Power rules all, and absolute power rules absolutely. It is like a whipping stick. The larger the whipping stick, the more respect you gain. The 350Z is a pretty big whipping stick, even in stock trim. Underneath the hood lays a potent 287-hp, 274 lb-ft torque VQ35DE engine just waiting to be unleashed. When tag-teamed with an awesome suspension package, the Nissan is more than most can handle. Unfortunately, to most performance enthusiasts those lofty numbers are still lacking. Like the old adage: power is the root of all evil, so the more power you have the better it is. That is where HKS comes in. For nearly three decades HKS has been researching and developing performance products for the sport compact market. From the simple air intake system to the complete tube-framed carbon-fiber race vehicle, HKS has constantly pushed the performance envelope. With the release of the 350Z in 2003, HKS already knew that the future owners would demand more power. Since then, the engineers have been hard at work researching and developing a supercharger kit for the 350Z. Although HKS has traditionally used turbochargers for performance upgrades, the company felt with today's strict emission standards a supercharger kit would meet consumers' needs.
The supercharger kit bolts on using a Rotrex centrifugal supercharger unit. The belt-driven Rotrex unit incorporates fixed-ratio planetary rollers that increase the efficiency and reliability of the system. Also included in the kit is a front-mounted intercooler that helps cool the charged air. A piggyback engine management with direct plug-in harness handles fuel delivery. The fuel computer controls two additional 525cc injectors plumed directly into the intercooler piping. A high-flow in-tank fuel pump maintains proper fuel pressure to keep up with the demands of the additional injectors. A Super Mega Flow intake cleans the air before the Rotrex supercharger compresses it.
On the dyno the HKS supercharger kit generates an additional 80+ hp to the rear wheels over the stock form. Compared to the stock 350Z, which registers 237.4 hp and 232.8 lb-ft of torque to the wheels, the HKS-equipped 350Z peaks out at 316.6 hp and 306.8 lb-ft of torque. That's an increase of 79.2 hp and 74.0 lb-ft of torque to the wheels! Once the throttle is smashed the power is immediate, and the 350Z pulls viciously to redline. Currently the HKS supercharger kit is pending CARB exemption, so it should be 50-state legal by the time the kit is available to the public. However the kit carries a hefty price tag of $7250. Considering what is included in the kit the price seems more than fair.
If you are on the market to add a can of whoop ass to your 350Z, HKS might be the answer to your prayers. Just be sure to pay attention to the speed limit...yeah right.