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MIMS 2009 – Nissan 370Z

Nissan 370Z at the Melbourne International Motor Show

Nissan went a bit punk on us with the Australian premiere of the 370Z. At least, I guess that’s what the deal was supposed to be with these young girls with ripped shorts and all.

Dan Thompson, CEO, Nissan Motor Company Australia started his address by announcing Nissan will be returning to the Nürburgring in April for a new assault on the Nordschleife. Presumably, in a Spec V.

Dan also mentioned something about the new 2009 model Maxima. But, try as I might, I just couldn’t see it on the stand. I’m sure it was there somewhere, maybe you saw it? No, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Maxima is bland, or anything…

Part audio of Thompson’s address below, apologies for missing the start (good help is hard to find these days, so you’ll just have to trust me on the Nürburgring stuff). As usual, piccies and press release after the jump.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Nissan.mp3]
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Nissan 370Z versus rivals at Tsukuba Circuit

The Nissan 370Z has the pedigree and the statistics to give its German and Japanese rivals some serious wasabi heat. But that’s all theory, how will the 370Z really stack up in practice?

Well, luckily for us the Japanese crew from Best Motoring have gone to the trouble of finding out. I trust you’ll enjoy this clip, filmed at the 2km Tsukuba Circuit in Japan (similar to Wakefield Park). Here you will see how the 370Z compares against the Honda S2000, BMW 135i, Porsche Cayman S and Porsche 911 Carerra.

Enjoy!

Source: The Motor Report

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Automotive industry supports Bushfire Appeal

Victorian Bushfires

Following the lead of Mercedes-Benz, two more manufacturers have donated cash towards the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Honda Australia, through its Honda Foundation, has pledged $200,000 to the cause. Joining Honda in today’s announcement is Nissan Australia and Nissan Motor Co. in Japan who will be offering a combined donation of $100,000.

Nissan Australia will also match donations made by its employees to the Australian Red Cross or Salvation Army. The company has also committed to a 100 vehicle loan fleet, allowing affected members of the public to apply for a free loan car, for a period of up to six months.

These announcements are a fantastic show of support and one would expect more manufacturers to follow in these very generous footsteps.

Where available, press statements from manufacturers are included after the jump.

UPDATE: Audi has made a “significant contribution” towards the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation which made a $1,000,000 donation earlier today.

Toyota has donated $100,000 to the Cricket Australia Bushfire Appeal. Ford also donated a Mondeo XR5 Turbo for auction, with all proceeds going to the appeal.

UPDATE 11 Feb: V8 Supercars have donated $100,000. (Source: The Australian)

BMW Group Australia has chipped in $100,000 plus other support.

UPDATE 12 Feb: News just in that Mitsubishi have donated $100,000 to the Appeal.

Holden has also come forward with a $152,000 (US$100,000) donation, via its GM Foundation, and a fleet of 300 loan cars available to bushfire victims for periods of 3-12 months. In addition to these pledges, Holden dealers nationawide have raised a further $200,000. (Source: news.com.au)

Update 13 Feb: The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group announced last night that it is donating $300,000 towards the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by the devastating fires.

Image: sourced from The Boston Globe

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Motor Shows News Nissan

Nissan 370Z UK specifications

Nissan 370Z

Okay, the UK specs of Nissan’s stylish 370Z may not be of great use to Australian readers, but the car looks pretty damn good and these details will give an indication of what to expect when the new Zed hits the Australian market in May.

NOTE: Australian readers can see the 370Z for themselves at the upcoming Melbourne International Motor Show (27 February–9 March).

The 370Z is 32kg lighter than the outgoing 350Z and with a smidge over 240kW it isn’t likely to hang about once you press the loud pedal. As to be expected with any new Japanese sportscar there is some pretty nifty technology inside the 370Z. New features such as Synchro Rev Control, which matches revs automatically on gear changes for the 6 speed manual, are sure to delight the boy racer inside all of us. The 7 speed auto also has a similar feature, well actually, it’s probably pretty much the same thing, but Nissan have called it something new anyway, Downshift Rev Matching. While those opting for the optional 19″ RAYS forged alloy wheels will encourage nods of approval from the JDM crowd.

If you want to knock around looking at more pics, downloading stuff and checking out official videos then take a look at www.nissan-370z.co.uk. In the meantime you can enjoy plenty of pics and read the Nissan UK press release below.

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Nissan GT-R hit by falling Aussie dollar

Nissan GT-R

According to a report on the GoAuto website new buyers of the Nissan GT-R will be stung for a price rise if they don’t already hold an order. While nothing official has been released, it seems as though the falling Australian dollar is behind Nissan’s economic revision. The increase will take effect before the GT-R’s Australian launch in April.

Original pricing from Nissan Australia was released in October last year, and at that point, the pricing was set at $148,800 for the entry level GT-R, while the Premium model would be an extra $4000. Now, though, those prices are expected to be just over AU$150K and AU$154K respectively.

Nissan Australia spokesman Ross Booth claims they have 140 orders for the GT-R on their books, and despite the economic downturn, none have been cancelled. Existing orders will not be affected by the price rise.

In relative terms this rise is very minor and one can’t imagine it would deter any prospective purchasers. Certainly wouldn’t stop me, that’s for sure!

Source: GoAuto

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Motorsports News Nissan

Nissan GT-R to lead touring cars, again

R35 Nissan GT-R

The good old days of the Nissan GT-R leading the best Australian touring cars in the land are coming back. The GT-R will be leading the way for the V8 Supercar field during 2009 after signing on to fill the vacant Safety Car position following the departure of the Chrysler 300C.

I know what you’re thinking, and no, the GT-R probably won’t be quicker than the purpose built racing Falcadores. That said, it’d be kinda fun if we were given a chance to see just how close a $150K Nissan would go against cars from the premier Australian racing category.

Rumours that Jim Richards will be driving the Safety Car in 2009 remain unconfirmed (more info after the jump).

Source: CarAdvice

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Nissan

Nissan GT-R Spec V details announced

Nissan GT-R SpecV

Details of Nissan’s GT-R Spec V were released today, as reported on AUSmotive in early December. Full marks to the chaps who originally broke that story, even their predicted date for today’s announcement was bang on!

While some details have been confirmed today, nothing official has been mentioned on increased power figures.

The modifications made to the Spec V that can be confirmed are, the addition of plenty of carbon fibre bits—including leather covered Recaro bucket seats, lightweight 20″ forged aluminium wheels, carbon brakes and, of course, a titanium coated exhaust. Until we get confirmation otherwise, we have to run with the 9kW increase mentioned in December’s leak. The increased power will be accessible from a boost control device, which increases boost for greater torque at mid-high revs. Interestingly, the press blurb doesn’t actually say this makes the car faster, but rather “a more powerful feeling of acceleration”.

To aid the weight loss program the rear seats have been removed. Erm, so why didn’t they lose the massive rear speakers too?

The GT-R Spec V is available in the usual GT-R colours, but also gets a unique hero colour called Ultimate Black Opal, as featured in the bulk of these pics.

At this stage the GT-R Spec V is only scheduled for Japanese sale, so that rules Australia out obviously. Japanese buyers will have to visit one of seven specially selected dealers in February to get their hands on a ‘V’. When they get there they’ll need to shell out a lazy Â¥15,750,000. On today’s exchange rates that’s about AU$242,00—remember the regular GT-R, available in Australia in two specifications, starts at AU$148,800 or AU$152,800 for the GT-R Premium.

I wonder how long we have to wait until Nissan torments Porsche by revealing GT-R Spec V’s best time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Extensive image gallery (click on each pic to load a 2000px super image) and Nissan Australia press release after the jump.

Update: Make sure you check out AUSringers for this video of the Spec V in full flight around the Nürburgring.

Update 9 February: You can also access information about the Spec V from Nissan Global. If your Japanese is up to scratch, why not go directly to the GT-R Spec V page on the Nissan Japan website.

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Nissan

Cobra Tuning gives GT-R more venom

Cobra N+ Nissan GT-R

“Power can only be substituted with more power.”

Well, that’s what the press blurb attached to this new Cobra N+ Nissan GT-R concept claims. The German funsters have upped the power from 353kW to 405kW (485hp to 550hp). Torque also gets a bit of a kick along, from 588Nm to 680Nm. The Cobra tuned Godzilla can sprint to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 320km/h (200mph).

Nissan reckoned their GT-R couldn’t be tuned, well the above power figures, reached in part through ECU tweaks, have put paid to that claim. Other usual tuning trickery such as revised air intakes and exhaust design have also helped to nudge GT-R’s power along.

Cobra’s tuning concept looks the business, too, on its 21 inch lightweight alloys, even if the paint detailing on the bodywork is a bit over the top. Eight-pot, yes eight piston, brakes at 405mm in diameter ensure the crazy speeds this car can achieve can also be brought to a halt.

But that’s not all, there is a race version in the pipeline as well. This will have over 455kW (620hp). Cool! Stay tuned for more info when the car hits the market sometime in the second quarter of 2009.

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Nissan

Nissan GT-R Spec-V details leaked

Nissan GT-R Spec-V

Another day, another leak. This time details of the Nissan GT-R Spec-V have surfaced on the net. The details are claimed to be confirmed specifications and suggest an official reveal for the Spec-V (or V-Spec, whatever tickles your Godzilla bone) will be 8 January 2009.

From what we can see on the GTRblog website there’ll be lashings of carbon fibre, lightweight 20″ forged aluminium wheels, carbon brakes and a moderate 9kW power upgrade, among other things (full list after the jump). Surely that power increase can’t be right, but that’s what the GT-R experts are saying, so we’ll run with it for now.

We probably won’t get the Spec-V in Australia at all, or for a very long time if we do. But the predicted base price in Japan is Â¥15,750,000 (approx AU$265,000). That’s over AU$100,000 more than the GT-R’s Australian list price. Ouch!

Source: GTRblog.com

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Video footage of Nissan’s new 370Z

Following Nissan’s release of three images, here is some video footage of their new 370Z. The footage was captured at an enthusiast get together prior to its, now somewhat obsolete, official unveiling at the LA Auto Show.

The new ‘Zed’ looks pretty good to me, although the overtly agressive head and taillights may prove to be an aquired taste. The side repeat indicator is, perhaps, as obvious as it is cool. Overall, a thumbs up from where I sit. In fact, after seeing the first official pics a couple of weeks back, whenever I see a 350Z now, it looks too angular and a bit compromised.

Source: autoblog

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Nissan

Nissan GT-R V-Spec just weeks away

Nissan’s Nordschleife-busting R35 GT-R is about to get better. The upcoming V-Spec has been confirmed by Nissan and speculation suggests February 2009 for an official release, although nothing has been officially announced. It has been suggested, though, that the GT-R V-Spec could be revealed at the 12th annual Nismo Festival to be held at the Fuji Speedway later this month.

Shown above testing at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife back in April, the V-Spec is expected to include the goodies from Nismo’s upgrade package, which has already been released for standard GT-Rs. The package includes undertray aerodynamic enhancements, light weight alloys and a titanium exhaust. The V-Spec will also employ carbon fibre body panels to help reduce overall weight and power is said to be increased by as much as 75kW. Such an improvement would take the GT-R V-Specto around 430kW (approx 575hp).

The regular GT-R retails for AU$148,800 and with speculation the V-Spec could be as much as Â¥15M, Australian pricing could begin around AU$240,000. That’s assuming the V-Spec gets an official Australian release.

The V-Spec looks like being an astonishing car. Porsche must be wondering what on earth they have to do next!

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Nissan

Nissan 370Z shows a need for speed

2009 Nissan 370Z

Nissan has jumped the gun a little by pre-releasing three official images of the upcoming 370Z. From what you can see here the more organic approach, compared to the angular 350Z, gives the updated car a stronger connection to earlier Z models, most notably the 240Z. Nice! Only a very short message was released with the images, which confirmed the 370Z will make its public debut at the LA Motor Show on 19 November.

What Nissan have been more forthcoming with is their deal with Electronic Arts’ new console game Need for Speed: Undercover, which will enable gamers to beat reality by one day. Need for Speed: Undercover goes on sale in the US on 18 November. Nissan’s Vice-President of Marketing in the US, Christian Meunier, is pretty happy about the match too,  “By launching the all-new 2009 Nissan Z first through Need for Speed: Undercover, we also gain the spirit and energy that EA gamers experience so strongly. Together with EA, we have truly integrated the all-new 370Z in the overall game experience in a meaningful, multi-layered and profound way.”

More images and full press statements after the jump.

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