Professionally engineered performance for 350 - 525 horsepower applications utilizing 40 - 55 lb/min turbochargers.
The legendary APS front mount intercooler has quickly become the benchmark for all front mount intercooler systems for the Impreza WRX. Extremely high flow rates and massive temperature reduction - a level of performance that other manufacturers can only aspire to achieve.

APS has now upped the ante even further with the release of the D/R 525 front mount intercooler system, specifically designed for high horsepower Subaru WRX and STI engines.

Unlike other systems that require cutting of structural components at the front of the vehicle, APS has designed the D/R Series FMIC with a truly bolt-on replacement unit that not only maintains the structural integrity of the vehicle, but also forms the perfect mount to accommodate the largest FMIC available for a WRX and STI.

APS shoehorned the optimum sized intercooler core for the target power levels, but with the greatest frontal surface area possible.

This provides the maximum cooling capacity and engine performance and of course, killer looks. With intercooler core dimensions of 9.375" x 33.5" x 3.25" for a surface area of over 314 square inches and a total intercooler core volume of 1,020 cubic inches.

The APS intercooler core is of internally finned construction and offers significantly enhanced flow and heat exchange performance over the standard intercooler and other front mount intercooler systems, particularly at high charge air mass flow rates. Also, unlike other manufacturers of WRX intercoolers who reduce cost by using deeper cores of small frontal area, the APS D/R Series intercooler is designed with the optimum ratio of intercooler core surface area (over 314 square inches!) to intercooler volume (1,1020 cubic inches). The result is an intercooler system with outstanding flow and cooling performance, particularly at high engine horsepower levels.

However, there is more to intercooling than size alone. Fully engineered light weight, cast aluminum end tanks ensure optimum charge air distribution throughout the entire cooling core for maximum charge air cooling and minimum pressure drop.

The reality of intercooler excellence in terms of performance equals:

Largest intercooler surface area possible
Optimal intercooler internal passage volume
Lowest possible pressure drop
Highest possible intercooler core efficiency
Matched to the turbocharger air delivery in lb/min
In other words the greatest possible charge air temperature reduction with the lowest possible pressure loss at the rated flow of the turbocharger - Whilst maintaining good throttle response.

An intercooler drops the charge air temperature, which enhances the combustion of the air/fuel mixtures. This more complete combustion of air fuel mixtures produces higher engine power.

Intercooler performance is measured by the amount of energy (temperature) the intercooler can remove from the inlet charge air as well as the pressure drop across the entire system. It is important to consider the entire intercooler system and not simply the intercooler core itself.
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Pressure and Temperature Data

The following table details pressure and temperature reduction data at various horsepower levels. Note that turbocharger specification will have a significant affect on temperature and pressure data.

Turbochargers with a smaller capacity compressor for example will discharge compressed air at a higher temperature. This results in increased charge air volume (hence gas speed) through the intercooler system to achieve an equivalent mass flow of compressed air. After all, the mass of air available for combustion is the overriding factor when it comes to producing power from an internal combustion engine. Conversely, a larger turbocharger will supply cooler air for the equivalent mass flow of compressed air.

Never before has such an outstanding production intercooler system been made available for the WRX/STI performance enthusiast. For high horsepower applications up to 525 Flywheel horsepower, the APS DR525 is the clear choice.