Nissan Raises Stakes On Z-car...!
12-05-05, 11:37 AM
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Nissan Raises Stakes On Z-car...!
One of the hottest Sports Cars on the market... Will probably get alot HOTTER!
Demand for Nissan's 350Z has never been greater, but that hasn't stopped the firm from thinking about its next generation of sports cars. As well as preparing a facelifted 350Z Roadster for launch early next year, the company has revealed plans for its replacement, due in 2009.
The former, pictured in this week's mag, is mechanically identical to the current car, but will get new-look headlamps, LED tail-lights, a revised front bumper and increased specification for no extra cost.
But it's the latter news which will really excite enthusiasts. The new car will take the current 350Z and add a more involving chassis and punchier engine. Olivier Paturet, chief product specialist at Nissan, told Auto Express he wanted the next Z to be a more hardcore machine, targeted squarely at Porsche buyers.
"We've seen what Porsche is doing with the Cayman, and I would like our new car to have more power, less weight and be more driver-focused," he said. "There's certainly a market in Europe for such a machine - it's simply a matter of convincing our US and Japanese divisions that this is the way forward."
The former, pictured in this week's mag, is mechanically identical to the current car, but will get new-look headlamps, LED tail-lights, a revised front bumper and increased specification for no extra cost.
But it's the latter news which will really excite enthusiasts. The new car will take the current 350Z and add a more involving chassis and punchier engine. Olivier Paturet, chief product specialist at Nissan, told Auto Express he wanted the next Z to be a more hardcore machine, targeted squarely at Porsche buyers.
"We've seen what Porsche is doing with the Cayman, and I would like our new car to have more power, less weight and be more driver-focused," he said. "There's certainly a market in Europe for such a machine - it's simply a matter of convincing our US and Japanese divisions that this is the way forward."
Last edited by TXSTYLE; 12-05-05 at 11:42 AM.
12-05-05, 11:58 AM
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Also...
TOKYO — Nissan is planning to shoehorn the 4.5-liter V8 that powers several Infiniti models into its 350Z sports car to create a 400-horsepower hot rod.
"Nissan is planning a Z sports coupe slotted above the current Nissan 350Z called the Nissan 450Z. The upgraded model will feature a 4.5 liter V8 engine which would likely be a tuned up version of the VK45DE from the Infiniti M45. The VK45DE makes 340hp currently, but Left Lane News reports the final product will feature 430hp. Of course, all that crazy power requires all-wheel drive, so that will be standard as well."
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=108154
TOKYO — Nissan is planning to shoehorn the 4.5-liter V8 that powers several Infiniti models into its 350Z sports car to create a 400-horsepower hot rod.
"Nissan is planning a Z sports coupe slotted above the current Nissan 350Z called the Nissan 450Z. The upgraded model will feature a 4.5 liter V8 engine which would likely be a tuned up version of the VK45DE from the Infiniti M45. The VK45DE makes 340hp currently, but Left Lane News reports the final product will feature 430hp. Of course, all that crazy power requires all-wheel drive, so that will be standard as well."
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=108154
12-05-05, 12:03 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
So let me get this straight... they're gonna have the Skyline GTR with awd and 450hp, AND a Nissan Z with awd and 430hp????? I don't think there's room in the market for BOTH infiniti and nissan to have a car occupying this niche, when they probably will be very similar.
12-05-05, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Faraaz23
So let me get this straight... they're gonna have the Skyline GTR with awd and 450hp, AND a Nissan Z with awd and 430hp????? I don't think there's room in the market for BOTH infiniti and nissan to have a car occupying this niche, when they probably will be very similar.
and personally i think it would be a bit weird move if they come out with a v8 version z as well. it would be too close to the gtr wouldn't it
12-05-05, 02:06 PM
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I agree........ to an extent. 
Nissan and Ghosen have done a tremendous job in turning Nissan waaaay around into the Green. And keep in mind, Ghosen is VERY performance oriented, as can be seen in almost the entire line! A V-8 Z seems to be very odd at the least, but then again... O P T I O N S are always received well by consumers. I should know... I am a HUGE consumer myself. And I think that even if the numbers are somewhat close: 400hp Z ($40-$45k) and a 450hp GTR, they are significantlt different, and would be priced as such. Remember... The previous 300ZX TT went head-to-head with the C4 Corvette!
This would make the Z a formidable foe directly at GM's Corvette. While the more exotic and mystique of the Twin-Turbo GTR @ $65k could/would give consumers Porsche TT, Viper, and Z06 performance for considerably less than all save the Z06 and be much more reliable for certain. This is speculation IMO until it drops, but it would surely bode well for Nissan as all their recent releases/moves have done.
Nissan and Ghosen have done a tremendous job in turning Nissan waaaay around into the Green. And keep in mind, Ghosen is VERY performance oriented, as can be seen in almost the entire line! A V-8 Z seems to be very odd at the least, but then again... O P T I O N S are always received well by consumers. I should know... I am a HUGE consumer myself.
And I think that even if the numbers are somewhat close: 400hp Z ($40-$45k) and a 450hp GTR, they are significantlt different, and would be priced as such. Remember... The previous 300ZX TT went head-to-head with the C4 Corvette! This would make the Z a formidable foe directly at GM's Corvette. While the more exotic and mystique of the Twin-Turbo GTR @ $65k could/would give consumers Porsche TT, Viper, and Z06 performance for considerably less than all save the Z06 and be much more reliable for certain. This is speculation IMO until it drops, but it would surely bode well for Nissan as all their recent releases/moves have done.
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12-05-05, 04:49 PM
#8
Pole Position
this doesn't make much sense...if the leak on the next "Infiniti" GT-R holds true. Nissan's mid sports coupe lineup would consist of:
350Z - 300hp
450Z - 400hp
G35 Coupe - 300hp
G45 Coupe - 400hp
GTR - 500hp?
I could only fathom that Nissan is prepping for the coming onslaught of the rumored Supra IS Coupes on the way (as GlobCLK mentions above). It seems that the Japanese factory tuner wars have officially begun!
350Z - 300hp
450Z - 400hp
G35 Coupe - 300hp
G45 Coupe - 400hp
GTR - 500hp?
I could only fathom that Nissan is prepping for the coming onslaught of the rumored Supra IS Coupes on the way (as GlobCLK mentions above). It seems that the Japanese factory tuner wars have officially begun!
12-05-05, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by ST430
this doesn't make much sense...if the leak on the next "Infiniti" GT-R holds true. Nissan's mid sports coupe lineup would consist of:
350Z - 300hp
450Z - 400hp
G35 Coupe - 300hp
G45 Coupe - 400hp
GTR - 500hp?
I could only fathom that Nissan is prepping for the coming onslaught of the rumored Supra IS Coupes on the way (as GlobCLK mentions above). It seems that the Japanese factory tuner wars have officially begun!
350Z - 300hp
450Z - 400hp
G35 Coupe - 300hp
G45 Coupe - 400hp
GTR - 500hp?
I could only fathom that Nissan is prepping for the coming onslaught of the rumored Supra IS Coupes on the way (as GlobCLK mentions above). It seems that the Japanese factory tuner wars have officially begun!
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