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The 2015 Escalade includes a 71-3082 intake that offers an estimated boost of 8.3 horsepower.

McKiddie is well known in the world of specialty equipment manufacturing for the expert work he does in dropping the body of a pickup or SUV and then adding an air bag suspension system. Many vehicles that have gone through a conversion in McKiddie’s shop have been showcased at various SEMA Shows through the years and on the covers of national magazines.

In fact, he has achieved a number of firsts in this style of work. For example, he was the first to bodydrop a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2015 aluminum body Ford F-150, 2015 Chevrolet 3500 dually, and 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet Silverado.

So it should not be surprising that Carlos Herrera of Eunice, New Mexico, brought his 2015 Cadillac Escalade to the master. Once McKiddie was able to eyeball the truck, he realized that he could add another first to his list of drop and 'bag conversions – a 2015 Escalade.

To achieve this feat, McKiddie also had to construct a brand new chassis for the vehicle. The first thing that had to be done was the disassembly of the Escalade so that the body could be dropped, the suspension changed to an air bag system and to integrate a new chassis. That called for the removal of everything in the cabin of the vehicle including seats, dash and consoles, pedals and carpet.

Next, McKiddie had to mark the Escalade up to identify where he intended to make the cuts. Once that was done, he took a grinder and cleaned off paint from the locations where he would cut and then cut into the sheet metal with a reciprocating saw. Now that the Escalade laid in pieces, McKiddie concentrated on lowering the cab.

“We lowered it all the way to the ground,” noted McKiddie.

Next he focused on the construction of the chassis. This part of the overall process called for him to fabricate a frame.

“We made a frame out of 2x4 3016 grade small tubing, installed a parallel four link under the rear and then constructed our own control arms in the front,” he explained.

Firestone F9000 airbags were put on the rear and Airlift 2600 Dominator bags were added to the front. Also included into the suspension were Wilwood 6-piston brakes in the front and rear.

Once the pieces of the Escalade were put back together the stock wheels and tires obviously could not be used. So McKiddie exchanged them for US Mags Gambler 26x9/26x12 wheels and Lexani LX30 295/30-26 and 305/30-26 tires.

An Endo-VT tank that would supply the air for the bags and an Accuair E-Level Controller, which managed the amount of air in each bag, were bolted in and an I-Level app was included so that Herrera could manage the air suspension through his smartphone.

To boost performance of the stock engine, McKiddie included a K&N 71-3082 Blackhawk air intake system and to ensure that the cabin remained fresh, the stock cabin air filter was exchanged for a K&N VF2044 cabin air filter.

The 71-3082 Blackhawk air intake system is ideal for the 2015 Escalade build because it boosts engine performance an estimated 8.3 horsepower at 5338 rpm. It features a K&N RU-3101HBK air filter that is also washable and reusable and backed with the K&N 10-year/Million Mile Limited Warranty. The intake also includes a black powdercoated metal intake tube.

The VF2044 cabin air filter refreshes the air of the Escalade cabin. The filter is electrostatically charged to catch and hold dirt, dust, and other contaminants including mold, mildew, fungus, spores, bacteria, germs, pollen and allergens. This filter is also washable and reusable.

Charles Degand of CD Designs in Edmond, Oklahoma, was called in to paint and add the graphics on to the exterior. According to McKiddie, his portion of the project took about two weeks and the paintwork added another six weeks to the job for an overall total of eight weeks to complete the project.

The vehicle was showcased in the Accuair booth at the 2016 SEMA Show.

McKiddie concluded that work on the interior of the Escalade still has to be done. He added that an audio system with two 10-inch subwoofers in a fiberglass box placed in the rear of the cab and door speakers would be incorporated into the build.

Hoyer flies high in his Snow BikeCross X Games win

Brock Hoyer seized the top podium spot in the event held in Aspen, Colorado, in January. The Canadian outpaced American Colton Haaker and fellow Canadian Cody Matechuk who finished second and third, respectively. If the name Haaker sounds familiar, he was the champion of the 2016 EnduroCross series which K&N sponsors.

Hoyer has reason to smile after a dominating performance

Hoyer’s roots run deep in motocross. “My racing background is pro Canadian motocross," says Hoyer. “I’ve been racing pro since 2005.” For Snow BikeCross, it certainly doesn’t hurt that Hoyer’s homeland is the Great White North.

As to what the new sport really entails, Hoyer explains that it is truly a melding of two thrilling motorsports.

“Snow BikeCross is unique and challenging,” Hoyer says. “It's a totally different set up for the bike. It's a mix of two of the greatest sports, moto bike and sled. When you’re riding in the back country at 8000 feet and looking over the mountainscape, it's just breath-taking. It's God’s country.”

Snow bikes open up a new dimension in winter powersports

Hoyer is convinced that the relatively new sport will not be just a flash in the pan. “What I see for the future of this sport - I think it's here to stay,” says Hoyer. “With back country riding and racing, I think it's just going to keep growing from here.”

Hoyer celebrates the checkered flag with a high-flying finish

Hoyer is quick to turn the spotlight on K&N for being a key player in his success. “K&N filters have been great. They’re the only filters I trust in all my vehicles and work trucks,” says Hoyer. “I have been using the product for years. And it's the filter I choose for my race snow bike to make power on and off the track. Period.”

K&N congratulates Brock Hoyer on his Snow BikeCross gold medal performance at the Winter X Games.

Your Ford Focus may have more performance than you know, and K&N has designed products that are easy to install and can help you access that performance. Here are three ways you can use K&N's performance technology to improve your Ford Focus:

1. Install a K&N Air Intake System

Installing a K&N air intake system is a simple way to get your Ford Focus closer to its full potential. K&N air intakes add horsepower, torque, and acceleration to whatever engine they are designed for. K&N has designed air intakes for the many varieties of Ford Focus and you can find the perfect fit for yours by visiting K&N's Ford Focus air intakes page. A K&N air induction system:

• Replaces entire air box
• Reduces air flow restriction so that your engine can take in more air
• Air induction system includes a washable and reusable lifetime air filter
• Can be installed with commonly available tools, usually in 90 minutes or less
• Is designed to last up to 50,000 miles before service is required.

2. Replace Your Paper Air Filter with a K&N Cotton Air Filter

Air filters keep dirt, harmful debris and other contaminants out of your engine. While most vehicles come with disposable paper air filters, K&N air filters are made with oiled cotton material that is much less restrictive than a paper air filter. Visit the K&N Ford Focus air filters page to find a K&N air filter made specifically for your Ford Focus. The benefits of a K&N air filter include:

• Designed to increase horsepower, torque, and acceleration
• Washable and reusable air filter included
• Better for the environment- reusable air filters means less disposable air filters filling up landfills

3. Upgrade Your Oil Filter to a K&N Oil Filter

K&N offers Performance Silver and Performance Gold oil filters, both of which feature:

• High Flow Rates
• Strength and Durability to prevent damage from rocks and debris
• Anti-drainback valve (where applicable) keeps oil in the engine to help prevent dry starts
• Rolled threads help prevent stripping and give a smoother installation

Higher oil flow rates help your engine perform better. K&N Performance Gold^® oil filters feature a 1" nut welded to the top of the canister, making them easy to remove when the time comes- simply wrench off with a standard tool.

To find the K&N oil filter that is right for you and your vehicle, browse our Ford Focus oil filters page.

Find K&N Products For Your Vehicle

Find K&N products for the Ford Focus, as well as other vehicles, use the K&N application search below then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

The Sahara Desert is one of the harshest environments on earth

Started in 1990, the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles du Maroc, as it is officially called, is a rally race held in the southeastern portion of Morocco, Africa, along the Algerian border. The race, put on by Maienga, an international event management agency, is only open to women. Their goal is to raise money to support a team of doctors to provide medical attention to the remote regions of Morocco.

Nicole and Chrissie took time out of the race to hand out goodies to the desolate communities

Being an all women race, there are often a wide range of participants from all over the globe and from all walks of life. One of the teams consisted of a pair of Southern California women, Chrissy Beavis and Nicole Pitell-Vaughan. Chrissy is a rally car co-driver and has worked with some of the best in the industry. Nicole Pitell-Vaughan owns Total Chaos Fabrication in Corona, California. Total Chaos fabricates suspension parts for a variety of off-road specific applications. So both women are no stranger to driving off-road, but this would take them to the next level.

This picture perfectly sums up life in the Sahara. Now imagine volunteering to race across it!

“I only work with companies that I truly believe in,” explained Nicole, “K&N has been making filters since the ’60s and they build some of the best air filters around. They were one of the first calls I made when I decided to go on this adventure.”

Nicole Pitell-Vaughan and Chrissie Beavis representing Americaduring the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles

Nicole explained that the sand in the Moroccan Sahara is finer than any sand she had ever encountered before. This meant the truck needed an air filter that would offer excellent airflow while keeping out as much dirt and dust as possible. K&N has always claimed that our products really do work and this would be a test of that statement. Nicole and Chrissy would be driving the Total Chaos 2014 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, affectionately dubbed the “Morocco Taco”. We outfitted the Taco with a K&N 33-2281 replacement air filter. This helped ensure that the TRD supercharged 4.0-liter engine received the clean air it needed to work properly. Nicole explained that they were allowed an hour before they left the camp in the morning and an hour when they got to the next camp to work on their vehicles.

The only navigation aids you can use on the Rallye are a compass and an outdated map from the 1960s

She also explained that the only problem they had on the journey, was a broken upper shock mount in the rear. Aside from that, the truck performed flawlessly, even climbing the Merzouga Dunes, some of the largest dunes in the world.

Nicole admitted that she changed the filter once on the Rallye, but it was only for peace of mind

The US team of Nicole and Chrissy came in second place in the 4x4 class, the highest ranking U.S. team to compete in that class. Nicole said that her mind and body have forever been changed by the Rallye.

“I entered the Rallye to redefine my career,” she explained, “and I have to say that spending almost two weeks driving through the desert with zero contact to the outside world does something to you. Not in a bad way, but it makes you look at the world differently.”

We are glad that Nicole decided that K&N was worthy enough to come along for the trip.

This is a tiny dune compared to the rest of the Merzouga Dunes

Nicole and Chrissy enjoy a moment of solace amidst a week of driving through the Sahara desert

The K&N RU-5163XD features a five inch base opening for high-volume demands

To help meet that need, K&N has introduced the RU-5163XD universal clamp-on air filter. It’s jumbo sized to meet the needs of monster motors. The tapered conical filter itself is 4.125 inches to fit into tight spaces, but measures 6.5 inches at the base, with a 5.0 inch inside diameter. That’s right, the RU-5163XD will match right up with a five inch intake pipe. And as the filter flange is constructed from ultra-strong molded pliable rubber, it allows for secure attachment and can also be stretched for up to 1/16" (1.5mm) to fit in-between sizes.

So what’s the advantage of a five inch intake versus a four inch intake? Consider this: an intake pipe that’s four inches in diameter and one foot long has a static capacity of 150.80 cubic inches. A five inch pipe of the same one foot length has a static capacity of 235.6 cubic inches. You want more air flow to your motor? This is how you get it.

The K&N RU-5163XD comes ready to install on your five-inch intake pipe

The only maintenance required for a K&N universal filter is a quick and easy service. When needed (which can vary depending on your driving conditions) just grab a K&N air filter cleaning kit to refresh and re-oil your air filter -- bringing it back to brand-new condition and ready for more miles of driving or racing. And the filter comes from K&N with a one year limited warranty.