TRD Airbox for Elise

[nick_t]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been answered recently - I've just joined and couldn't find anything in the search.  

I've recently bought a 2018 Elise Sport 220 which I've been enjoying hugely. About the only thing I'd like to change is the sound, and I've read that a TRD airbox is a big improvement.

The problem, of course, is I have also read they are no longer made and I can't find any in stock either. So does anyone have any suggestions:

- where might I be able to find one?

- any alternatives that achieve the same thing?

Thanks, Nick

[lotus111]

I have owned a 250 Cup and i did fit  a TRD airbox and there was a slight improvement in induction sound but nothing to sing home about I think you could be disappointed In my opinion the best way to improve sound is a change of exhaust.

[nick_t]

That's really helpful - thanks. Yes, I think I will get the 2bular road 8in exhaust, so perhaps that will give me all the juicy sounds I need

That's a sweet McLaren by the way!

Cheers, Nick

[lotus111]

48 minutes ago, nick_t said:

That's really helpful - thanks. Yes, I think I will get the 2bular road 8in exhaust, so perhaps that will give me all the juicy sounds I need

That's a sweet McLaren by the way!

Cheers, Nick

Thanks mate I did purchase a 2bular for the 250 from Jim his work is quality and  the difference in sound was like night and day well worth the investment and your Elise looks fantastic and a great colour you are going to love it congratulations on your purchase 👍

Edited July 9 by lotus111

[LotusPanelRepair]

Must be engine dependant because the trd with the 2zz definitely makes it a lot more vocal even more so with an itg filter in there. 
 

if you decide to get one keep eye out on the various classifieds and eBay they do come up now and again. 

[duncx]

I have a TRD air box and an 8" 2bular on my Cup 250 and to my ears it sounds sweet 👍

However, yours is a facelift car (post 2017) so the exhaust should already be quite fruity - I've not heard anyone complaining about the 2018 onwards cars being too quiet? Depends what sort of sound you're after but the 2bular may not be the best way forward in your case? I've heard good things (no pun intended) about the RRR intake kit, gives a LOT more supercharger noise than the TRD. I think that Jon (Alpinetracks) on here was thinking of fitting one to his Cup 250, dunno if he actually did it though?

https://rrrshop.co.uk/products/lotus-elise-s3-2zr-intake-kit?srsltid=AfmBOopKRiqLJd6lWV9k9A_VcNDVw5AUFCumwE8o2HtmaqghA1-rxlMl

Edited July 12 by duncx

[nick_t]

Thanks that RRR intake does look interesting - I just wondered if the open cone design would suck up too much hot air from the engine bay, but I suppose it's hard to know without seeing exactly how far down the air intake the cone goes. 

You're right the stock exhaust on my 2018 car does sound OK - maybe I need to hear some other cars with different setups to get a better feel for what how they compare. 

[Jonathan E]

RRR intake knocks the TRD into a cocked hat, I had the TRD and chopped it for the RRR and they really are chalk and cheese if you want a bit of whine. Mines been on a few years now and never had an issues. Cleaned annually and all good, worth the extra ££’s imho.

Edited July 17 by Jonathan E

[nick_t]

1 hour ago, Jonathan E said:

RRR intake knocks the TRD into a cocked hat, I had the TRD and chopped it for the RRR and they really are chalk and cheese if you want a bit of whine. Mines been on a few years now and never had an issues. Cleaned annually and all good, worth the extra ££’s imho.

That’s really helpful- thanks Jonathan. Can you tell how far down the intake the cone of the RRR filter goes? I’m just wondering how susceptible it must be to sucking in the hot air from the engine bay at low speeds?

[John FISH Curtis]

TRD will be an improvement over the stock air filter and it will add a little induction and supercharger sound. It will also assist the engine breathing.  The RRR air filter will be the same as the TRD but with more induction noise.

For noise and drama, your £££ would be better spent on an exhaust.

 

 

[Jonathan E]

It’s not going to be sucking in engine bay hot air at any point, the cone sits above the air intake so even at low speeds your going to get intake air not engine. I don’t know about their 5bhp increase claims, Hurricane claim the same for their induction kit but unless your doing before and after rolling road comparisons then who knows. I’m very happy with the product and if you want an increase in SC sound then you won’t be disappointed.

[Jonathan E]

I should add, my 2020 Elise is the only one of the ten I’ve owned over the years  that I’ve not changed the exhaust. It obviously depends what you want from the car, but given mine has been used for touring Europe as much as anything else I think Lotus got it spot on. The thing about the RRR intake is the noise is only there when you feel like a more “spirited” drive otherwise you would never know and the exhaust noise is just right. All subjective and a matter of what your looking for.

[nick_t]

Thanks again guys - I have ordered the RRR so looking forward to hearing it!

[John FISH Curtis]

2 hours ago, nick_t said:

Thanks again guys - I have ordered the RRR so looking forward to hearing it!

Interested to hear your feedback (non pun intended)

[Dani Auto]

Hi Nick,

The TRD airbox is a popular upgrade on the Elise/Exige because it gives a noticeably better induction sound without turning the car into something too antisocial, but you’re right: finding one now can be a bit of a pain.

I’d try a few routes. First, keep an eye on Lotus forums, owners’ clubs and Facebook groups, because these tend to come up second-hand when people return cars to standard before selling. They usually sell quickly, so it’s worth posting a wanted ad rather than just waiting for one to appear.

Second, check Toyota/Lotus specialists and breakers, as the TRD airbox is linked to the Toyota-engined cars rather than being a normal high-street accessory. Even if they don’t have one listed, some specialists may know of cars being broken or owners with parts sitting in a garage.

Third, if you mainly want the sound rather than originality, there are alternatives. A good panel filter in the standard airbox gives a modest change, while induction kits from brands like BOE, Komo-Tec, Sector111 or other Lotus specialists can give a more obvious intake noise. Just be careful with very open cone-filter setups, as they can draw in more heat from the engine bay if not properly shielded.

I’d also check the condition and layout of the airbox parts before buying anything used. This kind of air filter housinglisting/category is useful as a reference point when comparing airbox shape, mounting points and related intake components, even if you still need to confirm the exact Lotus/Toyota fitment separately.

Personally, I’d hold out for a used TRD if you want the “OEM-plus” option and resale-friendly upgrade. If you just want more induction noise, a well-designed enclosed intake kit is probably the easier route.