Team Hybrid EVO VIII Running K&N Air Filter Featured in June/July Issue of PAS MAG

This Team Hybrid Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII equipped with a K&N air filter blurs the line between a race, street, and show car © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Mark Buffington, owner of a highly modified 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, prefers to break stereotypes rather than follow the norm. Most people would imagine Buffington, who is 57 years old, to have fulfilled his mid-life crisis like other men his age; by purchasing a Porsche, Ferrari, or Corvette. Instead Buffington says “Those are their dream cars. This (EVO VIII) is mine. When they go to the track I’m going to be able to beat them in my four-cylinder Evo.”

The adjustable coil over suspension system gives the 2003 Mitsubishi Evo 8 a very commanding stance with adjustability for the street or track © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Mark Buffington’s 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII blurs the lines between race, street and show. His attention to detail and compulsion to continually reinvent his EVO VIII has led to him to describe his car as a piece of art. “I look at my car and I think of it as a piece of art. I enjoy constantly redoing it. A project is never truly finished…” said Buffington. Never contented, Buffington went on to say “The EVO is at the shop again. It will be completely different the next time you see it.”

The owner of this EVO VIII, Mark Buffington, belongs to the Las Vegas, Nevada chapter of the Team Hybrid car club started by James Lin in 1995 © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Powering Buffington’s EVO VIII is the Mitsubishi 4G63 engine with an FP Red turbocharger upgrade. The 4G63 motor is a tried and true power plant, and according to Buffington “You can put down nearly 600 hp with it (4G63), and mine makes a little over 500 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque”. The FP Red turbocharger is capable of forcing high amounts of air through the Type “R” front-mount intercooler and into the EVO VIII engine.

Mark’s highly modified 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is just as trick inside the driver compartment as it is outside © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Feeding air into Mark’s 4G63 engine is a custom air intake system made by Buffington’s tuning shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. A K&N High-Flow Air Filter was used to meet the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow demanded by this 500+ hp 4G63 without sacrificing filtration efficiency and engine protection.

Mark’s 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8 is adorned with beautiful, but functional, carbon fiber aerodynamic components for looks and performance © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Buffington is a member of the Team Hybrid car club and belongs to the Las Vegas, Nevada chapter. Team Hybrid was founded in 1995 by James Lin, the current team president, who is based in Oxnard, California. Team Hybrid specializes in import builds for race, street, and show cars. Lin said “We have been using K&N for over 19 years. K&N products increase power, are easy to maintain and clean, while withstanding the test of time.” K&N supports Team Hybrid and Lin’s motto of “May our years of legendary tradition, philosophy, quality, innovation and management continue to make import history.”

Noteworthy modifications of Mark Buffington’s Mitsubishi Evolution VIII include:

Engine/Drive:
Custom air intake system with K&N High-Flow Air Filter
FP Red turbocharger
HKS front mount Type R intercooler
Bored out OEM intake manifold
Perrin fuel rail
I.D. 1,000 cc fuel injectors
HKS 272- and 264-degree camshafts
HKS twin exhaust system
Exedy twin-plate clutch and flywheel
Driveshaft Shop two-piece aluminum driveshaft

Buffington relies on a K&N universal clamp-on air filter to provide airflow and engine protection for his 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII © 2014 Eric A. Eikenberry-Photographer

Suspension/Brakes/Wheels:
K-Sport adjustable coil over system
Whiteline rear control arms
Carbing trunk and front strut tower braces
Cusco bolt-in roll cage
Volk Racing wheels
BF Goodrich tires
Brembo calipers
Stoptech brake rotors
K-sport stainless steel brake lines

Exterior/Interior:
VeilSide body kit
Seibon Carbon hood, truck, and front fenders
APR wing with 12-in. stands and 3-in. extensions
Uehara Motowerks custom side winglets
Bride Zeta III racing seats
Takata Racing pads
Nardi deep dish steering wheel
Sparco pedal set

Whether your car is a fire breathing import on the level of Mark Buffington’s EVO VIII or a Clydesdale-like work truck, K&N has air and oil filters to meet your performance needs. Look up parts for your car here by year, make, and model or use our universal filter search here, to find a custom air filter like the one on Mark’s EVO.