At least it'* guaranteeing the engine isn't choked down by lack of airflow! You "might" lose a smidgen of torque by going too big, but these cars have ample torque (according to the ever-so-accurate butt dyno). Going too big seems more an issue when the engine in question doesn't make that much torque to begin with, such as a 4-banger in a small car.

It has nothing to do with torque.

It'* all about laminar flow, and a proper accurate reading of that flow.

Oh I'm not disputing that it'* a fine product, as you may or may not recall, I've ordered one myself. I certainly wouldn't plunk down that much money if I didn't believe it to be genuinely worthwhile and the best option for my car.

I'm just wondering if a "one size fits all" really works best in this case, given that Intense would sell the same fenderwell intake kit to a 97 SE that they would to a 97 SSEi.

I'm curious to learn how an intake that Intense believes to be beneficial to a heavily modded L67 could be the best possible option for an otherwise completely stock L36.

Not arguing here, just want to know why.
.
.
.

Look at the throttle body sizes. The best flow is achieved with the fewest number of transitions and size changes.

intense sells more than one size of piping...

Yes, but not in the intake kits.

Hmm, yet another reason to trash my current intake then.
.
.
.

Since the Reynolds number increases with pipe diameter, how do you know a stock L36 is flowing enough air to have developed flow in a 3.5" intake?

I think a stock L36 will loose air velocity simply because a 3.5" pipe is too big for it'* hp application.

To me it makes more sense to have a properly sized intake pathway for as long as you can. Yes, the transition to the TB is drastic, but it'* to accommodate for the loss in cross-sectional area taken up by the MAF. If you don't have good flow up to the TB, then the fact that there is minimal transition isn't going to matter.

The 3.5" FWI is a one size fits best intake IMO.

In general, flow decreases in a pipe of a given diameter as length increases. In addition, the less-smooth the inside of the pipe is, the less flow. The stock accordian tube is bigger than 3", but is horrible for flow due to the 'ripple effect'.

Will a 3" pipe (smooth wall) be an improvement over the stock system? Sure. Will a 3.5" be an improvement over that? Good question. I've played with both diameters on both my cars, and can tell you the 3.5" is better, but it'* budget that keeps me at 3" on the SLE.

I don't know off the top of my head whether any L36 owners have switched from 3" to 3.5" and what their results were, nor can I tell you whether INTENSE has dyno'd any, but I can tell you that every L36 here has been very pleased with the Performance of the FWI, and it flows well enough to support any mods you throw at it later.

I will be switching from a 3 to a 3.5 when I get the Intense kit. But then, I also have that crappy APC filter on the end of mine which is probably going to be the greatest source of improvement, if I am able to notice any.
.
.
.