APR's Front Mounted Intercooler Sneak Peak!

[Keith@APR]

I don't have pricing but we should be looking at a January release. Enjoy!

[Sharkfin]

That picture doesn't say that much, is it going to be large aka cover the entire front like the AWE one?

[Arin@APR]

Yes... That's the radiator right behind it which should give you an idea of size.

[I495 Bandit]

Why the vertical core and top/bottom end tank design? Looks like alot more piping than the traditional fmic.

[AAAA]

Why the vertical core and top/bottom end tank design? Looks like alot more piping than the traditional fmic.

it may look like more piping, but its no more than the smics. remember, the piping on the apr fmic takes the place where the smics are, and the fmic itself takes the place of the piping in the smics. Its not more distance to travel. the efficiency of the top to bottom design is something different. awe's looks like the best numbers so far, but vf is coming out with air to water smics, so we'll have to see who has the best numbers. its hard to beat an a/w concept though

[Mike@APR]

Why the vertical core and top/bottom end tank design? Looks like alot more piping than the traditional fmic.

The benefits of this arrangement are as follows:

- The end-tank design allows for uniform distribution of the air across the entire width of the intercooler core. We wanted to ensure that we had the most even air flow distribution across the core such that the entire heat exchanger core is actually used.

- To maximize the cross-sectional area of the air distribution, we rotated the core 90 degrees into the vertical position such that we could use the longer available width dimension to maximize the number of cooling channels for the pressurized air and ambient air. You can think of it this way..."Why make the length of flow through the intercooler long if you are not going to actually maximize opportunity for cooling?" To understand this statment, think about a short intercooler that only fits beneath the crash-bar on the B7 A4 but runs the full width of the radiator. In this instance, you have a long length of flow for the pressurized air but you haven't provided much cross-sectional area of core or surface area/thermal mass for cooling. This seems like a poor trade-off. Why would you do this?

- The only piece of plubming that is longer than what you may see in a "traditional" FMIC is the entrance hose into the top end-tank. However, this hose is still shorter than the OEM "cross-over" pipe that connects the two stock SMIC's. In addition, when you compare the additional hose length required to get to the top as opposed to connecting down at the bottom you only end up with about 6 inches additional of hose.

I hope this answers your questions.

[I495 Bandit]

The benefits of this arrangement are as follows:

- The end-tank design allows for uniform distribution of the air across the entire width of the intercooler core. We wanted to ensure that we had the most even air flow distribution across the core such that the entire heat exchanger core is actually used.

- To maximize the cross-sectional area of the air distribution, we rotated the core 90 degrees into the vertical position such that we could use the longer available width dimension to maximize the number of cooling channels for the pressurized air and ambient air. You can think of it this way..."Why make the length of flow through the intercooler long if you are not going to actually maximize opportunity for cooling?" To understand this statment, think about a short intercooler that only fits beneath the crash-bar on the B7 A4 but runs the full width of the radiator. In this instance, you have a long length of flow for the pressurized air but you haven't provided much cross-sectional area of core or surface area/thermal mass for cooling. This seems like a poor trade-off. Why would you do this?

- The only piece of plubming that is longer than what you may see in a "traditional" FMIC is the entrance hose into the top end-tank. However, this hose is still shorter than the OEM "cross-over" pipe that connects the two stock SMIC's. In addition, when you compare the additional hose length required to get to the top as opposed to connecting down at the bottom you only end up with about 6 inches additional of hose.

I hope this answers your questions.

Ahh I understand completely now. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was asking because I have your Stage 3+ on my MK4 along with your MK4 fmic and its been working fantastically for the past 4 years or so. But with the larger ID of the inlet and outlet on the B7 core along with the longer end tanks do you expect greater pressure drop compared to the "traditional" core or is it something I shouldn't concern myself with? BTW What is the ID of the inlet/outlet and piping of the B7 fmic?

[cstarky15]

is it going to fit behind the crash bar?

[Turn10]

I hope so, then the warranty becomes void if that thing goes away.

[barkerd427]

Keith my wife is really mad at you!!! She says you are gonna make us go broke and that you need to stop updating us until we can get our tax return. I will try not to tell her the next time you post something here. I can't wait to get all of this stuff and start up the new racing season. Thanks.

[KarimS3]

looks great

[CapstoneJHS]

This is one of the little sneak-peeks that everyone that attended the APR BBQ saw. Very cool guys!

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

Im liking what I see

[DownUnderSLine]

Great work APR - Looks like another nice product !

I like the vertical core approach but one thought comes to mind regarding the piping routing;

Thinking that a little (just a little ) intake volume could be saved by doing it the other way around. ie, turbo outlet is already down low and the throttle body is up high so route the turbo side to the bottom tank and then the top tank goes to the throttle body in the shortest path possible. Was this considered ?

(guessing there's a reason it's done the way it is though... )

[dextrek]

Thinking that a little (just a little ) intake volume could be saved by doing it the other way around. ie, turbo outlet is already down low and the throttle body is up high so route the turbo side to the bottom tank and then the top tank goes to the throttle body in the shortest path possible. Was this considered ?

(guessing there's a reason it's done the way it is though... )

I think there would be no room for the piping if it was other way around. But your comment does make sense.

[Mike@APR]

Great work APR - Looks like another nice product !

I like the vertical core approach but one thought comes to mind regarding the piping routing;

Thinking that a little (just a little ) intake volume could be saved by doing it the other way around. ie, turbo outlet is already down low and the throttle body is up high so route the turbo side to the bottom tank and then the top tank goes to the throttle body in the shortest path possible. Was this considered ?

(guessing there's a reason it's done the way it is though... )

This was considered and there were major fitment issues that would have required a smaller hose or a "pancake" style hose. Other companies have handled this fitment issue by denting the back-side of the pipe that enters the IC core. I am not calling anyone out for doing this but I am just saying that the fitment issues have to be dealt with one way or another and the routing you have seen was our choice which we think was a good tradeoff given the approx. 6 inches of extra hose.

[Sal_B7]

Dang thats nice!! Makes me wish i would have waited for this. I bought a f/m a few months ago. Might have to make some changes....we will see...

[dextrek]

So this fmic doesn't require aftermarket bumper then? And what is the psi loss for both internal and external? Did it improve compared to your old model?

[D-techniK]

Looks like a great setup.

Keep the info coming

[Mike@APR]

is it going to fit behind the crash bar?

Yes. The crashbar was removed from the rendering so you could see the full Intercooler. The crashbar was modeled in Pro-Engineer during the design of the intercooler as it was my direction that modifying the crashbar for the sake of the intercooler was an absolute no-no.

[Goped220]

Great Caftsmenship APR!

[dubless]

Nice well thought out design. This will be my next and more than likely last modification for this car. The icing to the cake so to speak!

[Nico]

Kieth can you share some of the data with us.
On a stage 2+ A4 and on the stage 3 setup.

What is the pressure drop?

What is the difference in Intake air temps vs DSMIC?

Thanks

[Keith@APR]

Kieth can you share some of the data with us.
On a stage 2+ A4 and on the stage 3 setup.

What is the pressure drop?

What is the difference in Intake air temps vs DSMIC?

Thanks

Nico,

How have you been?

I don't have the data you request available just yet. This post was only to show off the design to get feedback about what you guys think.

The data will be released once the intercoolers are completely developed and near release. I apologize for the delay.

[Geiros]

I want to have that one :D

[Nico]

Nico,

How have you been?

I don't have the data you request available just yet. This post was only to show off the design to get feedback about what you guys think.

The data will be released once the intercoolers are completely developed and near release. I apologize for the delay.

Hey Keith

I've been real good, still waiting to get the kit back on the car. I definitely need one of these intercoolers when I do.

[Keith@APR]

[johntesi]

Looks like an intriguing alternative to the other FMICs already out there.. Can't wait to see some fully installed pics and more data. Really thrilled reputable companies like APR are starting to give the B7 some serious attention!!

[Sal_B7]

nice!!

[lokeh]

sexy!

[Sanjman]

the top/bottom design creates a cyclone in that sonbich'

[outlaw77]

I like this one better because it's clean.

[Arin@APR]

:)

[barkerd427]

APR - Are there any updates on this? I e-mailed you guys about getting this before my first race of the season, but shortly after I found out I would be vacationing all summer in Afghanistan and I would miss most of the season. I decided to wait for you guys instead of getting the AWE FMIC. What is the status on this product? Thanks.

[dubless]

x2! Patiently uh...well not so patiently waiting for this! Intro pricing for the first few buyers!

[9Hooker]

in for pricing and other specs... e.g. x pressure drop @ y flow rate @ z psi. would like AWE's as well really.

[marty was here]

i was just on apr's website they got a stage 3 kit but no intercooler?

ummm wtf?

[barkerd427]

They released the Stage 3 for those people who already had an intercooler. They have run into a lot of setbacks with theirs, and they didn't want to hold back the release of the stage 3 for those people that already had an intercooler or were planning on using someone else's anyway. I believe you can use the stage 3 without the intercooler, but it is not recommended because you will not get the full output from the kit.

Hopefully they will have special pricing for those of us that are exhibiting brand loyalty and will be the first to buy the intercooler.

[Auditude2.0T]

if anyone wants to buy a greddy fmic i want this one lol

[scoobycarolan]

what about the power steering cooler?