On road and off road, performance and fuel economy are always on the top of everyone’s list.  Whether you’re racing a two wheel drive short track Baja 500 or prefer to shoot down a quarter mile track at 120mph, you want your ride performing at its best.  In order to accomplish this, you have to understand the basics of the internal combustion engine.
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Gas or diesel – they are all pretty much the same.  What you have is a big air compressor and the more efficiently you can move air through it, the more effective your engine will be.  That being said, let’s start with your air intake system.  Most vehicle manufacturers install large restrictive air intake boxes with intake tubes that are ribbed, bent, and, in some cases, have extra compartments that trap air with the intent of making the air intake process as quiet as possible.  That is all well and good but by no means efficient.  This is the best place to start.

The simplest and least expensive improvement would be a replacement full-flowing gauze-type filter like that offered by K&N, FRAM, and several other companies.  These provide a significant increase in the air flow to the intake system and will have a couple of effects on your wallet.  These filters can be 10 times the price of a standard replacement filter, but keep in mind that it is the last time you will buy a drop-in air filter as these aftermarket filters are cleanable and reusable.  They will also help increase your fuel mileage somewhat, thus saving you money in the long run.

The best way to go is with a full cold air intake system.  These systems eliminate the bulky and inefficient factory systems.  The aftermarket cold air intake systems will, in most cases, give you a “seat of the pants” performance improvement and your fuel mileage will be positively affected.  I say “positively affected” because some people will change the way they drive because of the increase in throttle response and overall performance improvement.  They tend to accelerate a little quicker because it feels good.
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There are a slew of aftermarket air intake systems offered.  I would suggest you do some research on the different manufacturer websites and see which one you think will look best under your hood.  “Look the best?” you might ask.  Yes, simply because they all perform quite well but they all have a different style.  Some intake manufacturers, like Gale Banks and Volant, offer an additional intake tube that bolts underneath the bumper and has a forced air effect.  These units have dyno-proven positive effects on horsepower and torque.