Infiniti's G35 is hot: Sales are strong, and the G offers such a great all-around package that we voted it our 2003 Car of the Year. It's also a worthy foundation upon which to dial in more power and better handling--and that's what Stillen serves up.

The stock 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 is a powerful piece that's received many accolades, but Stillen ups the power game by way of a smog-legal Roots-type supercharger and manifold system. A seventh fuel injector and a reprogrammed ECU combine with 6.1 psi of boost to increase dyno-tested power at the rear tires by nearly 70 horses. The combo teams with Stillen's free-flowing, aggressive-sounding cat-back stainless-steel exhaust system to produce a wider, torquier power curve. All that thick off-idle torque easily overpowers the Toyo T1S 275/35ZR19 rear tires.

Stillen Infiniti G35 Coupe
WHAT'S HOT
· Copious off-idle boost melts rear tires on hard launch
· Well-integrated body kit
· Lower, tighter suspension without a punishing ride

WHAT'S NOT
· Copious off-idle boost melts rear tires on hard launch
· Blower install requires funky hood bulge upgrade
· Tranny calibration needs refinement



Of course, when the tires are spinning, the car isn't moving forward. Still, considerable throttle feathering of the automatic-transmission-equipped Stillen results in a 0.8-second reduction in 0-to-60-mph sprints compared with the factory G.

Handling upgrades augment the newfound power. The G35 now sits lower due to a set of Eibach 1.1-inch-drop coil springs that work with Stillen camber adjusters and five-way-adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars (allowing for seven to 70 percent stiffer settings than stock). Set 17 percent stiffer, the G35 delivers confident handling and an easily predictable amount of oversteer--as long as too much boost isn't applied. On the street, the tighter suspension still rides okay, but does allow some underbody scrapes in deep dips and steep driveways. Stillen's optional brake system includes AP Racing six-piston calipers that clamp 14.3-inch cross-drilled rotors and generate good modulation and feel, but don't deliver better stopping distances than the factory-optional Brembo brakes we've tested on other G35s.
The Stillen G35 is more aggressive looking, thanks to a well-integrated four-piece lower body kit. A special hood cowl is fitted to supercharged G35s to offer the proper clearance. Stillen's three-piece Speed Grille kit received mixed reviews by our staff, but everyone liked the visual punch of the Volk GT-C 19-inch two-piece wheels. At $14,176, the Stillen package equals nearly 50 percent of the G's purchase price, but adds an interesting measure of accelerative, cornering, and visual punch to an already desirable car.