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Nissan Z's!
2010-03-12 17:31:00 The Datsun/Nissan Z has a cult following that can be traced back to the 70's. Here are just a few fine example of local Z cars from ChicagoZ.com. Be on the look out for part II!...
V-12 Jag powered 240Z for sale in Canada
2009-08-15 01:02:00 As first reported here last May: http://www.drivingenthusiast.ne-t/sec-blog/2009/05/16.html#a265-7, a 240Z with a V-12 Jaguar conversion has been running around Ontario, Canada for several years. Now it's for sale http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars--vehicles-classic-cars-1971-Dat-sun-240Z-Custom-W0QQAdIdZ140226-516 and it's been cleaned up with new paint, wheels, and removal of the tacky wood inside. Note that this car was originally powered by a a lowly Dodge 318 swap and 4-speed, followed by a 340. Yikes, the implications. Buyers look it over carefully - if it was indeed done well, then this would be a fun car. If it was, I'd very much like to own it. And, yes, it once had a lowly 318. Could there be any worse choice for an engine swap?
370Z - under the hatch
2009-08-03 13:19:00 Thanks to ForgedPerformance.com, we have the opportunity to see what's under the covers in the new 370Z. Forged Performance is building a race car, so everything superfluous has been removed. Note the mount for the silver bar that crosses just behind the drivers seat. As we predicted several months ago, this is not structural at all. It's clearly just a piece of pointless bling. Our other prediction at the time, that somebody would mount their race harnesses on it, hasn't happened yet as far as we have seen on the 'net. But if or when somebody tries it, they will be totally unprotected. Remember that what is commonly called a "harness bar" is not for mounting belts - it is only for guiding belts down to their mount point. Here's the production car - note the silver bar. That's all wasted space... Nissan should have left it off. By way of comparison, here's what a 350Z looks like. Very inefficient.
Followup - 370Z at 24 Hours of the Nürburgring
2009-07-04 18:10:00 Probably not the most ideal launch of the 370Z in Europe that Nissan had hoped for, but given the quick preparation of the car it's not bad. Nissan Press Release follows: 2009.5.29 All-new NISSAN 370Z finishes 24-hour race debut sixth in classJapanese "Falken Z" puts up good fight to take fourth in class (11th overall) Nurburgring 24 Hour Race May 24th, Nurburgring (Germany) The new Nissan 370Z, campaigned by Nissan Germany and a local media team, and the Falken Motorsports Fairlady Z (Z33, 380RS-C) from Japan, raced in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring on May 23rd through 24th. In this grueling event which saw 52 of the 170 participating cars (more than 30%) retire, Nissan Germany's all-new 370Z overcame a variety of troubles to finish sixth in the SP6 class (113th overall). Meanwhile, the Falken Motorsports' Fairlady Z left its own mark, finishing fourth in the SP7 class (11th overall). The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring is contested on a circuit consisting of intens...
Nissan Announces Pricing on 2009 NISMO 370Z
2009-06-28 15:32:00 06.17.2009 Nissan Announces Pricing on 2009 NISMO 370Z™ Franklin, Tennessee - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) announced pricing for the all-new 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z™, which goes on sale today at Nissan retailers nationwide. The new, second-generation NISMO Z® continues the tradition of the original, offering unique performance and design attributes that true sports car enthusiasts are looking for – including a functional aerodynamic body design, 18 additional horsepower and a special sport-tuned suspension.The 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z™, which is equipped with a 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 and close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with SynchroRev Match, has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price* (MSRP) of US $39,130. Only three accessories are available on this well equipped vehicle – NISMO carpeted floor mats, illuminated kick plates and a carpeted trunk mat.“The new NISMO Z® is a tuner and Z® enthus...
Nismo 370Z highlights engineering issues in the basic car
2009-06-28 14:40:00 Nissan's press launch event of the Nismo 370Z was a disaster - first the rear differential wore out and the 370Z Touring model provided for comparison had to give up it's own as a replacement. Then a journalist destroyed the car by putting it into a wall on the track.Read the full story of the differential failure here :(<right click> and <open in new tab>) http://blogs.edmunds.com/straig-htline/2009/06/nismo-370z-diffe-rential-failure.html Now Nissan has provided another Nismo to the press and testing reports have begun.Edmunds Inside Line is one of the recipients of a press fleet vehicle for testing. They found only one problem in their testing: the Nismo isn't any different from their own long-term test 370Z Touring and the handling is quote "scarier". Read the full story here: (<right click> and <open in new tab>) http://blogs.edmunds.com/straig-htline/2009/06/il-track-tested--2009-nissan-nismo-370z-vs-2009--nissan-370z-touring.html With considerab...
Fifth Gear reviews the 370Z
2009-06-27 17:50:00 Speaking of the European launch of the 370Z, here's the first review of the car from Fifth Gear.
370Z at 24 hours Nurburgring race - followup
2009-06-27 17:36:00 Wondering what happened to the two 370Zs at this years 24 hour endurance race at Nurburgring? It was a disaster all around - and you can watch it unfold thanks to these YouTube videos. Note the wheel sitting on the side of the road with the front suspension upright still attached. And then for some reason they disassemble it - to reuse the upright? The Zs themselves were far from stock, using the older 3.5 liter engines and third-party sequential gearboxes. So there's not a lot we can learn from this for "civilian" track events. Nissan of Europe wanted to use this event to kick off the launch of the 370Z in Europe... but it didn't work out very well. The German motorsport show GRIP has provided approx. 42 minutes of video coverage, including in-car video from the yellow 370Z. All in German, although there is some English in the background and the results are apparent enough. Lots of extra video shows what it's like to spectate at this legendary event - consider this a...
RJN Motorsport - 370Z team at 24 hours of the Nurburgring 2009
2009-05-25 11:42:00 Here's the team running the 370Z at the 24 hours of the Nurburgring 2009: http://www.rjnmotorsport.com/&n-bsp;of Oxfordshire U.K. The team formerly ran a 350Z. Because class rules limit the engine to 3.5 liters, the 370Z will be running an older 3.5 liter engine. You can see some more details of the car in the official team photo below, including aero mods front and rear, exhaust system, and air ducts in the rear side windows (probably rear brakes and very likely diff cooling). Unfortunately, no further technical details are available on the team site. However, AutoZeitung provides an interesting gallery: http://www.autozeitung.de/nissa-n-special/erster-test-des-nissa-n-370z-rennwagens. We've saved two of the images here for the sake of posterity. It would be helpful if this team were to provide some more details so that 370Z fans can better prepare their own cars. Not details of their suspension setup - that would clearly be confidential, but details sho...
More on 370Z at the 24 hour Nurburgring endurance race
2009-05-25 11:01:00 We still haven't found the details of the car, but we have located another photo courtesy of this photographer: http://ringfotos-galerie.eu
370Z in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race
2009-05-23 20:48:00 We're following the 24 hour race at the famous Nurburgring track this weekend and came across this pic of a 370Z competing in the race. It'd be interesting to know how it's setup... from the pic below we can see a massive front oil cooler, cold air intake, and deep front airdam. And the cuts made in the front fascia to feed cooling air to the intakes and radiator. Stay tuned for more details, if we can find them. We're very interested in what it takes to make a 370Z work on the track - we've talked before about coolers and the like and this car is a rolling example of what works - or doesn't. We'll see in 24 hours what shape they're in.
Jag V-12 swap into 240Z
2009-05-16 15:38:00 Here's another Jag V-12 swap, this time into the eternally sexy 240Z. It was built in Mississauga ON and the builder has an interesting site here: http://ca.geocities.com/dotdotd-ot@rogers.com/ Unfortunately, there aren't any technical details of the swap itself. Shockingly enough, this sexy car has trailer-park baggage: in 1986 it received a swap of a 318 Dodge motor with an automatic transmission. Then in 1999 it moved up to the big Jag V-12. Note that a dark green lookalike of this car was put up for sale in 2008 - it is probably one and the same car. There isn't any information available about what became of it after the sale. Hopefully it will surface soon. Pictures below are from the builder's site and copyright by that site, saved here for the sake of posterity.
Fatal flaw blind spot of the 370Z
2009-05-12 22:41:00 Edmunds points out again that their long term 370Z has a terrible blind spot. Read the article here: http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadte-sts/2009/05/2009-nissan-370z-st-ink-eye-blind-spot.html Now imagine that you're driving this on a race track with cars all around you. Oh, wait, you can't drive this on a racerack without over-heating. Well, ok, assume you get an oil cooler and solve that problem. Now what do you do when prople come up behind you to pass? Can you even tell? This is probably the one unsolvable fatal flaw of this car. A car we want to like...
Edmunds installs 370Z oil cooler
2009-04-16 17:21:00 As Edmunds has reported, the new 370Z requires an oil cooler to get around the VQ engine's propensity to run too hot - which in turn causes the engine control computer to fail to "limp home" mode (exactly what the term implies). This won't just ruin your track weekend, it will kill it. Edmunds installed one on their long-term 370Z at a total cost (including installation) of $1240. That's the going rate for this kind of thing (although obviously installation is not at all difficult). A differential cooler, which Nissan also believes to be a necessity, will cost around $1600 more or less since since the cooler also requires a heavy duty pump and wiring. Installation is more difficult here, and of course you will have a cooler hanging down underneath the car which could cause issues in normal driving. These two items are necessary to make the 370Z into a track car that can be driven to the fullest extent. These are just two of the costs of making the...
Are we fans of the 370Z?
2009-04-14 19:02:00 A suggestion has been made by a reader comment on a previous posting that we may not be a fan of the 370Z. That needs an explanation from us. You'll note in the history of our Nissan Z postings that we were really looking forward to the arrival of the Z. In this blog, we've provided and reported on: an analysis of the first clear spy pics: http://www.drivingenthusiast.ne-t/sec-blog/categories/nissanZ/2-007/06/21.html#a2128; our own first drive: http://www.drivingenthusiast.ne-t/sec-blog/categories/nissanZ/2-009/02/15.html#a2586; various track tests of the car, including: http://www.drivingenthusi-ast.net/sec-blog/categories/nis-sanZ/2008/12/14.html#a2553 -;and http://www.drivingenthusiast.ne-t/sec-blog/2009/02/16.html#a258-7 (Keiichi Tsuchiya at Fuji Speedway). We want to like this car! But why the reserved opinion? Because we've been driving in track events for 29 years. Our first event was in May of 1980 with the Corvette Club of Cleveland at Nelson Ledges. We've take...
300 RWHP 370Z now possible with Stillen
2009-04-14 13:04:00 It's now possible to get more than 300 rear wheel HP from a 370Z or G37 thanks to avid aftermarket support. Taking a look at Stillen, we see these parts available: Dual cold air intake $549 +17 RWHP. Dyno: http://www.stillen.com/product_-files/402852~dyno.pdf Equal-length headers $523 +14.5 RWHP. Dyno: http://www.stillen.com/product_-files/508387C~dyno.1.pdf Exhaust system $1260 +18 RWHP. Dyno: http://www.stillen.com/product_-files/504355~dyno.pdf The combination of all three won't be the sum total of 49.5 HP. Stillen needs to provide a dyno with all three items. But it still demonstrates that there is considerable HP locked up in the new 3.7 liter engine.
Edmunds long-term 370Z - things you won't find in a car magazine
2009-04-13 20:40:00 With car magazines receiving the largest part of their revenue from manufacturer advertising, there are certain things you won't find out in their articles. When something new comes out that stands out in the marketplace, it's rare that they say anything bad about it - we have to wait several months for the truths finally surface. Cases in point: Hyundai Genesis coupe: dud dynamics new Camaro: poor steering feel and lousy vision around the gigantic a-pillar Evo MR: lousy mileage and slow shifting STI: lousy ride, cheap plastic bits, crappy interior. It takes an experienced consumer - a driving enthusiast - to see beyond the initial marketing hype and truly understand whether the car in question is livable on a daily basis, what it's quality in the long run might be, or whether it will fulfill whatever mission you have in mind for it (such as track car for high speed HPDE events). This is where Edmunds comes in. In their long term roadtests, they put a couple of ...
Nissan announces the 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z
2009-04-08 03:06:00 Nissan announced the new Nismo version of the 370Z this evening just before the New York Auto Show begins later this week. With 350 horsepower and serious suspension modifications, you'd think the Z would be going racing. Except that the Z engine is well known to overheat in tough conditions... so coolers are needed to keep the engine out of limp-home mode. Nevermind though because the press fleet cars will all have them (as they did for the "regular" Z's introduction) and the magazine articles will all be figuratively glowing. Any of the rest of us that try to take one of these to the track would find out the hard way that won't work as-delivered. Very dissappointing, because otherwise the car has what it takes to make a great track car. At least it isn't saddled with the GT-R's warrenty, where if you take your car to the track or dyno your warrenty is cancelled. Wonderful! Nissan Press Release follows: 04.07.2009 All-New 2009 Nissan ...
Motor Trend tests the Genesis, Mustang GT, and 370Z
2009-03-20 19:25:00 Here's an interesting video from Motor Trend with the latest comparison of the Genesis coupe, 2010 Mustang GT, and the new 370Z. The Z comes out on top in every classification, except for it's lack of a back seat. Keep in mind that the base prices of these cars make for a nearly linear progression across a range of several thousand dollars, so potential buyers may have price as their first order of business. This is a drag race test, and a drag race is only 1 indication of overall performance and dynamics - and is certainly not the most important test for true driving enthusiasts. However, the results here do line up with the results we've seen to date on the other performance aspects of these cars. No surprise on the Genesis: it's dynamics are lousy. It's hard to see good in this car, other than as a first attempt. When will it be updated? Is continuous improvement too much to hope for? The Mustang is little different from the 2005/up model: the interior is i...
370Z - first drive follow-up
2009-02-16 23:22:00 Our first drive in a 370Z was a purely pedestrian drive- a couple of fast corners and little else. But we did see the potential of the car for track use in our short drive. What is the ultimate potential of the Z? Well of course Mines in Japan has already built several modestly modified Zs (meaning no internal engine work or unnatural aspiration - yet). Modifications include an intake system with new inlets in the front bumper, modified ECU, exhaust, wheels/tires, and Cusco coilovers. A set of Recaro SP-Gs round out the modifications. And better yet, the Master, Keiichi Tsuchiya, has already tested it at Fuji Speedway. Here's what it looks like: We'll have to wait for a translation to get all the details, but as you can see the car is indeed very competent.
370Z: Our First Drive
2009-02-15 23:28:00 We've been looking forward to driving the new 370Z as we watched spy pictures appear over the past few yearss. As of the last week in January, they're available for sale. We had our test drive a few days ago. The old Z, and even more so the old Nissan/Infiniti FM platform, was - let's face it - dated. The new FM platform in the form of the G35 Sedan has been one of our favorite rental car rides on business trips - and if that trip included some twisty bits then even better. A trip a year ago dedicated to canyon drives in California (and an art museum visit just to keep the balance!) was done in a rental G35 that proved very competent and reassuring in the twisty bits. Our analysis of a Nissan engineering mule in June 2007 (http://www.drivingenthusiast.n-et/sec-blog/categories/nissanZ/-2007/06/21.html#a2128) indicated the new Z would be both shorter and wider. And of course based on the new FM platform, which for the first time (and it's about time!) offered camber adjustment ...
Edmunds track tests the 370Z
2008-12-14 15:53:00 The reviews are in and they are pretty good.Of course, quarter mile drag racing doesn't hold any interest for true driving enthusiasts, but the 13.4 second time does indicate the great range of this engine. Far more importantly, the skidpad, slalom, and braking data are all excellent. We still have some concerns, such as the absolutely lousy rear/side visibility and the bad reputation of the 6-speed manual (is it truly "fixed" now? That's been claimed before!). We also don't like the RE050s and would have preferred RE-01Rs or better yet the new (and so far Japan only) RE11s. The big Nissan-spec 4- and 2-piston calipers are an open question - we would have preferred that Nissan keep the Brembos. Nonetheless, the new 'Z looks so good that we may have to order one for the Driving Enthusiast fleet...
Nissan 370Z - official video
2008-11-21 01:00:00 Straight from Nissan, a 9 minute video of the new 370Z in action!
Comparison of 350Z versus 370Z brace under hatch
2008-11-16 18:30:00 One of the biggest "usability" differences between the 350Z and the 370Z is the bracing under the hatch. We always wondered exactly what was under the gigantic brace between the shock towers of the 350Z when we came across a stripped one at a racetrack. Here is the 350Z brace in all it's glory. You can see that it was probably overkill. It certainly killed the usability of the hatch area. The 370Z brace is a different story completely - it's not a shock brace at all. Instead, it goes between the B-pillars where it probably contributes a lot more to structural integrity (and crashworthiness) than the 350Z brace ever did. Kudos to Nissan for removing the ridiculous 350Z brace, improving usability, and for actually improving the structural integrity and crashworthiness of the car. It's rare when safety and user friendliness attributes can come together at once. If I have one concern, it's that some racers will try to use the brace as a harness mount: it's structu...
Big week for Nissan at the Los Angeles auto show
2008-11-16 17:20:00 This is going to be a big week for Nissan with announcements at the Los Angeles show including the all-new 370Z. In preparation for this week, it would be good preparation to review the 'Nissan GT 2012" business plan presentation by Carlos Ghosn from May 2008. The presentation includes both video and slides: (suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>): http://www3.stream.co.jp/web06/-nissan/press/EN/epre/080513/bb/-index.html The Z announcement and official unveiling is only a few days off. However, this weekend there were two official unveilings of actual production cars held in the Los Angeles area and of course numerous spy photos have been seen over the past year. Thanks to all of this there is only a little we don't know about the new 'Z: we've already got pictures of the complete exterior, the engine compartment and interior, and one to answer our big question about the location of the brace. The big brace of the 350Z is gone, r...
new 2009 Nissan 370Z debuts!
2008-10-30 02:27:00 Nissan today released 3 official pictures of the new 'Z. These are the only pictures released today, and specs will not be available until the official debut date before the Los Angeles show in November. As we've seen from the spy pics, the new styling is evolutionary, and incorporates the new family head and taillights. Retro touches include the rear side windows. We do know the updated FM platform used in the latest G37 is underneath, and given all the issues with the current Z platform that's a very good thing.
370Z is coming
2008-10-10 04:48:00 And then there is the Z. Several test cars have been caught in Germany this past week, and almost every angle has been shot including the interior. The car is very clearly lighter, shorter, and wider. And we should have the data to quantify that in a few more weeks. The new Z rides on the new much improved FM platform (aka 2007 up G35/37) - and that means a considerably improved suspension with way beefier bits and much taller tires - with (and it's about bloody well time) adjustable camber. That means the Z becomes truly track worthy for the first time - that is, without having to spend about a thousand bucks for new and adjustable parts and pieces. Lots was wrong with the current Z, and it looks like Nissan is about to deliver a far better one.
370Z caught on the street
2008-08-17 12:16:00 Head over to VWVortex and check out the 370Z that was spotted driving on the street. Per previous reports, the new Z sports the updated FM platform (with the ability to adjust camber all around - finally!) and the existing 3.7 Infiniti liter engine. It's also been said to be somewhat lighter, thanks to a shortening of the chassis behind the doors (all wasted space on the current 2-seat 360Z). The styling updates are controversial, starting with the fangs in the grill below the bumper line. The picture reveals the details of the new rear hatch, which is probably less expensive to produce but which clearly doesn't improve rear sightlines. And while nobody has seen it yet, we're willing to bet that the large brace underneath the hatch will be removed from it's present form. Note that the picture also reveals a true dual-exhaust system, a hallmark of the new FM platform. The current 350Z has a single exhaust system with dual tips. References: (suggest <right click> and ...
Renault Alpine rumor persists
2008-07-28 16:12:00 As first discussed in my blog posting of November 2005 ( http://www.drivingenthus-iast.net/sec-blog/2005/11/27.ht-ml#a1037 ), Renault has been considering reviving the Alpine brand for the past several years. Discussion in the press on this possibility has recently picked up with the suggestion that 2010 could be the year the car debuts. References on web (suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>): http://www.themotorreport.com.a-u/6165/370z-based-renault-alpin-e-to-be-revived-in-2010/ http://www.eurocarblog.com/post-/1044/alpine-to-be-made-in-2010--as-twin-to-the-mean-nissan-370-z http://tribes.cartribe.co.uk/ki-ckapps/_2010-Alpine-based-on-37-0Z/BLOG/83846/7276.html http://www.autospies.com/news/R-enault-Alpine-shares-platform-w-ith-Nissan-370Z-32876/ http://www.pressportal.com.au/n-ews/246/ARTICLE/2708/2008-07-27-.html Plans have apparently taken a step forward, coinciding with the major updates that were made to the Nissan FM platform and archit...
JPCN has the 370Z image!
2008-05-14 22:23:00 This is it - the 2009 Nissan 370Z. Scooped 6 months before it's debut at the Los Angeles show. No further details are known beyond it's 3.7 liter powerplant. Continue at the source for the full story: http://jpcnews.blogspot.com/200-8/05/say-it-aint-so-370z-finall-y-breaks.html
VQ35 swap into early Datsun Z
2008-01-12 22:50:00 Following up to my previous post, suggesting that a Nissan/Infiniti VQ35 engine would make a great swap into an early Z, I've found a site where the owner details exactly that. The donor engine is from a late model 350Z. The recipient is a 240Z. Great site: follow the link above to read lots more. And thanks to the author of that site, I'm starting to see how my own Z project could happen...
SHO V-6 swapped into early Datsun Z
2008-01-12 22:38:00 Another great find today: a SHO V-6 swap into an early Z. As my readers know, I'm a fan of the early Zs because of the driving dynamics and all-time classic styling. They were a masterpiece in their time... and they remain as such. However... the original engine would be difficult to bring up to modern performance expectations. It's pretty pointless, unless you are doing a restoration for concurs. When it comes to performance enhancements for early Zs, you can't beat a GT-R engine. Except in price. So unless you can find one, much less afford it, a Nissan/Infiniti V-6 would be the next best thing. Failing that a F-ord/Yamaha SHO DOHC V-6 engine would be the next choice. And why not? It's a top quality engine, it's capable of even more power, it's reliable, it's available, and a transmission is easy to find. Continue at the link above for a full set of pictures.
How to get *real* Best Motorings from Japan
2008-01-01 18:12:00 Best Motorings are one of the greatest aspects of the hobby for Japanese car enthusiasts, but also one of the most frustrating. Why? Because it's been almost impossible to get original copies of them, and even harder to get them when they come out in Japan. In case you're not familiar with Best Motoring, it's a monthly Japanese "car magazine" - in video form. The emphasis is on performance cars. There is usually a "battle" comparing several cars on a roadrace track. There is also testing on winding roads, on the Touge course, with drifting, and on occasion special tests such as a notable 0-300 KPH test. All the latest Japanese performance cars are tested, and occasionally they are tested against similar performance cars from Europe and North America. There is extensive in-car multiple-camera video and analysis; it's very clear which cars work better and why. It comes in DVD form only, and that's one problem: it's region code is not compatible...
2009 Nissan Z - engineering mule analysis
2007-06-22 05:00:00 This is a 2009 370Z engineering mule: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ne-ws/autoexpressnews/209115/nissa-n_350z.html - the first one spotted. The engineering mule at this point has the new suspension, crossmembers,&-nbsp;and other elements placed underneath a modified current 350Z body. A mule always hints at new dimensions, but not the new styling. Nissan typically evolves the styling of its cars, so look for the new Z to be easily recognizable and not radically different. Look closely: it has a wider track (with wider wheel flares), larger wheels and tires, and the big 14” discs and 4-piston brakes from the 2008 G37 coupe. Like most mules at this stage in their lifecycle, you'll also notice a roll cage inside. Overall dimensions of the car are slightly altered as well - look at the ill-fitting roofline over the driver's head. And note the matching cut-lines in the door just below. Hmmm.... has the Z been slightly lengthened? &nb... |
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