Probably not.Perhaps you should ask the question here;www.mx5oc.co.uk/Default.aspx

I have a Maptun panel filter fitted in my Saab. However, I also have a modified air inlet tract and a tune to 270hp!

for more power you can feel and use you need more than just a panel filter. A panel filter will only help if you have other mods.

A panel filter on it's own may or may not release a few mousepower and will also only help other mods if those mods push the airflow requirements beyond what the paper element and ducting can handle.

The other big advantage of a panel filter is that you can take it out, clean it and oil it and put it back, thus over time you save th ecost back in not buying paper elements.

Simples!

PS, also note the filtration qualities of many (but not all) panel filters is not as good as OE spec paper elements, so be careful what you fit especially to turbocharged cars.

Generally speaking, the factory air filter in a modern car will offer very little restriction to incoming airflow, so a drop-in K&N will make pretty much zero difference to anything, apart from cost.

Up to the 70s / early 80s with carb-fed engines, manufacturers gave little thought to the intake side's flow characteristics, and K&N filters were more likely to help flow.

Modern cars have had loads of R&D time tuning the airboxes, intakes and trunking for optimum performance throughout the rpm range.

The site autospeed.com has some very informative articles on the topic of aftermarket filters / induction kits etc on a range of turbo and non-turbo petrol and diesel cars. The conclusions of those articles are, unless you are race-tuning the engine, an aftermarket filter will make no difference at best, and at worst could lose you power.