do the automatic 5th gen have variable intake or is it just a manifold without the dual runner system?

 

By dual runner system, do you mean the shorter airflow path that opens up automatically at higher rpms? Isn't that what makes it a variable intake?

 

yes. the reason i ask is that the on a VE the intake manifolds look the same but only the manual has dual runner design.

 

Yes, both the 5-speed and auto 5th gens have variable intake manifolds and both are operated, unlike the 3rd gen VE autos that have the variable intake but it's not activated. A plot of a 5th gen auto dyno plot clearly shows the 5000+ rpm benefit of the variable manifold.