- Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Japan, Supercars, Nissan
Click above for a gallery of the HKS Nissan GT-R GT570.
Serious Nissan GT-R tuners aren't coming out of the woodwork - yet - but one of Japan's largest aftermarket firms has thrown its hat into the ring, and to good effect. HKS will begin offering its GT570 kit to consumers in Japan later this year (no word on U.S. distribution) and as it's name implies, output is getting close to the 600 hp mark. The package includes new wastegate actuators for the stock turbos and an electronic boost controller, along with aluminum intercooler piping, silicon hose couplers and straight pipes that replace the stock catalytic converters, reducing back pressure, but negating the GT-R's road-legal status.
All of those tweaks add up to a total of - you guessed it - 570 PS, or 562 hp and 540 lb.-ft. of torque at the wheels. Check the gallery below to see the dyno charts and a few shots of the wastegate and plumbing mods.
[Source: SSH and HKS via 2009GTR]
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- Filed under: Spy Photos, Trucks/Pickups, Nissan, Suzuki
A production Suzuki Equator has been snapped while hanging out in California, and the nose job looks successful. The Equator is virtually pure Nissan Frontier, besides the front sheetmetal, but that's not a bad thing. The Frontier is a handsome 2/3rds scale Titan, probably the most attractive of the "compact" pickups. Configurations will mirror the Frontier, too, with 2wd and 4wd models motivated by Nissan's big 2.5-liter four or 4.0-liter V6. Both extended and crew cab setups will be on offer for buyers needing space, and we're waiting for the 'Zuki pickup to hit stores this fall so we can check out interior fitment and prices.
[Source: Automobile]
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- Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge, Nissan
Even in a down pickup truck market, the all-new Dodge Ram should be a boon to Chrysler and not just because it's a far better truck than the one it replaces. The new Ram will also be the next Nissan Titan, a deal that helps Chrysler keep its truck factories running closer to maximum capacity. With Nissan borrowing Ram mechanicals and engineering, the assumption has been that Chrysler's 5.7L HEMI V8 was going to be part of the package. Nissan officials have continually denied that any decision about the truck's engine of choice has yet to be made and that its own Evolution 5.6L powerplant was still under consideration.
Chrysler chairman Jim Press put any speculation to rest when he declared at an LA Motor Guild meeting recently that the Nissan Titan would indeed receive HEMI power. After our friend Mike Levine from Pickuptrucks.com broke the news, Nissan responded by saying that it has made no decisions concerning the HEMI engine and when it does, the announcement would come from Nissan. It makes sense that the next Titan would be HEMI-fied, especially considering that the engineering needed to mate the HEMI and Ram platform has already been done and paid for, and part logistics are already in sync with truck assembly. Plus, the new HEMI produces a class-leading 390 horsepower and gets decent fuel economy for a big, burly truck engine. Nissan could do much worse.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
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- Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Nissan
Click above for a high resolution image
Wald International has never been one to offer subtle styling. Whether it's the Lexus IS-F or the Mercedes-Benz CL, the Japanese tuner loves to create a bold look with vents, wings and wheels. The tuner recently turned its attention to the Nissan GT-R, and while we don't have official information on the car, the photos offer a good look at what the package will include. A vented front fascia and splitter, side skirts, rear fender flares, a rear diffuser, carbon fiber rear spoiler and 22-inch wheels all lend to the more aggressive look. We actually like the majority of the body kit, although we'd prefer the rear fender flares to be the same color as the body, and the larger wheels probably don't do much for the performance of the car. In the end, though, we'd probably spend our hard earned money on some of the Club Sport components from NISMO. Thanks for the tip, James!
[Source: Wald International via Nihoncar.com]
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- Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Japan, Supercars, Nissan
Click either image for a high-res gallery.
NISMO has finally released all the details on its line of upgrades for the R35 Nissan GT-R, and per usual, there's good news and bad news.
On the positive side, the parts are the typical blend of OEM quality and fitment, with a focus on tighter handling and weight reduction. The Club Sport tuning package includes the Chassis pack made up of race-tuned Bilstein Damptronic adjustable dampers sheathed in 18.5kg/mm (front) and 9.6 kg/mm (rear) springs. The combination of rock-hard coils and adjustable damping at both low and high speeds should make the GT-R stickier in the corners and more stable while bombing through a fast sweeper. Rounding out the handling package is a set of Rays forged aluminum wheels, sized 20x9.5-inches in front (+45mm offset) and 20x10.5-inches (+25mm offset) in the rear, and wrapped in Bridgestone RE070R run-flats, sized 225/40 and 285/35, front and rear. These are rumored to be the same rollers we'll see on the Spec-V when it's unveiled in Paris this October.
The rest of the parts focus on weight reduction, beginning with a lightweight axle-back exhaust that drops 11 pounds from the GT-R's curb weight, along with a carbon fiber undertray that reduces air turbulence and parasitic drag. Upgraded carbon-fiber backed and leather-trimmed seats are also part of the package, which retains the side airbags but nixes the electronic controls, reducing weight by another 13 pounds total. Naturally, some NISMO badging rounds out the upgrades.
Now here's the bad news: the parts are only available in Japan as a package, can only be installed by 12 NISMO-authorized shops and come in at a whopping ¥5,460,000 (over $50,000). However, some U.S. importers have already worked out a distribution deal with NISMO, but for those of us in the States, we don't get the added benefit of the three-year/60,000 km warranty.
[Source: NISMO via JPCNews]
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- Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Crossovers/CUVs, Nissan
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Nissan Shiraz Concept
Design student Miguel Ángel Iranzo Sánchez created the vehicle you see above, and he describes it as "a mix between a[n] SUV and a sportscar infused with Nissan brand DNA." For his efforts, which took an entire summer, he won a scholarship to get his Masters in Car Design in Valencia, and -- put on your Price is Right voice for this -- a brand new car! A Nissan Note, to be exact.
Billed as 100-percent all-terrain, ecological, sporty, and Nissan, we admit it's interesting. The doors are gullwing, and the interior is terrific concept car simplicity. And our guess is that the purple glassworks have to do with the purple drink after which the car is named. But that vastly arcing front end that descends to the windshield... well, that just reminds us of a moose. Bullwinkle, to be exact. And the rear end reminds us of something that... excretes things. But have a look at the gallery of hi-res images below, and let us know what you think. While the Shiraz isn't exactly us, with the Seat Brisa on the other hand, now we're getting somewhere... Thanks for the tip, Yogesh!
[Source: Design Launches]
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- Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Crossovers/CUVs, Nissan
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan Murano
It just so happens that the all-new 2009 Nissan Murano is one of those nondescript mid-size crossover utility vehicles that may blend into the crowd. Its styling is certainly modern, if not overly exciting. The cabin is accommodating, if not excessively spacious. The handling is inspiring, if not unduly sporty. The engine is strong, and even reasonably efficient. How would this perfectly acceptable, yet hardly over-achieving CUV handle five passengers and full luggage on a 1,000-plus mile road trip across the Southwestern desert? Read on to find out.
All photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael C. Harley/ Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan Murano
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- Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Commercial Trucks, Nissan
Sensing the ripe market opportunity, Nissan will start producing various light-commercial and medium-duty trucks in 2010. The targeted segment is currently dominated by Ford and GM, where the miscellaneous cabs and frames are used to produce such vehicles as dump trucks, tow trucks, and school buses. Now, Nissan wants a piece of the pie. Larry Dominique, Nissan's VP of product planning, wouldn't disclose details right now, but he did say that a handful of new products will be needed to satisfy the new commercial truck dealers - and Nissan is more than willing to oblige. Joe Castelli, the former director of Ford's commercial trucks (and now a VP of commercial trucks at Nissan), said the Japanese automaker will be pulling from their global stable of commercial components (branded Atlas and Atleon in other markets) to quickly adapt them for the U.S. market. Nissan's official commercial truck plans will be announced in January at the Detroit Auto Show, and we'll be there to judge reactions.
[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]
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- Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Tuners, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Tech, Supercars, Nissan
Cobb Tuning has re-engineered its AccessPort control unit for the new R35 Nissan GT-R. For those of you lucky enough to own a GT-R and not content with its performance out of the box, the $995 AccessPort will reflash the ECU to any one of six different tuning levels.
There are three levels each for Stage 1 and Stage 2. Stage 1 can get you up to 63 additional ponies and 70 lb.-ft. of additional twist, while Stage 2 can boost the numbers by 70 and 90 respectively. The AccessPort can also save your stock ECU data and reflash it when you decide you're finished with all that extra gumption. According to a GT-R owner who tried it out, you can be blowing past all those regular GT-Rs in less than an hour.
And that's not all: you can store multiple engine mapping programs, remove trouble codes, install reduced-power valet and economy modes, and update maps over the Internet. It seems like a ridiculously easy proposition for making your supercar that much more super. So if you got one of those GT-Rs that are a little low on horses, this could be just the ticket.
[Source: Bespoke Ventures]
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- Filed under: Tech, Supercars, Nissan
var Customers_About_GT_R_s_Horsepower'; From the beginning, the Nissan GT-R's performance figures seemed too good to be true. Weighing in at over 3,800 pounds and packing a claimed 480 hp, the 3.5-second sprint to 60 and 11.8-second quarter-mile time just didn't add up. And then the tests began...
Buff books and online outlets began publishing 0-60 runs between 3.2 and 3.4 seconds, and quarter-mile times began dropping quicker than a co-ed's IQ on a nitrous binge. CARandDRIVER.com discovered a similar discrepancy between five different GT-Rs and finally decided to get some time on the dyno to get some real-world numbers.
Continue reading Lies, damn lies and HP ratings: C&D dynos five Nissan GT-Rs
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- Filed under: Coupes, Nissan, Rendered Speculation
Click above for a high-res gallery.
Nissan's plans for an affordable, rear-wheel-drive coupe to slot in below the current Z have been rumored for years and we've been informed that internal politics have killed off at least one revival of an iconic Datsun. If work ever gets underway on another budget coupe, Nissan should seriously pursue Polish designer Iacoski and his interpretation of a 240Z/Fairlady revival.
Aft of the a-pillar, Iacoski's inspiration is clearly apparent, blending the old 240's slopping roofline and short rear overhangs with the muscular haunches and angled fender flares of the current 350Z. Up front, the Photoshop wizard retained the old Fairlady's elongated hood and power bulge, and matched them with a front air dam, bumper and headlamp arrangement influenced by the second GTR Proto concept.
We're totally smitten and think you'll be equally entertained when you check out the gallery of images below.
[Source: Digimods via NihonCar]
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- Filed under: Green, Nissan
If the Nissan GT-R isn't high tech enough for you, you might want to consider waiting around for the middle of the next decade. According to Autocar, Nissan is considering producing a sports car with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The rationale behind the consideration is to commercialize the advanced drive system by offering in it a premium vehicle. With the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain fitted to either a sports or luxury car, it could also be packaged either with high-end features or high performance that would entice buyers to pay high prices.
Nissan recently became the first acknowledged automaker to run a fuel cell vehicle at the Nurburgring with its X-Trail FCV. While its time was nothing to get excited about, its worth remembering that fuel cell vehicles are electrically driven with the fuel cell converting hydrogen to electricity. The Tesla Roadster has clearly demonstrated that electric drive and high performance are not incompatible, so a fuel cell vehicle with a suitably size battery providing bursts of energy for accelerating as well as storing energy from regenerative braking could certainly be tuned for performance. Last year, Ford took a fuel cell-powered Fusion to over 200 mph at Bonneville so top speed is hardly an issue. If Nissan does go forward with such a vehicle, a decision would happen in early 2009, production beginning approximately five years later.
[Source: AutoCar]
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- Filed under: LA Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupes, Nissan
A forum member at VWVortex caught a mildly disguised Nissan 370Z on the freeway, and the two shots give us clearer glimpse of what to expect when the new Z debuts in Los Angeles this November.
It's been widely reported that the 2010 370Z will be shortened by four inches and will ride on a slightly widened track, but without a profile shot, it's hard to tell. The rear three-quarter view shows reworked rear windows that are slightly smaller, with the bottom edge angling steeply towards the roofline. The rear glass of the hatch is sunken in, and incorporates a small spoiler into the trunk lid, while the fenders appear wider than the outgoing model and the tail lamps are equipped with LEDs.
Up front, the restyled headlamps are obscured by the camouflage, but the redesigned front fascia is easily identifiable, as is the tweaked hood, which features a slight power bulge flanked by two accent lines stretching from the windshield to the bumper.
It's nothing radical, but it should be interesting to see how Nissan implements some of its new styling cues from the Maxima and GT-R into new Z.
Thanks for the tip Ross!
[Source: VWVortex]
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- Filed under: Convertibles, Crossovers/CUVs, Nissan, Rendered Speculation
Try as we might, we could not find the punchline to this bit of news, so we're going to run with it. Nissan is creating a Murano convertible, supposedly for empty nesters who want a side dish of top down to go with space for the kids and grandkids. Should such a thing occur, it will be searing your retinas as of 2010.
Nothing is slated to change on the car except the use of a soft-top convertible, even less trunk space, and most likely, the price. To see the rendering, if Nissan simply took the top off, the car might be a little bulbous but acceptable. If Nissan were to use a rollhoop, however... that means they're making a PT Cruiser with a higher seating position. And, as far as we're concerned, that just ain't cool... Thanks for the tip, Cory!
[Source: Inside Line]
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- Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Chrysler, LLC., Nissan
Lending further credence to earlier rumors of platform sharing between Chrysler and Nissan, The Wall Street Journal reports that Chrysler is in talks to base its next mid-size sedan on the next-gen Altima platform. Chrysler's "Project D" focuses on finding or designing a suitable replacement for the current Sebring and Dodge Avenger, models which have fallen on their faces with consumers. Other rumors point to Fiat being the chosen platform-supplier. After all is said and done, Chrysler could have a line-up which consists of a small car from Chinese automaker Chery, another small car from Nissan, a mid-size sedan from Nissan and a line of full-size sedans, pickups and SUVs of its own design. While Chrysler's main goal is to become profitable once again, there is certainly some danger in becoming a re-brander of cars from other companies, especially in the hotly-contested mid-size sedan market.
[Source: The Wall Street Journal]
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Archive for the 'NISSAN' Category
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Paris Motor Show, Supercars, Infiniti, Nissan
According to Car and Driver, a preliminary version of the Nissan GT-R V-Spec — that stands for Victory Specification, mind you — could be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this year and may even be ready for sale by the end of the year. The V-Spec, whose actual specs have not been revealed, is the even better, faster, stronger version of the plain old blindingly fast Nissan GT-R. The V will be lower and more powerful than the regular GT-R, but no one knows yet by exactly how much.
Apparently Nissan has also admitted that the $70,000 GT-R is currently a loss-leader. As the company rolls out more cars on the same platform, like an Infiniti version in a year or so, the GT-R’s balance sheet will begin to show profit. Speaking of that Infiniti version, it will be intriguing to see how they combine Nissan gadgetry with Infiniti luxury. And although the V-Spec could be shown in just a few months and on sale by December, it isn’t expected to go on sale in the U.S. until 2010.
[Source: Car and Driver via Motor Authority]
Posted in World Cars, Passenger Cars, Sport Cars, Automotive News, INFINITI, NISSAN | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007
Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Convertibles, Nissan
In addition to the interesting Mixim Concept, Nissan will display another concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show next month called the Micra Colour + Concept. More of a show car than an outright concept, the Colour + Concept is meant to highlight the minor upgrades the 5-year-old Micra is receiving for the new model year. It features a two-tone paint job with Liquid Metal gold paint covering the top of the car and three-coat pearlescent white on the sides. Nissan says the gold paint looks liquid to the touch, but that doesn’t translate very well in the computer rendering we were provided. The concept’s interior takes the basic layout of the Micra and adds high contrast with white leather covering the seats and top of the dash, and black plastic everywhere else.
As for the production Micra, Nissan is merely adding some new bits like chrome accents, darkened headlamp surrounds and blacked out B-pillars to make the car more “sophisticated” in its old age. Bluetooth compatibility for cell phones has also been added, a feature we’re certainly not used to on a vehicle this size.
We’ll investigate whether the Micra Colour + Concept’s gold paint really looks wet to the touch when we arrive in Frankfurt next month.
[Source: Nissan]
Gallery: Nissan Micra Colour + Concept
Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Nissan’s Micra Colour + Concept
Posted in World Cars, Passenger Cars, Automotive News, NISSAN, Concept Cars | No Comments »
Friday, August 31st, 2007
Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Nissan
UPDATE: Official press release added after jump.
Our cohorts over at Autoblog Spanish surprised us this morning with news that Nissan will be bringing this concept, called the Mixim, to Frankfurt next month. We haven’t seen anything official from Nissan yet about the Mixim, but from what our brothers tell us in their native tongue, it is a “vehicle of the future” type concept, meaning there’s no shot for production. It appears to be either an all-electric vehicle, or some type of hybrid The Mixim is a full-on all-electric vehicle powered by a compact lithium-ion battery pack that drives two electric “Super Motors”, each responsible for their own axle so that the car is technically all-wheel drive.
Clearly a hatchback, the Mixim features front-flipping gullwing doors and a 1+2 seating arrangement. The concept is a little over 12 feet long, almost six feet wide and a bit over four and a half feet tall. It also weighs a mere 2,094 lbs., no doubt to maximize either driving range or fuel efficiency. Finally, the Mixim’s also an infotainment powerhouse, with all manner of hardware to keep the driver’s attention off the road, including full internet access.
We’ll bring you more details, including corrections for whatever got lost in translation above, as soon as we find some official info from Nissan. Meanwhile, check out the pics in our gallery below.
[Source: Autoblog Spanish, Motor Authority]
Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Nissan bringing the Mixim Concept
Posted in World Cars, Passenger Cars, NISSAN, Concept Cars | No Comments »
Monday, February 2nd, 2004
Details info: Nissan Avenir (W11)(1998 - )
The Photo preview - please click on the Link \”Review Big Image\” below
Alternative names:
Nissan Expert Van (Japan)
Nissan Avenir (W11) Expert Van
Sales Company:
Available version:
1.8 16v 4WD aut.
1.8 16v aut.
Previous version:
Variation:
F.J.G (Japan) Avenir tuning
Estate 5d
(Expert Van)
Estate 5d
Assembly Plants:
Info: Redesigned Avenir station wagon (Expert - Van version) was unveiled in August 1998. Design concept of the new Avenir is a “dynamically styled tourer.” Bold and sporty D4 and elegant Salut series are available. The vehicle offers two engines (2.0-liter and 1.8-liter). ABS, Braking Assist, dual airbags are standard on all grades.
Donors:
Posted in NISSAN | No Comments »
Monday, February 2nd, 2004
Details info: The Photo preview - please click on the Link \”Review Big Image\” below
Alternative names:
Nissan Bluebird Sylphy (G10 Facelift) Limousine 4d
Nissan Pulsar (Australia)
Sales Company:
Available version:
1.5 16v aut.
1.5 16v
1.8 16v 4WD aut.
1.8 16v aut.
2.0 16v CVT
Previous version:
Variation:
Info:
Assembly Plants:
Donors:
Posted in NISSAN | No Comments »
