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Upgrade Your Dodge Challenger Cold Air Intake System

By:  American Muscle Staff  / Apr 12 2025
Upgrade Your Dodge Challenger Cold Air Intake System

The Dodge Challenger is one of the most legendary muscle cars on the market. It comes with a variety of engine options, and each can be improved with simple and effective upgrades. Installing a cold air intake system on a Dodge Challenger comes with a number of benefits, and it’s one of the most common upgrades, not just for the Challenger, but for every muscle car on the market. In this article, we’ll talk about the cold air intake and how it can improve the performance and overall driving experience of the Dodge Challenger. By the end of this article, you’ll have more than enough information to make an informed decision about which cold air intake system is the best for your car.

How Does a Cold Air Intake Work?

Before diving deeper into the topic, it’s worth going over how a cold air intake works. Factory air intake systems are designed in a way to make the car’s engine fuel efficient, reduce noise, and emissions. This type of design limits the engine, whereas cold air intake systems reduce or eliminate these limitations. This way, cold air intakes provide the engine with denser air, richer in oxygen, which improves the combustion inside the engine. With more oxygen, less fuel needs to be burned to achieve the same power, improving the engine’s overall performance.

Types of Cold Air Intakes

There are two main types of cold air intakes on the market, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages. The first type is cold air intakes with a dry air filter. Although the performance gain is slightly lower compared to cold air intakes with oiled air filters, they’re better at filtering dust particles and are much easier to maintain. On the other hand, cold air intakes with oiled air filters provide a better performance gain, but are less efficient in filtering fine dust and debris. The maintenance is also more complicated, and if done incorrectly, it can lead to MAF sensor damage.

How to Choose the Right Cold Air Intake System for Your Challenger

Choosing the right cold air intake system depends on the needs, requirements, and most of all, expectations. For those looking for maximum power gain, AFE’s Magnum FORCE Stage-2 track series with a Pro 5R oiled filter is the best option for the 6.4-liter HEMI Challenger. This particular cold air intake system replaces the entire air intake in your car, and it’s made with durable and lightweight aluminum. It doesn’t require additional tuning, however, it’s strongly recommended to have a professional do the installation in case you don’t have experience in these types of upgrades. When it comes to upgrading everyday-driven Challengers, choosing the K&N Blackhawk Cold Air Intake System is the way to go. This system provides superb filtering capabilities while increasing the car’s horsepower and torque. It’s designed in a way to be discreet and not attract unwanted attention.

Advantages of Upgrading Your Challenger to a Cold Air Intake System

There are several reasons why upgrading your Challenger with a cold air intake system is a great idea. The first and most noticeable benefit of installing a cold air intake is improved power and torque. Aside from the obvious, having a cold air intake on your Challenger will improve the car’s throttle response. This is most noticeable in cars with a turbocharger, where turbo lag is a common issue. With a cold air intake system, the engine sound will also be different. Your Challenger will growl with a deeper exhaust note, unleashing its power and showing off its roar. Although it’s not a significant difference, it's enough to make the car sound better.

A Simple Upgrade with Immediate Benefits

The cold air intake system is one of the most popular modifications that offers a number of benefits, including more power, torque, and a better sound. The great thing about this modification is that it’s easy to install, and it doesn’t require additional tuning to work properly. The results are instant, and the upgrade makes your car’s engine bay look more aggressive and stylish. We carry a wide range of options when it comes to cold air intake systems for the Dodge Challenger, from some of the world’s most reputable brands, such as AEM Induction, Moshimoto, and K&N. Finding a compatible cold air intake system is easy, and it won’t take you more than a couple of minutes to confirm your order. We’ll pack everything and have it shipped directly to your doorstep as quickly as possible!