What’s this? 2025+ Air filter cover piece

[craigt502]

Back in my younger days of modding cars, a free mod you could sometimes do was gut an air intake box. Some factory intake boxes would be covered in extra plastic pieces likely for sound baffles and more rigidity.
I was curious to see what the 2025 intake looked like. It’s fairly “clean” no material to really modify or remove. Except what the heck is that for?! My hope is it’s just some sort of sound baffle and removing it would be a free mod to improve air flow. But that may be wishful thinking.

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[El Kabong]

The hybrid also has one (pic below) in the upper air box! My curiosity was piqued so I did the scientific thing and googled "what is the little black filter looking thing in my maverick airbox?".

It seems the answer is that it is a passive carbon absorption filter to capture vapors that may be present in the intake after the engine is turned off.