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Air Filter

The air intake of an engine allows the engine to breathe and consists of 3 parts: the air filter, some air sensors and the tube itself which brings air through the filter, by the sensors and into the engine.

The air filter is very important to engine performance since it keeps the air supply clean¹. The high temperatures reached inside an engine would rapidly "cook" dirt onto the internal sides of a cylinder and drastically reduce engine performance by blocking valves, tubes and conduits and also increasing internal friction of moving parts. The stock air filter of an engine is usually a pleated thin paper sheet which needs to be replaced every 2 years or less, it will filter poorly and deliver poor air flow to the engine. An affordable performance engine air filter will filter better, deliver better air flow to the engine and never need to be replaced (just cleaned every 2 years or less). While a better filter keeps the inside of the engine much cleaner, the higher air flow of such a filter delivers more air to the engine, allowing for more combustion to take place, thereby increasing engine power output and performance. Dollar for dollar, this is one of the most cost-effective power upgrades for most engines. Typical results will be 3 to 5 HP and torque gained and a much cleaner engine for a 60$ filter you buy one time.

Performance Intake

Further engine power and performance gains can be made by optimizing the route the air takes to get to the engine. Factors which can be optimized here are the smoothness of the path, the width of the tube and where the air is coming from. A smoother path will make for easier breathing for the engine, and a wider tube will be able to carry more air to the engine and thereby increase combustion in the engine. Where (which part of the engine compartment) the air comes from will determine its temperature, as cold air is denser and burns better. These types of modifications are often combined into what is called a "cold air intake" and usually come with a performance air filter. These units can be pricey, but sensible engine power and performance gains can come from them as long as the engine and various air sensors can cope with the higher volumes and flow rates of air sent to them.

References

1. Wikipedia > Air Filter