# Why the STILLEN Gen 3 Intake Leads the Market **By Nathan Fette** ยท 2023-01-23 # **STILLEN Gen 3 Cold Air Intake: Overview and In-Depth Look** STILLEN is proud to offer one of the most popular and well-regarded performance parts ever developed for the Nissan and Infiniti platform: the [STILLEN Gen 3 Dual Long-Tube Cold Air Intake](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake). Here's a full look at how it came to be, what sets it apart from competing cold air intake systems, and why it continues to be the top choice among Nissan and Infiniti enthusiasts after more than a decade on the market. ## **From Gen 2 to Gen 3: The Development Story** Since 1986, STILLEN has been a leader in Nissan and Infiniti high-performance aftermarket tuning. When Nissan introduced the 370Z in 2009 with its 3.7-liter V6 engine, it immediately became one of the most exciting platforms STILLEN had worked with. True to form, the team got to work right away on a high-performance air intake system for the new Z. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/Q50Intake-2-1024x682.jpg?v=1782159406) The initial solution was the ["Gen 2" short ram intake](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+2+intake) - a setup previously used on the 350Z consisting of a polyurethane air shield, a high-flow air filter, and a velocity tube. It was a solid, proven part that improved the intake sound and delivered some performance improvement, but it did not produce the kind of big power gains the STILLEN engineering team was after. That led the team to pursue a completely new design. After more than a year of development and 56 different prototypes, STILLEN finalized the [Gen 3 long-tube dual cold air intake system](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake) for the Nissan 370Z, Infiniti G37, Infiniti G35 Sedan, and Nissan 350Z HR. All four of those applications have proven to be tremendous successes with the Gen 3 system. ## **What's Included in the Gen 3 Cold Air Intake Kit** The [STILLEN Gen 3 intake kit](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake) includes polished aluminum intake tubes, two high-flow air filters, all necessary mounting hardware, and STILLEN's signature silicone couplers. For G37 and G35 applications, the kit also includes a polyurethane air shield designed to deflect water, debris, and heat away from the air filters, protecting the system in real-world driving conditions. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/402847dfphoto-700x462.jpg?v=1782159406) ## **Why the STILLEN Gen 3 Is the Best Cold Air Intake on the Market** The [STILLEN Gen 3 cold air intake](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake) features a 3-inch inlet tube that narrows to a 2.5-inch tube which runs all the way to the throttle body. The mass airflow (MAF) sensor bosses are CNC-machined billet aluminum, TIG-welded to aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum tubing for maximum precision and durability. One of the most common questions about the Gen 3 intake is why STILLEN chose aluminum tubing over silicone, and why they stayed with a 2.5-inch diameter rather than going larger. Here is the reasoning behind both decisions. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/White370ZNismo_0020_Layer-11-1024x682.jpg?v=1782159406) ## **Why 2.5-Inch Tubing: No ECU Tuning Required** The 2.5-inch tube diameter matches the factory mass airflow sensor housing as closely as possible. Changing that diameter requires a full ECU recalibration. That means a tuning license, hours of dyno time, and potentially new fuel injectors, depending on the vehicle. A cold air intake that requires additional tuning can turn a $500 to $700 upgrade into a $1,500 to $3,000 project. The [Gen 3 cold air intake](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake) is a true bolt-on upgrade with no additional calibration required, meaning the real-world cost-to-performance ratio is far superior to larger-diameter alternatives. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/Tony-Graham-Infiniti-Nissan-Stillen-Vehicles-2-1024x678.jpg?v=1782159406) ## **Why Aluminum: Rigidity, Durability, and Airflow** Silicone intake tubes cost less to produce than aluminum, but they come with significant performance trade-offs. A silicone tube is substantially thicker-walled, which means more of the front core support has to be modified to pass a full 2.5-inch bore through it without creating a restriction. Without that modification, the silicone tube itself becomes a flow restriction that limits peak power. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/2013Red370ZGen3-1.jpg?v=1782159406) More critically, silicone is flexible. At high RPM, an engine generates tremendous vacuum as it pulls air through the intake tract. Under peak load, that vacuum can actually cause a long silicone tube to collapse inward - a phenomenon STILLEN has documented on multiple vehicles, including some with factory rubber inlet tubes. Aluminum, with its thin 0.065-inch wall thickness, is rigid, durable, and immune to collapse. It provides maximum internal volume for airflow with none of the flexibility concerns of silicone. These are the core reasons STILLEN chose aluminum for the [Gen 3 intake system](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake). ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/G37IntakePolished-700x525.jpg?v=1782159406) ## **Final Thoughts on the STILLEN Gen 3 Intake** After 56 prototypes and over a year of focused engineering, STILLEN is confident the [Gen 3 cold air intake](https://stillen.com/search?q=stillen+gen+3+intake) represents the best intake solution available for the Nissan 370Z, 350Z HR, Infiniti G37, G35, and Q60. That commitment to engineering excellence is what STILLEN brings to every product in its lineup, and it is why the Gen 3 has remained the most popular Nissan and Infiniti intake on the aftermarket for more than a decade. Browse the full lineup of [STILLEN intake systems](https://stillen.com/collections/intake/stillen?t=1782159200289) to find the right fit for your vehicle. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/2013Red370ZGen3-5.jpg?v=1782159406) **Tags:** 350Z, Air Intake, G35, G37, Gen 3, Infiniti, Long Tube, Nissan, Q60 --- > Source: [STILLEN](https://stillen.com/blogs/news/why-the-stillen-gen-3-intake-leads-the-market)