Nissan says next 370Z to compete with Porsche

[ZilviaBot]

10-01-2008 06:58 AM

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/la-auto-show/" rel="tag">LA Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupes</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports/GTs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/ANA05/809309969/1078/rss01&rssfeed=rss01"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/z_badge_450-op.jpg"></a><br><br>When Nissan launched the 350Z in '02, it was working hard to reinvent itself and the new Z was clearly its halo car in the U.S. market. Now that that the revival has come and gone, expect the new 370Z to take on a new tack as a harder edged vehicle. In fact, Nissan plans to take on Porsche, the most classic of all sportscar manufacturers, with its newest coupe. Equipped with a larger 335-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine and having gone on a serious diet, possibly shedding as much as 200 lbs, the new Z will definitely have the cojones to keep up with its foes, including <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/30/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-porsche-cayman-s/">the Cayman</a>, and its shorter wheelbase and wider track should conspire to make it quite the handler as well. We'll get our <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/nissan-370z-coming-to-los-angeles-auto-show/">first official look</a> at the new son-of-Godzilla at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/la-auto-show/">LA Auto Show</a>, shorty after which the Nissan 370Z should show up in Japanese dealerships with U.S. delivery at a later date. Hopefully, not too much later.<br><br>[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/ANA05/809309969/1078/rss01&rssfeed=rss01">Automotive News</a> - sub. req'd]<h6 style="clear:both;padding:8px 0 0 0;height:2px;font-size:1px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0"></h6><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/ANA05/809309969/1078/rss01&rssfeed=rss01">Read</a>Â*|Â*<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/01/nissan-says-next-370z-to-compete-with-porsche/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>Â*|Â*<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1329191/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>Â*|Â*<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/01/nissan-says-next-370z-to-compete-with-porsche/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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[illvialuver]

This is probably another reason why Porsche is accusing Nissan of cheating at the Ring.
they are getting showed up.

[liv2drift045]

haha....man the 370 sounds like its gonna be a beast

[twotoes]

omg this thing sounds so sick, i hope im making enough money by the time it comes out to buy one. Time to start saving :D

[fromxtor]

^^ Well they ARE talking about possibly offering it w/ a V8, and thats just beastly PERIOD.

[0100]

Badass, can't wait!

[twotoes]

^^ Well they ARE talking about possibly offering it w/ a V8, and thats just beastly PERIOD.

DAMNIT FROMXTOR!!!! now i need to change my pants....

[luckvx]

this will be cheaper then a gtr so ill just go with this or a g37

[Fries]

Ugh. Better means more expensive. Sucks. As the market for vehicles that we're actually interested get more populated, the chance of owning one and having the $$ to modify it after car payment is becoming more and more slim.

[twotoes]

^^^ true, prolly the best most of us can hope for is finding a wrecked one salvage the motor and drop it in a 240 :D which would still be pretty sick.

[markyboi]

i dont care if the z can manhandle the cayman on the track...


im still going to get the cayman s as a daily

[s15specR]

i dont care if the z can manhandle the cayman on the track...


im still going to get the cayman s as a daily

I have to agree....

[Rocko]

Sounds like its going to be a real monster. I can't beleive how much weight they expect to be able to save compared to the 350, along with the extra power and wider track it should be alot of fun.

[racer98]

^^^ that it is.

[mrmephistopheles]

I want to see a Z33 Twin Turbo.

[murda-c]

It's gonna turn into the z32 and be mad expensive, and we're all gonna buy 180s or silvias.

[SexPanda]

I want to see a Z33 Twin Turbo.

You mean a car with almost as much horsepower, and imo better looks than a gt-r for less than a gt-r?

I doubt it... T'would be cool though.

[articdragon192]

I'm pretty sure a car will take the spot below the 370Z. They're not gonna leave the low earning people without a car to buy. They can't just have the Sentra down there, lol.

[ryguy]

If they do go with a V8,
they should source it from GM.
And I'm not talkin bout the LT series.

[mondojackal]

If they do go with a V8,
they should source it from GM.
And I'm not talkin bout the LT series.why though? when they can make the same power in a smaller, or even similar sized, powerplant?

[drift freaq]

If they do go with a V8,
they should source it from GM.
And I'm not talkin bout the LT series.

Ah guys get those V8 pipe dreams out of your heads. The powerplant for the 370 has already been pretty much announced. aka VQ37HR. Hence the 370 name. Now yes Nissan is bringing in a lower priced RWD car too. This to has already been talked about and info leaked out. In fact Nissan was leaking teaser info about those as far back as 2 years ago.
Unfortunately, as it looks right now? It looks like the Silvia or 240sx replacement will look most likely like, a Altima coupe i.e. not bad but kinda yawn.
Now the 370 is looking hot and with a 337 HP engine aka the VQ37's rated output. In a 2900-3000lb car it should be pretty dope and should give the 911 a real run for the money. I am sure Nissan will consider a Turbo model but remember it has to come out below the GTR, as to not overshadow the GTR performance.

[exitspeed]

If they do go with a V8,
they should source it from GM.
And I'm not talkin bout the LT series.

Not necessary at all to compete with Porsche. It would be incredibly unrealistic to think that a V8 would be even remotely a good idea with the upcoming CAFE regs.

Also, this is FURTHER proof that Nissan is reading a new 240/200/180/Silvia for the market. It's all playing out sooooo predictably. And so favorably.

[ryguy]

why though? when they can make the same power in a smaller, or even similar sized, powerplant?

Thats just my unrealistic bench racer side coming out.

[Erjay1]

Im already trying to sell my 240 in hopes to save up enough to buy a 370z and finance little or nothing at all. Coming from Z33 I can say it lacked power and was very, very heavy. I spent alot of money for minimal gains. I probably gained as much as a stock sr20det getting a boost controller. We'll see what happens.

[TUnity2]

LOL. Porsche is gonna be soooooo pissed.

[exitspeed]

LOL. Porsche is gonna be soooooo pissed.

So pissed...again, lol.