Hey shimmy, I love your threads
My contribution here :
1. Why does it make noise ?
Because it's made of carbon (the acoustics of carbon are different from plastic. There is less filtering of the induction noise (the velocity stacks) and more amplification of it) and because it's significantly bigger than the standard S54 intake. I am sure Gorilla will have the volumetric numbers in litres.
2. Why does it produce more hp.
The combination of alpha-n (pseudo as Gorilla says) with the extra air-supply makes the engine produce more hp... plus the ram air which is point 3.
3. How does the ram air works.
As the car picks up speed, air with higher velocity enters the ram air intake in the front bumper which is sent to the intake.
The air is colder and with speed (instead of the typical NA engine behavior having to suck air, you send air with pressure).
More air, colder air + Alpha-N = more HP.
I have some interesting measurements of the intake air temperature with same rpms with different speeds (from 60 up to 260 km/h).
You will be surprised. I will find my notes and post them.
4. Stuck flap = loss of ponnies
This is the opposite of point number 3.
Less air, not so cold air, no ram-air ... so less output.
And I have a question which is also the usual headache of bikes with ram-air.
How do you simulate in a dyno the air pressure in the ram air of the CSL at 250km/h ?
You don't... so the dyno shows 20-30 hp less
(bikes gain 8-15hp from the ram-air in speeds more than 180km/h in the 180hp scale).