I just installed a new ALTA intake on my Mini Cooper S. I was tickled by the new sound which is totally cool but.....the increase in horsepower! I know they advertise 5-9 horsepower but it sure feels like more. If the addition of the Alta cat back exhaust has as much impact then wow........

 

I liked the throttle response and most of the time the wind of the supercharger was fun in spirited drives.

 

I think the sound may have you tricked. There's no doubt that the Alta (which I have), adds some horsepower. I do think that some of that perceived horsepower is due to the wonderful symphony of supercharger whine that the Alta exposes.

What I'm saying is that perhaps the Alta's bark is worse than it's bite.

I think if you were to dyno your car before and after the installation, you'd likely find that it wasn't as big a jump in horsepower as you think.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but that just seems to be the case with most mods out there: the claims of horsepower increases that manufacturers use are seldom realized.

 

Trust me, I wasnt thinking 20 hp or anything like that. It's just amazing how 6-8 hp can make such a difference.

 

I was the same way after I put on my ALTA intake. The MINI is a small car, so tiny mods make a HUGE difference. I am assuming that you have owned larger cars in the past. This is one of the many benifits of owning a MINI!!!

 

Might not be 20hp, but it sure gives some extra HP!

Data from the intake shootout.... Alta = 11hp & 5.4 lb-ft...

 

intake shoot out nice!!!
wish there were several more intakes on this list tho, anywho great to see some numbers compared

 

I can't remember who actually did it... It was a bumch of people who paid for the results and later, they accepted to show the numbers...

Alta is on top!

 

Is this the one you are talking about?
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...read.php?t=700

Another intersting point is that the torque peak happens at a lower rpm. So combine that, the slight boost in HP and the sound, and that's probably what's making people so happy