• Space optimising, double air intake system features a revolutionary tubular air filter
• Improved fluid dynamics lead to reduced fuel consumption and increased engine power
• EXTREME: Water- and fire-resistant, depth septum filter media made from hydrophobic synthetic fibres

The OE pedigree of UFI Filters, a leading company in the filtration and production of heat exchangers for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, has been enhanced by an important new project for Mercedes-Benz AG. The revolutionary UFI MULTITUBE engine air filtration technology, designed and produced by UFI Filters, is to equip the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class with a double air intake system.

The distinctive feature of UFI MULTITUBE is its modularity, which allows exceptional geometric flexibility for different system designs. Compared to traditional panels, the tubular structure of UFI MULTITUBE offers maximum filtration performance – more than 99.5% – within much smaller overall dimensions.

The vehicle engine compartment that houses the powerful 610 HP V12 engine offers limited vertical space for the passage of filtered and clean air, so UFI Filters has designed a tailored solution to adapt to the specific needs of the car. Both airboxes incorporate the UFI MULTITUBE tubular systems, which optimise space and guarantee better fluid dynamics. As a result, compared to traditional air filter systems, UFI MULTITUBE allows to minimise pressure and energy losses, ensuring greater power availability to the engine and thereby limiting emissions and reducing consumption. UFI MULTITUBE has already demonstrated these benefits on previous applications, offering a potential horsepower increase of up to 4% for some vehicles.

In addition to significantly reducing pressure drop in the intake system, the technology also ensures high resistance against water and fire. UFI MULTITUBE’s filter media, made from exclusive FormulaUFI.EXTREME hydrophobic synthetic fibres, creates a depth septum impermeable to water droplets and moisture; and maintains full functionality and filtration performance throughout its life cycle.

UFI MULTITUBE has also passed the DIN53438 test – ISO standard that determines the degree of combustion of commercial materials; receiving the highest possible, F1 classification – thus highlighting the FormulaUFI.EXTREME media’s resistance to flame, as well as its product safety properties.

UFI MULTITUBE’s performance was also significantly higher than those of other engine air filters with the same F1 classification. In fact, when exposed to an open flame, UFI MULTITUBE did not puncture, unlike other filters classified F1.

Rinaldo Facchini, CEO of the UFI Filters Group, comments: “We are very proud to be selected as preferred supplier to one of the most luxurious German sedans. This demonstrates once again that UFI Filters technological innovations achieve top level positioning – they are high-technology products for premium applications. UFI MULTITUBE has already been chosen by other renowned automotive manufacturers for both super sports cars and A-segment city cars. These examples confirm the flexibility and uniqueness of UFI MULTITUBE technology.”