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2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z
NISMO, Nissan's in-house tuning and racing support subsidiary, has made body and handling kits not just for the 350Z but also for the Altima, Sentra, Maxima, Titan, Frontier, and Xterra for several years. However, the NISMO 350Z is just the second model (the Frontier was the first) to wear the NISMO badge (which, by the way, stands for Nissan Motorsports International) in the U.S.
It’s, um, rather easy to tell the NISMO Z from the stock model, thanks to a downright shocking aero package featuring an aggressive front fascia with a racing-style chin spoiler, smoothed front corners, skinny fender lips, and side skirts. In back, it gets worse, with an obnoxious rear fascia with a functional air diffuser (how could something that big not be functional?) and, of course, a double-decker rear wing.
Performance improvements for the NISMO Z include a lowered suspension, Brembo brakes, a NISMO exhaust, and super-sexy NISMO gray five-spoke forged-alloy wheels (9.0-by-18-inch front, 10.0-by-19-inch rear) wearing Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires.
Unique-to-NISMO black cloth seats with red inserts and red stitching (the latter found throughout the interior) help hold both occupants securely in place while the driver explores the Z’s expanded handling capabilities. The driver faces special NISMO white and gray gauges, and all NISMO Zs get a serialized NISMO-etched aluminum plaque mounted on the center console.
For as much as has changed on the skin and at the wheels, the engine bay remains untouched. As with all other ’07 Zs, the NISMO gets the new VQ35HR 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 306 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. However, the NISMO only comes with a six-speed manual transmission, as well as traction control and a limited-slip differential.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------New Infiniti G37 Embodies Key Design Aspects
There are few cars on the road that not only define a brand, but also set the tone of what the brand aspires to become. The first generation G35 Coupe was that vehicle for Infiniti. With its low-slung and aggressive stance, powerful V-6 engine and a fun to drive nature, not previously associated with the Infiniti nameplate, the 2003 G35 Coupe was the car that launched a thousand imitators and set the benchmark for all future Infiniti products.
Now Infiniti has raised the bar once more, with its second generation G-series coupe, now called the G37 to reflect the change in engine size -- a 3.7-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 with an estimated 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The engine, the VQ37VHR, is Nissan and Infiniti's newest iteration of their powerful and torque-friendly six-cylinder engine, the VQ35. Using the newly developed VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) system that combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance and response, the new 3.7 is a marked improvement of the last generation V-6.
Mark Igo, Vice President and General Manager of Infiniti, says the new engine comes down to three factors: Increased performance, responsiveness and efficiency. "The new 3.7-liter V6 is a true powerhouse," said Igo. "This power plant also features Infiniti's trademark 'Swell' acceleration with special tuning that builds horsepower almost continually to the redline, like a building wave." To go along with the new power plant is a newly enhanced platform and suspension system, which should be an improvement of an already great driving vehicle.
> More Infiniti G37 Coupe pictures...
Design-wise, the new vehicle is a subtle reinterpretation of the last generation, which is a good thing in the present day and age, when car designers feel they must constantly redesign their vehicles, much to the chagrin of the buying public.
"With our second generation model, the G37, we were not looking for a different design direction," said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Design Director of Nissan Motor Company -- The man responsible for overseeing the creation the Nissan 350Z, Murano, and the Infiniti M, FX45 and G 37 Coupe. "It is an evolution of the design. It is much more seductive and emotional than the last generation. We wanted to grow upon what we had instead of starting from scratch. That, to me, is the purpose of this second generation model. The G35 Coupe is the car people identify with Infiniti. It is the car that redefined the brand."
Infiniti says the new G37 embodies four design aspects: Energetic force, spiritual precision, seductive luster and dignified air, all of which work together to create a harmonious design balance. "The second generation shows the power of nature with its seductive luster. It is serene, yet invigorating. It has a very authentic Japanese feel to it too; aggressive, yet subdued."
Infiniti will be launching vehicles in the European market in 2008 and when asked about the global design of the new coupe, Nakamura pauses and says, "The power of design is the ability to cross all language and cultures."
The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe will be available in three models: G37 Coupe, G37 Coupe Journey and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT.
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2008 Honda S2000 CR
What's your idea of retirement planning? At Car and Driver, our scribblers spend their golden years counting their air miles and grousing about the web interns. If you're Shigeru Uehara, Honda R&D's Executive Chief Engineer, you spend your last year on the job building a track-ready special-edition version of the S2000.
Lots of engineers build track toys, but not many get their cars approved for production. Uehara isn't just any engineer; he's credited as the father of the Honda S2000 and the Acura NSX and Integra type R, the trio that convinced a generation of American tuners and enthusiasts that Honda is a legitimate performance car company. Uehara’s legacy is solid, so he doesn’t need to work on the NSX's successor—he said through an interpreter that he's leaving that to the next generation. Instead, his final gift to the enthusiast world is the S2000 CR.
Suspension and steering modifications
The S2000 CR has the same 2.2-liter 237-hp engine as other S2000s, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's just a dress-up job. The most dramatic changes involve springs and shocks that Honda calls "significantly stiffer." Although no figures are available, our experience with Uehara's other creations like the Acura Integra type R tells us that he knows the meaning of "significant." Thicker anti-roll bars round out the suspension changes. A quicker steering ratio will allow drivers to avoid shuffling hands in tight corners. A limited slip differential and defeatable electronic stability control carry over from the regular S2000.
Tires
The S2000 CR's biggest handling gain over the regular S2000 may come from gumball Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires similar to those used on the former Japan-market NSX-R. The 215/45R-17 front and 255/40R-17 rear tires have a treadwear rating of 140, which means they are barely able to be called conventional street tires.
