Honda

The Civic has always been a tuner for the masses. From over-the-top aesthetic builds to unsuspecting powerhouses that would put muscle cars to shame, Honda's entry-level compact gives any enthusiast a blank canvas to create their automotive vision. The tenth generation only made things better with an added turbocharged option to their lineup for some added spice. For some, though, this extra heat was a little too much to handle - literally.

As we covered in our last post the dramatic design for the tenth generation Civic ends up reducing airflow to the critical cooling components, which can cause some frustration during your canyon carve or track day. So basically, the cooling system needed some help, and we're here to deliver.

We teased some of the design features of our performance radiator design in the previous post, but now that it's here in the shop, we can get a closer look at the new design, starting with the construction.

When it comes to cooling, the core is the star of the show.

Just as the Civic Type R evolved into a tarmac devouring beast of a hot-hatchback, we here at Mishimoto have kept up with the K20C1's induction needs. Our entire race intake setup unleashes more of the CTR's competitive spirit on the track, but what about those not ready for complete custom tuning yet? Enter our performance turbo inlet kit fresh off the production line.

If you're looking to update your FK8's intake system but conflicted on which Mishimoto set up to grab, make sure that you check out our video on the benefits of each system, but make sure to keep reading for specifics on our inlet kit:

Honda and the long list of racers using this platform already proved that the factory inlet delivers adequate performance, but, as we covered in the last post, many OEM components leave room to improve. We utilized a combination of cast and mandrel-bent aluminum for our inlet design for the perfect form and function.

It's a tight squeeze in the front of the FK8, which makes snaking a larger

It's old news that the FK8 Honda Civic Type R is a record-setting speed machine. Now that the years have passed, plenty of drivers are looking for ways to take the Civic's record-setting run even further, and we're ready to deliver the solution.

There's no shortage of speed when it comes to the Civic Type R, but we wanted to unlock even more gumption from the K20C1 with our race intake kit. Before we dig into our performance testing results, though, let's just take a minute to admire Ye's hard work:

In our last post, we alluded to the look and make-up of our kit's final form, but now since it's here, let's review. To start, the main component we aimed to improve was the turbo inlet pipe. Honda and the long list of racers using this platform already proved that the factory inlet delivers adequate performance, but like with any OEM component, there's plenty of room to improve. We utilized a combination of cast and mandrel-bent aluminum for the perfect form and function.

It's a tight squeeze

The 2018+ Honda Accord is more than just a family-friendly grocery-getter. We've been hammering this point home since we first laid eyes on Honda's tenth-generation mid-sized sedan. No matter if you're being propelled by the 1.5T or 2.0T, these new-fangled turbocharged Honda motors add the much-needed dash of spice into the daily commute. This platform rolls off the factory floor with loads of potential too. Just how much potential, you ask? Well, to find out, we ran a series of tests on our loaner 2.0T Accord Sport to collect baseline readings along with torture tests for our intercooler design.

Upgrading your intercooling system is all about keeping your intake air temperatures down. Like we've mentioned before, heat-soaking the intercooler is not very practical for your sporty sedan. Hotter air doesn't compress as well as cool, charged air so that heat-soaked OEM intercooler will be a power bottleneck.

To demonstrate the benefits of our updated intercooler design, we ran a series of

Every enthusiast evolves through a modification journey. It starts with the cheapest and rudest mods you can get your hands on. As we touched on in the last post, intakes are often first on the list, and many settle for a filter on a stick. It satisfies the itch, makes a racket, and provides the placebo of speed. Unlike simple filter-on-stick intakes, our performance intake kit for the FK8 provided the turbo soundtrack but combined it with measurable performance gains. While our FK8 intake performs well alone, we wanted to take it a step further by addressing the turbo inlet.

Engineering on the turbo inlet began with our development on the CTR's race intake. However, we wanted to provide improved airflow for those who are not ready for an oversized MAF tune yet. In case you missed the development of our race intake, let's review, so you're up to speed. 

From the factory, the turbo inlet pipe is a hefty chunk of cast aluminum. Honda designed this inlet to run directly over top of the

One of the leading reasons for buying a mega-mass-produced product is reliability. Your Honda Accord already bears that trait thanks to Honda's decades of tried-and-true testing. Functionality and reliability are features that we also aim to make synonymous with our 2018+ 1.5L Accord intake kit, but that only comes with the same level of rigorous R&D. So, we put our intake to the test.

The first leg of the testing journey takes place on our flow bench, which you might remember from the prototyping post. During the design phase, we used the bench to pinpoint the most restrictive components in the OEM intake system. From there, we could generate more free-flowing designs and put our prototypes, and eventually the complete production kit, to the test against the stock unit.

Reducing restriction in the intake is a crucial component to adding power. Improving the quantity and quality of air entering the system typically translates to increased power. So, our engineer, Ye, loaded our donor Accord

There's a Civic out there for everyone. Through its 11 generations, the Civic has been a staple of basic practical transportation and unassuming speed demons. The 10th generation Civic was no exception. With the addition of the L15B7 turbocharged option, featuring more potential power while only sipping fuel, Honda's compact option became that much more enticing. A win-win whether you're building a Type-R clone or one of those crazy folks that just want practical transportation. No matter what type of Civic owner you are, though, all of the 1.5T's share the same common side-effect - extreme heat.

Honda's edgy styling for the 10th gen Civic provided us with a handsome outer shell but left us with some cooling issues. Before even reaching the system under the hood, the Civic's cooling problems start with the grilles. Specifically, the lack of grille size and quantity. The futuristic look of this Civic left the cooling system with only two small openings on the front of the car, with one wholly

The FK8 Civic Type R is bred for the track. Sure, you see these auspiciously styled Civics roaming the streets and highways, but you don't set front-wheel-drive lap records at the Nurburgring being developed for comfort. If the performance brakes and tires, styling, and big shot K20C1 weren't already enough, enthusiasts are still demanding more from their CTRs. A demand that we're here to fulfill.

In our last post, we covered our plans for the new race intake, but no design is complete without a round of prototyping here at Mishimoto. While the 3D modeling process gives us precision designs, we still need to double-check the fitment in the vehicle.

The prototyping process starts with a scan using our Faro Design ScanArm. This scanner creates an exact digital copy of both the stock components, along with the Civic's engine bay. Our engineer, Ye, then uses these scans as a virtual workspace to create our design.

As previously stated, the digital workspace only gets us so far, so now it's

Honda inadvertently morphed the Accord into an enthusiast car when the turbocharged variants took over. That means drivers are sure to push the 10th generation Accord to the limits in all walks of life. Whether you're picking up groceries, laying down lap times, or setting a new personal best time for your work commute, the turbo mounted to either engine variant adds a practical boost and economical speed to your family-oriented sedan. That is, of course, until the intercooler soaks with heat.

As we covered in our last posts, no matter your driving style, it's never practical for the intercooler to fill with heat. We covered why this happens with the stock cooler, and our plans to combat the issue. Now, those plans have come to life, and we're eager to show them off.

As promised from our design plans post, our new design is made entirely from aluminum. Plastic has its benefits elsewhere in the vehicle, but aluminum construction is essential for performance and durability. The makeover

A significant step in ensuring a product is ready for the masses is to triple-check your work. The designs and prototypes might be perfect, but a final check of what actually comes off the production line is the best litmus test. We're about to perform that litmus test on our 1.5T Accord performance air intake, and we're eager to show off its new look.

We refreshed the airbox from the ground up, complete with a sleek new look and sturdy design thanks to rotational molding. Our airbox is molded from high-density polyethylene, meaning it won't crack under pressure and looks right at home under the hood. Our airbox also grew to encompass a greater air volume, and we incorporated a fresh air inlet pointed directly at the source.

Updating the filter was critical