Background:
Integrated Engineering’s update to their intercooler for the Mk7 GTI / R provides a number of benefits according to the product description. This post will serve to review the claimed benefits and assess the likelihood of them being delivered to an end user.
Noteworthy benefits claimed are:
- IE’s newest Flow Distribution System (FDS™) intercooler is a revolution in boost cooling performance.
- It’s strong cast architecture, breakthrough flow technologies, and 137% larger next-gen, heat soak defeating core size makes it the world’s ultimate VW/Audi intercooler upgrade.
- …keep you in the highest power output possible from your ECU tune and performance hardware upgrades.
- IE’s Flow Distribution System (FDS) is light years ahead of other intercoolers, …
- … the IE FDS intercooler has been proven to drastically reduce intake air temperatures more so than any other units available on the market -offering the largest power gains possible.
- By greatly increasing the core size and useable area of the core with FDS technology, we have eliminated the heat soak, keeping the intake air temperatures consistently lower than OEM and competition intercoolers.
Frame of reference – truth in advertising
For some idea about the standards that exist for advertising the Federal Trade Commission has created guidance for Small Business advertising. A few notable standards are:
- Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive;
- Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims;
Describing “What makes an advertisement deceptive?” An ad is deceptive if it contains a statement – or omits information – that:
- Is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances; and
- Is “material” – that is, important to a consumer’s decision to buy or use the product.
Describing “What kind of evidence must a company have to support the claims in its ads?”
- Before a company runs an ad, it has to have a “reasonable basis” for the claims. A “reasonable basis” means objective evidence that supports the claim. The kind of evidence depends on the claim. At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it says it has.
Analysis:
The listed benefits will be reviewed to determine if there is credible data on the product description page to substantiate the claims.
1) A revolution in boost cooling performance.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product is a complete change (revolution) in cooling performance.
2) Breakthrough flow technologies
No data to substantiate a claim that the product provides “breakthrough flow technologies”.
3) The world’s ultimate VW/Audi intercooler upgrade.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product is the “world’s ultimate VW/Audi intercooler”
4) The highest power output possible from your ECU tune and performance hardware upgrades.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product provides the “highest power output possible…”
5) Flow Distribution System (FDS) is light years ahead of other intercoolers.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product’s Flow Distribution System is “light years ahead of other intercoolers”
6) Proven to drastically reduce intake air temperatures more so than any other units available on the market.
This an especially egregious claim as it states the product is proven to do something without any proof.
7) Offering the largest power gains possible.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product provides the “largest power gains possible.”
8) Eliminated the heat soak.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product eliminates heat soak.
9) Keeping the intake air temperatures consistently lower than OEM and competition intercoolers.
No data to substantiate a claim that the product keeps IAT lower than “competition intercoolers”
Conclusions:
I was unsuccessful at finding data on the Integrated Engineering intercooler product page that supports the product performance claims.
The lack of evidence to support the claims is cause for concern about the the ability of the product to deliver the performance claimed.
When measured against the FTC truth in advertising yardstick the information presented by Integrated Engineering for the V2 intercooler seems lacking, and likely to meet the criteria for being deceptive.
Been following this Jeff, great work as usual, especially for the community. I’ve had my APR on for the last 3 1/2 years and it performs as expected for me. At the time I did the upgrade there were no comparisons like you’ve provided. If there was, I would have seriously reconsidered the IE.
Hi, thanks for that feedback, I’m glad to hear that the data I gather is useful for other people. Both are solid intercoolers from what I have seen.