In the automotive industry, the term ‘performance parts’ is used for a variety of car and truck parts or accessories, which are designed to improve the performance of a vehicle. The term is usually tied to the aftermarket industry, which makes sense considering that car or truck upgrade parts or accessories are typically purchased after the original purchase. This is not to say that OEMs won’t create performance parts, because they often do.
Products like Borla exhausts, K&N air intake filters, ReadyLift suspension kits, or Bilstein shocks are considered performance parts because they are created to improve the performance of a car or truck. On the other hand, the OEM exhaust, intake filter, suspension kit, or shock absorbers that come with newly purchased vehicles are usually stock parts designed to meet standards at a reasonable price. Someone looking to increase the performance of their car or truck will purchase an aftermarket part designed to increase performance.
However, being strictly aftermarket does not classify a car or truck part or accessory as a performance part. Aftermarket products may include seat covers, car covers, bumpers, sun visors, brand-specific paraphernalia (such as TRD’s line of Toyota® accessories), and steering wheel covers. These products are based on aesthetics, comfort or brand loyalty, not performance. This would make them a car or truck accessory, but not a performance part.
Performance Parts can also perform slightly different but overlapping functions from one car or truck to another. For example, K&N’s quality oil and air filtration products are available for virtually every modern vehicle under the sun. However, while lift kits tend to be popular with Ford®, Chevy®, Dodge® and Toyota® truck owners, you’re unlikely to see demand from Mercedes-Benz® or Porsche® owners. This is not to say that popular Porsche® and Mercedes® parts (at least in the aftermarket) are always different from the most popular performance truck parts. Manufacturers are beginning to notice and react to new consumer demands. For example, Borla, known for its quality truck and SUV exhausts, made the transition and began offering exhaust systems for Porsche® and Corvette® a few years ago.
