K&N's turbocharged, purpose-built Time Attack Infiniti G35 Coupe.
The name K&N Engineering is synonymous with some of the most widely used aftermarket air filters, oil filters and cold-air intake systems. But, after the debut of this reworked 2003 Infiniti G35, the K&N name will soon be associated with racecar engineering, attention to detail and blinding speed. More than just your average, run of the mill, body kit-equipped tuner G35, K&N's time attack monster is a painstakingly planned out machine. Built for a single purpose, the K&N machine fires in anger one fast lap at a time, and at only one racetrack in the world--Buttonwillow Raceway.
Home of the annual Primedia Time Attack event, Buttonwillow's desert curves are the reason why K&N designed, fabricated, and built this G35. With a 1,200 wheel hp supercharged Viper in-house that has blasted the Silver State Classic and a tube-frame dragster assembled solely for the quarter-mile, K&N already knows a thing or two about building fast project cars. But to dominate the sport compact field, K&N decided to take the top times away from such time attack heavyweights as GM Racing's big dog Cobalt, the powerful Cyber Evo, and the color-shifting Signal Auto Skyline GT-R.
From the second we stepped into K&N's top-secret race shop facility, we knew that we were standing on hallowed ground. Three hydraulic lifts, a herd of machining equipment and a massive carbon-fiber autoclave rested within view. Hidden from view, even from the prying eyes of automotive journalists, were the laboratories where the military jet aircraft and M1 Abrams tank air filters are created. With a full professional race shop available, K&N Sport Compact Business Manager James Yim told us that the only unmolested parts remaining on the G35 are the headlights, e-brake, taillights, and spindles. Virtually everything else has been chopped, painted, reworked, or replaced with a bolt-on piece. And by bolt on, we mean CAD designed, machined from solid billet and then bolted on with aerospace-grade hardware.
For the full story, along with more pictures and specs, pick up the June 2006 issue of Import Tuner Magazine, on sale at your local newsstand now!