the rest of us have been enjoying for years by installing one of Fidanza's newest flywheels on their rides. Machined from solid 6061 T6 aluminum, each micro-balanced flywheel features a 1045 steel friction surface and 1050 steel ring gear, and is heat treated for supreme durability. Able to mate properly with any type of clutch material-organic, Kevlar, ceramic, iron, and so on-replacing your OEM flywheel with one of these will drastically reduce rotational mass, which means you can enjoy power and response benefits from idle to redline. And since their steel friction area is replaceable, you can look forward to enjoying those benefits for as long as you see fit. www.fidanza.com