Video: 2008 Nissan GT-R Filmed At The Goodwood Festival

The guys over at “GTR Owners Club” managed to grab the… pole position at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed that took place a couple of weeks ago in the UK, filming the Nissan GT-R prototype that appeared at the event up close and personal. Among other things we get to see the higly-anticipated GT-R’s interior and especially the instrument cluster which is dominated by the large rev counter. The GT-R, due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007, is expected to be powered by a twin turbo V6 engine delivering more than 400Hp. -Click “Read More…” below to see the video

Via: gtr

Nissan 350Z Limited Racing Edition Released

Don’t you just love sports cars in polar white? We certainly do, and if the particular sports car happens to be the recently updated Nissan 350Z with the new 313Hp 3.5-litre V6, its love at first sight. Apart from its exclusive metallic white paintjob, this limited edition 350Z that was launched today by Nissan Germany has a few extra features hidden up its sleeves.

Dubbed “Racing Edition”, this particular “Z” pays tribute to the racing 350Z GT4. It’s equipped with contrasting black colored 19-inch rims in 235/35 (front) and 255/35 (back) Dunlop tires and a fully adjustable Bilstein suspension that enables the user to adjust the vehicle's ride height by adjusting the threaded shock bodies (front) and the threaded rear spring perch (rear). Nissan has also fitted the special edition 350Z with a Cobra muffler. Finally, all cars will bear an interior plaque with the signatures of the Nurburgring drivers Kurt Thiim, Holger Eckhardt, Nicole Lüttecke und Tim Schrick. The base price for the 350Z Limited Racing Edition in Germany is €48.590 or about $66.200.

2007 Nissan Altima: 140.852 Cars Recalled Over Fire Fears

Nissan’s best selling 2007 US-model, the Altima is being recalled due to a problem with the air-filter that could result to a fire in the engine bay. More specifically, the recall affects 140.852 cars equipped with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on certain vehicles, if a sufficiently hot object enters the air filter housing through the engine fresh air intake system and contacts the engine air filter, the flammability characteristics of the air filter material are such that the filter may ignite.

NHSTA had opened an investigation back in May after reports of at least two fires breaking out in engine compartments while owners were driving. Nissan dealers will replace the air filter with a new one that has improved anti-flammability material characteristics. The recall has already began and will continue through October 1, 2007. For more information, we suggest that 2007 Altima owners contact Nissan USA at 1-800-647-7261.

Via: nhtsa

2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R Testing At Goodwood Festival

With all the commotion yesterday on the BMW 1-Series Coupe, we kinda forgot to post this picture featuring the 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R or simply GT-R that was spotted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend. The prototype was driven in the Supercar run by Nissan’s Executive Vice President in charge of Product Planning and Business Strategy, Carlos Tavares. The GT-R, due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007, is one of the most anticipated sports cars of the year.

Based on the 2005 Tokyo GT-R Proto concept, the GT-R promises to offer Porsche 911 Turbo performance and dynamics for 911 money. Unlike its Skyline GT-R predecessors, for the first time in its history, the new GT-R will be designed as a specific body-style, and not derived from the Skyline range. Another first for the GT-R is that it will be a car sold globally and not exclusively in RHD markets (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK). -Check out scoop videos of the Nissan GT-R here and here.

Nissan Navara To Die 4.0... Limited "DIE HARD" Version Released

Nissan UK is celebrating the launch of the fourth instalment in the Die Hard film series staring Bruce Willis by releasing a limited edition Navara called “DIE HARD 4.0”. In all, Nissan will produce 444 individually numbered units of the “DIE HARD 4.0” version which is based on the recently launched 2008 model year 2.5 dCi Navara.

Just so you don’t get excited or anything, the only difference between the “DIE HARD 4.0” version and the Outlaw double cab plus optional Premium has to do with the hand polished stainless steel styling bar behind the cab area, the DIE HARD 4.0 body decals with a shattered glass effect, plus the individually numbered tailgate badge. -Continued after the jump

According to Nissan, five of the 444 trucks will be more prized than others since all the new owners’ names will go into a hat and numbers 1, 4, 44, 400 and 444 will be randomly allocated and in addition will receive a free specification upgrade as found on the top of the range Aventura model. The additional equipment over the standard Navara DIE HARD 4.0 includes a voice activated DVD satellite navigation with a full color 7” screen and a premium audio with MP3 CD compatibility worth around £1200.

The Nissan Navara “DIE HARD 4.0” goes on sale in the UK from July 2 with prices starting for the manual version from £18,995 (+ VAT) and £20,095 (+ VAT) for the automatic -€28.200/$38.000 & €29.800/$40.200 respectively.

Ferrari 250 GTO Replica: Based On A Nissan 280Z With A BMW V12!

We love hearing from our readers. Especially when they send us one of a kind replicas that they have single handedly put together and engineered themselves at home! But what we respect more about Michelle and Haley is that they aren’t those kind of people that create a replica and try to convince others that their creation is 100% accurate -even though we’re 110% sure that 9 out of 10 passers-by would mistake this replica for the real thing. The reason for that is the passion that went into creating this car.

Michelle and Haley bought the 1977 Nissan 280Z based replica from eBay in 2001. At that point the car was essentially a 280Z with a Ferrari 250 GTO outfit as everything else remained stock. The two gear head gals drove the semi-replica for about 6 years up until last February when they decided to take action and turn the 250 GTO replica into something more desirable.

As Michelle noted on her email to us, “Every single body panel has been changed. Some of it began as Alpha1, Scorpionz and others, but all of it has been extensively modified by me”. And yes Michelle, we’re all impressed with the result! But these two didn’t stop with the body. Not only did they replace the original 6cylinder engine and the 5speed gearbox with a BMW V12 powerhouse combined with a 6speed Getrag gearbox, but they also converted the replica to RHD just to make it more special! However, since it’s their master creation, we'll let one of the builders, Michelle, give the full description. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Thanks for the email Michelle!

I thought you might like this one, It’s ours, and we built it at home. It’s a conglomeration of several kits and a lot of custom parts. I like to think of it as more of a street rod version of a 250 GTO than a replica per se as it’s not 100% accurate, it’s more the look and sound of a 250GTO racer, but with a full interior and more modern drivetrain, suspension, and brakes.

It began life as a 1977 280z. About 16 years ago a father and son turned it into a Ferrari GTO replica. They installed an Alpha1 kit but left the rest stock, 6 years ago Haley (my best friend and co-owner) and I got it on ebay. We drove it until last Feb when we decided to essentially change everything about it.

Every body panel has been changed. Some of it started as Alpha1, Scorpionz and others, but all of it has been extensively modified by me. We reduced the size of the hood opening. There are a lot of things on our car you don't see on any other GTO replicas. The vents in the rear 1/4 are metal and functional, the three openings below the grill are present, trap door on the nose between the hood and grill is there and functional.

The rear hatch was discarded and a trunk was fashioned. A rollbar and race seats were intalled, we converted it to right hand drive (just to be different) A custom dash fabricated. A rollbar was installed however we are contemplating a more solid cage. The wheelbase was stretched 4.25" and the firewall was recessed to make it better proportioned and to make room to lower and move back the engine to lower and move back the center of gravity.

Out went the 6 cylinder and 5 speed, in went a BMW V12 and Getrag 6 speed (think BMW 850csi). The engine has been converted to dry sump, manual Dellorto throttles, and has no distributors. Fuel and ignition is managed by an Electromotive Tec3r computer. The weight is about 2200lbs, and it’s RHD in America (to make it different from all the other replica 250 GTO’s out here.

We have a lot more planned, like slightly larger rear wheels (currently 15x 10 knock off's) and bigger brakes all around. As with anything it is a work in progress.

PS:
Michelle also sent us videos of her and Haley’s creation but due to lack of time we’ll post it tomorrow

2007 Nissan Micra / March Facelift

Nissan has launched a facelifted version of the March mini (known in Europe as Micra) in Japan today, June 6. Still trying to find the differences? Don’t blame you cause we had the same problem too. Since we have no intention whatsoever of spending our or your time for that matter, trying to discover the extra air dam in the bumper we’ll just say that, according to Nissan, enhancements to the new March include exterior and interior refinements, new user-friendly features such as Intelligent Key, an available Aero Style Package and a special "Plus navi HDD" model. PS: We couldn’t resist posting up a pic of the March Bolero edition; if that’s not a “kitty-cat…”- faced car we don’t know what is… -Full press release and images after the jump














PRESS RELEASE

A refined exterior and interior

Among the many refinements made to the March, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this model year, are a restyled front end appearance with revised headlamp and grille designs, as well as expanded application of the top-line front bumper specification.

The March comes in a selection of 12 attractive body colors, including four all-new colors: Sakura Pearl Metallic, Chamomile Green Pearl Metallic, Framboise Red Pearl (two-stage) and Pacific Blue Pearl Metallic. In conjunction with this minor model change, additional body colors have been adopted for the 12SR and 15SR-A*1 models.

March's interior features a new trim color, Cacao, which creates a rich and stylish ambience. Additionally, a redesigned meter cluster (4-speed AT models only) now features a carbon-like silver color, which combines with the new silver-embellished center console to give the interior a stylish design. Other enhancements include adoption of newly designed seat and door trim fabric and a driver's seat armrest (E and G models).

Nissan's Intelligent Key system and body-colored door handles have been added to the list of standard features (E models), while steering wheel controls have been added to E and G models. The new March also adds an audio system auxiliary port for connecting digital audio players or other portable music device (excluding the 12B and SR models).

"Plus navi HDD" special specification model

Based on the March 12S and 14S FOUR, the new "Plus navi HDD" model is designed to provide exceptional value. The centerpiece of this new model is an exclusive HDD-based navigation system featuring a high-speed, large-capacity 30-gigabyte hard disk drive. The "Plus navi HDD" model also adds a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel, among other special appointments.

The revised March model lineup includes two new optional packages: a factory-installed Aero Style Package (available on all models except the 12B and SR versions) and a factory-installed Square Interior Package (available on the 12E, 15E and 14E FOUR).

Sales target and pricing

The sales target for the new March is 3,000 units/month, with pricing ranging from 1,103,550 yen to 1,782,900 yen, including consumption tax. The March is being marketed under the "SHIFT_happiness" tagline.

Technorati: Nissan, Nissan+March, Nissan+Micra, cars, autos, vehicles

2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible

Following up on our weekend post concerning the Lexus IS Coupe-Cabrio, here’s another interesting proposition for a mid-sized, 2+2 convertible, this time based on the Infiniti G37 / Nissan Skyline Coupe. As with the IS Coupe-Cabrio CGI (Computer Generated Image), the G37 Convertible rendering was scanned from, an unknown this time, Japanese car magazine. Again, we have no confirmation –official or unofficial, that Nissan/Infiniti is actually preparing an open top version of its G35/Skyline Coupe, but we definitely find it interesting and we can’t think of a reason why Nissan shouldn’t go ahead and produce a model like this. Then again, our name doesn’t start with a C nor do the call us “le cost killer” behind our back. Pic via: skylinesaustralia

Technorati: Nissan+Skyline, Infiniti+G37, Convertible, cars, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles

2007 Australian Annual Cost Of Vehicle Ownership Survey

An Australian survey concerning vehicle ownership cost? As strange as it may seem, not only do we like knowing that Lexus is Japanese and Land Rover is British (…), but we also find interesting totally useless stuff like how many bucks will an Aussie block pay to own his 6cylinder Commodore or Falcon. For the record, your average Mike will pay 233.40 & 229.13 AUD par week respectively that translates to €142.1 & 139.5 and $191.2 & 187.7 again, respectively.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria’s (RACV) conducted this particular survey and the calculations include the cost of financing the vehicle, depreciation (hence the high numbers we mentioned above), as well as operating costs including scheduled services, registration, insurance, fuel, tyres, etc. We don’t know why, but the Aussies only included Australian and Japanese carmakers along with a couple of Kia’s and Hyundai’s. Follow the jump (click "Read More...") to check out analytical ownership costs per vehicle category.

Key to the tables

Standing costs include those incurred on a periodical basis, such as depreciation in the value of the vehicle, interest on the loan, registration, driver’s license and RACV roadside assistance membership.

Running costs include those that result primarily from usage of the vehicle, such as fuel, tyre replacement, service and repairs.

Total Costs combine both Standing and Running costs. They are calculated as an average, based on costs incurred over the first five years of ownership and 15,000 km annual travel distance.

Via: RACV