Throughout the year we put numerous performance enhancing products through the Dynojet testing in our Power Pages section. These pages have set a new standard throughout the industry. With real testing methods and results, Power Pages puts the latest high-performing parts through a no-lies round of dyno-proven evaluation. We print exactly how well, or on occasions, how poorly a product performs so that our readers can achieve the best possible performance for their money spent. During the entire course of the year we test more than 60 products on many different import applications. Each one is installed and tested by 2NR staff members to further ensure precise results, evaluate product quality, installation and fitment.
Because of Power Pages' huge popularity among both readers and manufacturers, we've chosen 10 products that we felt stood out in 2001 as quality, high-performing components worthy of the Import Tuner Top 10 Power Page Products of The Year Award. Each manufacturer will receive one of these prestigious awards and the right to boast 2NR's official badge of recommendation.
The winning products were selected based on several factors. First and foremost was bang for the buck. We looked for components that represented great value for the money by producing good power gains in relation to the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Also, overall product quality and fitment were taken into consideration before the final decision. Nominees for the award were all bolt-on components as we ruled out electronics and in particular boost controllers. Of course, boost controllers have the unfair advantage right off the bat, and for the most part electronic components are not exactly bolt-on pieces easily installed by the amateur.
We've compiled this list of the 2001 Import Tuner Top 10 Power Page Products of the Year Award winners with another look at just how well each one performed.
AEM Cold Air Intake
Manufacturer: AEM
Product: Cold Air Intake System
Application: '00 Honda Civic Si
Horsepower Gain: 6.1
Torque Gain: 4.2
MSRP: $306
Issue: Feb. 01
The AEM Cold Air Intake System came through on several occasions during the year, always producing good power gains no matter what the application. On the Civic Si, additional power was realized in both mid-range and high-end rpm, peaking at an impressive 6.1 hp over stock.
A'PEXi N1 Exhaust
Manufacturer: A'PEX Integration Inc.
Product: N1 Exhaust System
Application: '97 Toyota Supra Non-Turbo
Horsepower Gain: 14.3
Torque Gain: -1.5
MSRP: $560
Issue: Apr. 01
The A'PEXi N1 system is another quality cat-back exhaust that represents excellent value. Although we couldn't extract any additional torque in this application, the N1 did pump out a healthy 14.3 extra hp, and with an MSRP of just $560 it is a sound investment.
Injen Intake System
Manufacturer: Injen Technology
Product: Intake System
Application: '99 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T
Horsepower Gain: 11.0
Torque Gain: 10.0
MSRP: $250
Issue: Jul. 01
Injen's air intake system for the turbocharged GS-T absolutely rocked the dyno. The low-buck intake brought along 11 extra horses and 10 lb-ft of torque to the Power Page party back in July.
Blitz Nur Spec Exhaust System
Manufacturer: Blitz USA
Product: Nur Spec Exhaust System
Application: '91 Toyota MR2 Turbo
Horsepower Gain: 18.3
Torque Gain: 16.3
MSRP: $798
Issue: Apr. 01
The Blitz USA Nur Spec exhaust system may come with a price tag of almost $800, but it's a very high quality piece that produced a huge power and torque gain on our test vehicle.
Hayame Intake
Manufacturer: SPW/Hayame
Product: Air Intake System
Application: '01 Honda Civic EX
Horsepower Gain: 4.2
Torque Gain: 2.9
MSRP: $150
Issue: Aug. 01
Hayame wasted little time in developing its air intake system for the new Civic. The quality system somewhat surprisingly pumped out an impressive 4.2 hp over stock, and the $150 price tag established it as good bang-for-the-buck part for anyone looking to deck out the new Civic.
Landspeed Racing Power Core Header
Manufacturer: Landspeed Racing
Product: PowerCore Header
Application: '96 Honda Civic EX
Horsepower Gain: 7.7
Torque Gain: 2.7
MSRP: $375
Issue: Jul. 01
We got our hands on Landspeed's PowerCore header right when it hit the shelves. The impressive 7.7-hp gain came from the company's first application and we are excited to see what the DOHC version is capable of in an upcoming issue.
Blitz SUS Power Air Filter
Manufacturer: Blitz USA
Product: SUS Power Filter
Application: '97 Toyota Supra Turbo
Horsepower Gain: 24.1
Torque Gain: 11.3
MSRP: $333.00
Issue: Nov. 01
Blitz gets to take home two awards after we tested the company's SUS Power Filter on the 2JZ-GTE. The turbocharged Supra is always generous on power, but this awesome intake replacement enabled us to extract an additional 24.1 hp.
5Zigen Exhaust
Manufacturer: 5ZigenProduct: Fireball ExhaustApplication: '91 Toyota MR-2 TurboHorsepower Gain: 11.9Torque Gain: 8.0MSRP: $650Issue: Sep. 01
High quality, reasonably priced, just 10 minutes to install and gobs of power put 5Zigen's Fireball exhaust system on the list.
HP Header
Manufacturer: HP Racing Motorsports
Product: HP Header
Application: '96 Honda Civic DX
Horsepower Gain: 8.0
Torque Gain: 6.6
MSRP: $210
Issue: Feb. 01
The HP Racing header for the '96 Civic DX pumped out a whopping eight extra ponies out of the lazy 1.6-liter SOHC Honda motor. Its quality, fitment and bang-for-the-buck price tag of just over $200 put the header on the winners list.
XS Intake
Manufacturer: XS Engineering
Product: Cold Air Intake System
Application: '02 Subaru WRX
Horsepower Gain: 13.9
Torque Gain: 10.9
MSRP: $185.00
Issue: Dec. 01
XS Engineering got right to work on developing performance parts for the all-new Subaru WRX as soon as the vehicle hit U.S. shores. The company's air intake system gained a whopping 13.9 hp and 10.9 lb-ft of torque on our test vehicle.