Manifold shroud to filter pipe

[SamHH]

In my car there is a shroud that covers the exhaust manifold. There is a pipe that connects this shroud to the air filter. What purpose does this serve? Don't you want the air going into the filter (and eventually the engine) to be cold not hot?

[GreenV8S]

In very cold weather, engines tend to be more tractible if they're fed warm air. It helps the fuel evaporate better and reduces puddling and all the transient problems that come with that. Warm air reduces the peak power, but most people are more interested in having an engine run smoothly and reliably. Engines with air heaters on the exhaust would normally have a manual flap with 'summer' and 'winter' settings, or a thermostatically controlled flap, to bypass the air warmer in hot weather.

[SamHH]

Thanks for the explanation.