Anyone know the purpose is the two box sectiona that stick off the air intake pipe on the airbox

They must obviously have some sort of purpose allthough can't really see what

Don't have a picture to hand but I'm sure many of you will have seen them

There we go google to the rescue

It's the air intake trap for leaves, water and other rubbish, I think

jim cooper said:

It's the air intake trap for leaves, water and other rubbish, I think

Click to expand...

I can't see it being much of a trap given how it's on top of the pipe it wouldn't ever hold anything inside especially water

Right enough. Maybe something to control air flow or temperature of it?

I once asked a similar question about the air intake pipe on the Punto (link) ... from which I gather these are called "resonators" and they help control air flow and reduce noise.

For a more technical explanation -

How does a side branch intake resonator (Helmholtz?) work?

Pickwick said:

I once asked a similar question about the air intake pipe on the Punto (link) ... from which I gather these are called "resonators" and they help control air flow and reduce noise.

For a more technical explanation -

How does a side branch intake resonator (Helmholtz?) work?

Click to expand...

Beat me to it. Resonator to reduce noise, albeit a bit of a strange looking one.
Funny you mention this as I was replacing my air filter at the weekend. Very tempted to slide a K&N panel in there but resisted the temptation and promise of +1bhp. Went stock instead ?

That explains it I guess one of those things that works despite the fact it really looks like it shouldn't