Cold air? From where?

Why exactly do they call it a "cold air intake" if it's obviously sucking in hot air from around the engine? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for them (I've got one on my 99 v6 coupe)! Is a CAI really a different kind of intake and the cone-filtered ones just took the name?

well i guess its called that because with cold air intakes the filter is by the fender well area and picks up colder air than the stock system did.

cold air intake filters are outside of the engine bay. i think u are referring to short ram intake where it is a short pipe with the intake filter still in the engine bay. so basically if u were to pop open someones hood and not see their intake filter... then it is cold air. if u were to pop open someone elses hood and see their air filter... then it is a short ram intake.