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Nissan's resurgence with the Z model has been quite a hit and the 370Z has been the perfect successor to the ever-popular 350Z. With the VQ37HR powering the way to a more streamlined body, it's no surprise that the aftermarket has embraced the 370Z with open arms. While there are tons of nicely built 370Zs in America, it's always nice to see what's being done in Japan as inspiration of fully functional, cleanly built cars.
Most enthusiasts often find it sacrilegious to mix and match parts from various manufacturers when it comes to building their car. Perhaps it's just brand loyalty or a fancy way of keeping a clean spec sheet, but we don't always run across cars like this. Instead of sticking to just one brand for the entire vehicle, this owner mixed and matched with what he/she thought looked best on the 370Z. The result? A Top Secret front spoiler with integrated brake ducts has been combined with Varis twin carbon fiber intake ducts and Varis carbon fiber hood. On the hood are Top Secret aerocatch hood pins and in the rear is a carbon fiber wing from Mine's. And outfitting each corner are none other than Volk Racing's TE-37 wheels in a classic white finish enhanced with a blue pinstripe on the lip.
One thing's for sure, every part of the car is a nice high quality component from a reputable brand in Japan. While we're more used to seeing full out Top Secret cars, or full Varis cars, it's refreshing to see someone break the mold a little bit, blending the best of all worlds for a great looking car.
Nissan has a trio of debuts planned for the LA Auto Show later this year, with two production models and one alluring concept.
First up are the production cars, with the new 2012 Nissan Quest minivan set to add plenty of style (and in a good way this time) to the minivan segment. In addition, Nissan will also showcase the strange Murano CrossCabriolet, which the automaker says will be the first and only all-wheel drive crossover convertible in the market. (We wonder why…)
In addition, Nissan will unveil the Ellure concept, which is designed to give a look at a more exciting four-door sedan. We're not sure if this vehicle is intended to inspire future sedans like the Altima, or if Nissan is planning on expanding its sedan range with a coupe-style sedan.
And in addition to these models, we'll also get out first glimpse at a production version of the Nissan Leaf electric car.
As always, AutoGuide will be on hand in LA with extensive coverage of the show.
For a mid-cycle update there sure has been quite a lot of hype surrounding the 2012 Nissan GT-R. First came news of new bodywork and suspension tweaks, then came reports of a rear-wheel drive mode. But amidst all these unconfirmed reports, there was no news of a bump in power for the Japanese exotic. Until now.
According to the latest "leaked" info from GTRBlog, the 2012 GT-R could get as much as 530-hp – a significant jump over the current 480-hp number.
Is more power needed? Certainly not. But Nissan is likely looking to take back the production car Nürburgring record. Currently Nissan sits fourth in the standings having been passed by the Corvette, Viper ACR and most recently by the Porsche GT2 RS.
In addition to this news, GTRBlog is also reporting that the more comfort-oriented SpecM edition GT-R will go on sale in Japan under the name "Egoist."
We'll be sure to keep you updated, while we try and keep up with the rumors.
The Nissan Xterra may not have long to live hints Nissan product boss Larry Dominique. In a recent interview with Ward's, Dominique commented that Xterra segment is, "falling apart."
According to Ward's internal data, the mid-size SUV category in which the Xterra fits totaled just 211,042 vehicles last year, compared to an all-time high of 1.65 million in 2000. Back then Nissan sold 88,578 Xterra models, while so far this year it has managed to move just 12,186. Surprisingly, however, there seems to be a mini-boom in the SUV segment as of late with that number up 42% over a ear ago.
Dominique did comment that execs at Nissan are big fans of the SUV and plan to keep it in the product lineup or as long as possible. But, "With (new U.S. corporate average fuel economy rules) Xterra's going to be a tough vehicle to keep around."
The plan is to exceed the upcoming 34.1 mpg fleet fuel economy standard for 2016 with high-volume Sentra and Altima models, however, Nissan already has to overachieve in those areas to make up for the Titan's it sells.
Dominique did reassure fans of the Frontier and Pathfinder that those models are safe. Nissan currently sits at third in the compact pickup segment with the Frontier and with Ford preparing to axe the Ranger, Frontier sales are likely to spike. The truck has already seen a sales increase that's up 48.5 percent so far this year. (The Toyota Tacoma currently leads that segment).
As for the Pathfinder, it will "live on," although, "How it will live on, wait to see," says Dominique, perhaps hinting that the big SUV will follow Ford's Explorer and be transformed into a car-based crossover.
The 2012 Nissan GTR is getting more than just cosmetic changes. According to the NAGTROC, the 2012 variant of Godzilla will get a revised chassis and suspension along with a "RWD mode".
The front strut towers have been stiffened, for a more rigid chassis, while the brake rotors are 10mm larger up front. New spring rates, dampers and caster settings will help the handling, along with lighter, forged Rays Engineering wheels. A new tire package from Dunlop will help transfer all that power and grip to the pavement, while an option for Recaro seats (from the Spec-V model) will help keep you in place.
The most interesting option is the 2WD mode, which can turn the car into a rear-drive only machine. The 2wd mode can be activated by pressing the "fuel save" switch for more than 4 seconds, but somehow, we have a feeling that economy will not be the main objective of this kind of driving.
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