Performance filtration specialists Pipercross have added yet another core tuner car to their 3,000-strong model portfolio; the latest Ford Focus RS.
The torquey hot hatch has already achieved legendary status in its launch year, making it one of the most popular bases for tuners everywhere. The combination of Ford’s impressive power delivery and its impeccable road manners means that the Focus is a competent all-rounder on road or track.
Being a high-output, turbocharged engine, the Focus RS really responds well to breathing modifications, with a panel filter and exhaust upgrade often being the first improvements that owners make. The Pipercross filter is designed to be an exact replacement for the rather asthmatic factory paper filter and uses multiple foam layers to allow up to 30% more air flow through to the engine, improving power, torque and drive-ability over the stock set-up. Best of all, it’s made here in good old Blighty!
The Pipercross filter uses a unique semi-conical profile to allow a free flow of air around the entire circumference of the filter. Without this design feature, air is drawn through a focussed spot near the intake, negating the benefit of the higher flowing foam – a fact that has been lost on many of the RS filters currently available. As well as increased flow rate, thanks to its unique multi-laminated open cell polyurethane foam construction, the Pipercross upgrade can actually filter down to a much finer rate than the OEM part, preventing any foreign particles from entering the induction tract, meaning even greater protection for the RS engine. This same construction means that the filter can also go longer between service intervals than even leading cotton-gauze filters, before needing to be cleaned.
Best of all, despite these impressive abilities, the Pipercross filter comes with a lifetime warranty and can be easily cleaned again and again for re-use, providing decades of faithful service and paying for themselves many times over.
The price is a credit crunching £42.54 + VAT. Bearing in mind that it’s the only one you’ll ever need – what are you waiting for?
For more details on the Pipercross range, please visit www.pipercross.com or call the team on 01604 707750.
The unique multi-layered foam construction not only means a higher rate of flow, it also mean that, compared to even the leading cotton-gauze replacements, Pipercross foam filters can go for up to three times longer before needing any servicing or cleaning. This can be done indefinitely for the life of the filter.
Although the fit and finish are easily to factory standards, power and throttle response gains are most certainly not! – with consistent improvements of between 5 and 10% being recorded by the cat-back system during Scorpion’s extensive testing regime and 10-15% for the full sports cat system. Making this one of the most cost effective ways to tune and stay on the right side of legality.