how does a "cold air intake" actually chill the air being induced into the engine?

 

Thats a good question. One design feature is the actual intake manifold itself.Its an airgap design, designed for a cooler denser charge.The hot engine oil is separated from the runners.Keeping the air cool all the way into the intake ports. And the intake being made of plastic the heat doesn't transfer off the engine like an aluminum unit does. The new Bullitt C.A.I. seems to get cooler air right from under the front of the hood.I have a Roush CAI and it may suck more air but its pretty warm to touch after I run the car.

 

An actual "cold air intake" like the one used on the Kenne bell kits doesn't "chill" the air. It just takes in air from outside of the engine compartment, such as under the bumper, etc. Because the air outside is colder and your filter takes in so much at a time. Your engine benefits from this "cold" air which is denser and more available than under your hood. However, all the CAI kits for the s197 that I know of, are all short ram intakes, not "cold" air intakes. And they get their air from the same location as the factory box, they just get more of it.

 

A CAI doesn't REALLY do much with respect to the temperature of the incoming air. It's real benefit is the additional air VOLUME plus a good tune's ability to allow the engine to take advantage of the extra air flow. The temperature difference of our CAI's is minimal and adds little to the overall performance gain.

 

+1
CAI in our cars are about air volume mostly, more ram air intakes really.
yes colder air is better but more air is best.