K&N Engineering, of Riverside, California, is the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications. From humble beginnings as a family run business over 35 years ago, K&N Engineering, now a truly global company with offices in the U.K. and the Netherlands, continues to exist as a family owned business with an enthusiast mindset and a direct connection with motor sports that carries over throughout all levels of management and manufacturing.

Today, K&N exists as both the sales and brand leader for performance filters, and maintains a stocking catalogue of over 3,500 part numbers, including an extensive line of both factory replacement drop-in filters, FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit) applications, and its line of innovative Performance Gold oil filters.

The Future of Automotive Filtration

Although the current market continues in large part to rely on the now antiquated disposable paper filter element that has been in existence since the dawn of the gasoline internal combustion engine, K&N is pleased to note that in recent months, leading paper filter companies have seen the light and begun to follow its lead in what can only be described as a filter revolution as the automotive industry continues to shift towards the widespread acceptance of long-life performance gauze filters. The cotton gauze filter market segment has seen significant investment in global spending towards educating both consumers and automotive industry engineers in the environmental and performance advantages associated with long-life air filters. K&N will continue to spearhead this filter revolution, and has pushed filter technology to a new level with cutting-edge R&D across its entire line of air filters, to be announced in further detail in the very near future.

What Lifetime means to K&N and Consumers

The cornerstone of K&Ns philosophy has been, and continues to be, that automotive performance does not have to have a shelf life, or to stand at odds with the quality of life of the purchasing consumer or others. Put simply, the benefits of increased performance associated with K&N filters contributes meaningfully towards money savings, fuel savings, and a dramatic reduction in environmental waste for the life of the vehicle in which the filter is installed. As consumers become educated in the performance benefits of K&Ns performance filters, many are surprised to learn that they have been missing out on benefits that would hold true for them, but for the lack of foresight in the filter selection that manufacturers and service departments have made in selecting the filter with which their cars our equipped. In this sense, K&N appreciates that a little education goes a long way in helping consumers take an active role in thinking for the first time about air filters, and then taking an active stance in choosing the filter that is right for them and best reflects their values and needs. With this choice made, K&N consumers become K&N advocates for life, giving lifetime another layer of significance.

The Filter Revolution in OEM Automotive Manufacturing

Just as automotive manufacturers have begun responding to consumer demand for premium brand tires, spark plugs, motor oil, and other consumables, so too have they taken note of changing consumer preferences and expectations in this filter revolution. The transition away from disposable paper filters in new cars and trucks has proven to be resounding and profound. K&N fully expects to become the default standard and supplier for a majority of OEM applications in the not-so-distant future.