Elantra N Intercooler

We are excited to unveil a groundbreaking intercooler upgrade for the Hyundai Elantra N. Leveraging our industry-leading bar and plate technology, coupled with advanced SolidWorks CAD modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, While utilizing our wealth of knowledge and past experience developing industry leading products for Hyundai’s I30N on the Elantra N project we developed high-flow hand formed end tanks designed to optimize performance while making the most of the space available in the Elantra Ns chassis, enhancing both airflow and cooling capacity.

The bar and plate core delivers an impressive 111% increase in volume and a 58% boost in frontal surface area compared to the stock cooler, making the Forge intercooler one of the largest and most effective upgrades currently available for the Elantra N. To further enhance the Forge Motorsportsintercoolers cooling efficiency, our team engineered a custom-fabricated ducting system that integrates seamlessly with the vehicle’s front bumper. This ensures perfect fitment and directs airflow precisely where it’s needed most.

The inlet and outlet sizes have been increased to 65mm, providing 27% more volume than the factory unit to optimize airflow. Additionally, we designed custom Silicone hoses to give the enthusiast a package that has seamless integration to the vehicles surrounding engine components. This complete package ensures maximum performance gains for vehicles at any tuning level. The intercooler is finished with our signature black textured powder coating, offering exceptional durability and longevity.

Extensive testing of multiple core designs led us to select a high-quality bar and plate configuration, the same trusted design featured in our highly successful Audi RS3 and TTRS 8S intercoolers. The internal core design, fin shape and amount minimizes pressure drop while maximizing cooling efficiency, ensuring consistent performance gains under demanding conditions.

Why do we test different cores ?

Here at Forge Motorsport, when developing an intercooler, we will test several different cores for each application. For example, a bar and plate style core, a tube and fin style core along with different fin pitches and heights i.e. 22 fins per inch or 17 fins per inch as well as changing the internal fin pitches/shapes and density within the tube enabling to fine tune the amount of pressure drop the intercooler produces. Pressure drop is not always a bad thing, as our testing and research has proven on various projects, this is because the pressurized air velocity is being stalled by the pressure drop within the cooler thus allowing more time to cool the air within the cooler itself, as air passes through the non-pressurized face of the core, that is open to the atmosphere.

Too much pressure drop can of course have a problem on the higher performance engines as the intercooler reaches its maximum efficiency the turbo has to work a lot harder to force the air through the core. This in turn creates higher inlet air temps (IAT’s) due to the turbo creating more heat as it is over stressed and worked harder. No pressure drop can also prove to be inefficient as the cooler will not lower the charge temperature again resulting in higher inlet air temperatures. That’s why Forge Motorsport individually pick and test different core configurations ensuring the end user is delivered the best performing product.

Our results speak for themselves. Inlet air temperatures (IATs) were reduced by half, unlocking significant performance improvements for tuned vehicles. During testing, we simulated real-world conditions by allowing the vehicle to heat soak on the dyno, with the radiator fans cycling on and off at an inlet temperature of approximately 40°C. From this baseline, dyno pulls demonstrated the Forge intercooler’s ability to deliver a much greater drop in temperature compared to the stock cooler.

After six consecutive dyno pulls, the Forge intercooler maintained IATs of just 24°C – an incredible 50% reduction from the factory intercooler’s 48°C. These tests, conducted in a controlled 15°C ambient environment, highlight the stock intercooler’s inefficiency, which becomes even more pronounced in summer conditions. Elevated intake air temperatures can severely impact engine performance, causing the ECU to retard ignition timing to prevent detonation. This results in reduced power output and, in tuned vehicles, can lead to accelerated engine wear. The Forge intercooler ensures consistent cooling, delivering the performance and reliability you need to unlock your vehicle’s full potential.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to N Club Tennessee for their invaluable support and collaboration throughout this project. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in bringing this exceptional product to life for the Hyundai Elantra N community. Together, we’ve created a solution that not only sets a new benchmark for performance but also underscores the spirit of innovation and excellence.