Dispatch 1.9D - I want to make some space by removing my air box. Smaller air box without worsening noise and mpg?

[kenbw2]

I have a small leisure battery, but would love to get a bigger one. Space is at a premium though. I look at that air filter box and think of how much battery space it takes up.



God knows the DW8 is a boy racer's engine, so I was thinking a cone filter for that extra chavtastic look. But then I discovered that it makes a bit of a chavtastic noise, which isn't really something I want. I also heard they're not good for MPG as they bring in the hot air in the engine bay.

So maybe I could get a small air box that can be supplied with outside air? I wouldn't want to constrict air flow to the engine obviously. No turbo, and no MAF sensor, so its air needs aren't going to be particularly complex.

Is the air box necessarily huge, or is there something I could replace it with, and fit a bigger battery in its place?