The snow has melted in most parts of the world, so customers are gearing up for what will be a hot Spring and an even hotter Summer. And if you just so happen to be an owner of a 2008-2010Nissan 370Z Roadster, then you’ll want to pay attention. Schmidt Revolution has prepared a tuning package for the roadster that offers a new set of wheels, a new coilover suspension and a stainless steel exhaust system to get the car ready for those long, top down rides.
Starting from the bottom up, Schmidt Revolution will have two sets of wheels for customers to choose from. Variant 1 includes a new set of three-part C-Line wheels, size 9.5x20-inch front and 12x20-inch rear, with 245/30-20 and 305/25-20 Hankook tires for a price of $7,200. The next version, Variant 2, will include wheels, size 21", with 245/30-21 and 295/25-21 tires. This set goes for $8,600. Both sets come with Radinox-coated rims that are washable and suitable for everyday use.
Further customization for the Nissan 370Z Roadster comes from a new H&R coilover system that allows the 370Z to hug the ground a little tighter and a new stainless steel exhaust system along with dampers for a more appropriate engine sound. The coilover system can be had for $1,600, while the exhaust system pushes the envelope further at $6,500.
No changes were made to boost performance for the 370Z Roadster, so the customer will have to make due with the 3.7 Liter DOHC V6 engine already situated under its hood. This engine will produce 332 HP, up 26 HP from the old VQ35 engine thanks to the new Variable Valve Event and Lift control (VVEL) which manipulate the motor’s breathing too ensure optimum respiration and allow for the car’s redline to be raised by 1000 revs all the way up to 7500 RPM. The engine is mated to either a seven speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching or a close ratio six speed manual with throttle blipping SynchroRev Match.
Now that the 2011 Geneva Motor Show has come and gone, it goes without saying that the event was arguably the biggest and most successful auto show since the 2009 IAAs in Frankfurt, Germany.
Some might contend that, but as far as we’re concerned, its been a while since we had an auto show that has been as widely attended by almost all automakers in the world quite like what we saw in Geneva.
And while we may have been introduced to a lot of the cars that were launched in Geneva beforehand, there were still some models, mostly of the concept variety, that took us by surprise.
Most of these models weren’t previewed before the event so when the Geneva Motor Show opened its doors, just about everybody in attendance and those keeping tabs over the Web didn’t see these cars coming.
But now that they’re here, we can take a look at the models that made the 2011 Geneva Motor Show that much more interesting.
Fifth Gear mainstays Tiff Needell and Jason Plato found a good way to get some burn on a Porsche Boxster S, an Audi TT-RS, and a Nissan 370Z. The problem was, there were three sports cars ready to be tested, but only two drivers to drive them.
Fortunately for the two, they found another man to become the third driver. You might recognize his name, too: Ben Collins.
All together, Tiff, JP, and Ben took some time on the track to test the three aforementioned sports cars in a series of three tests – an agility test, a drift test, and a hot lap - to determine which car would run supreme over the others. Being the most senior of the trio, Tiff scored first dibs, picking the TT-RS for his ride. Picking next was JP, who opted for the Boxster S, leaving the man formerly known as the Stig to ‘settle’ for the 370Z.
Before we even begin to go into the second episode of Top Gear USA, we have to admit that we had to set an alarm to remind ourselves to watch it. That doesn’t exactly say much about the show’s first episode, but we actually did see some sort of improvement with this one.
This episode was a little different than the first one as Adam Ferrara kind of took a back seat to Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust. That wasn’t exactly a bad thing considering that the actor/comedian was bland and uninspiring during the first episode. The chemistry was better between the three, but the music still sucked.
Enough about all that, let’s move on to the actual meat and potatoes of the show. In this episode we got to see Wood take on the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Tanner Foust put two skiers to the test while driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and all three men learn a little something about drifting in a Nissan 370Z. Yes, Tanner Foust is a drift champion, but that may or may not help him during this challenge. Oh yeah, and some British guy takes on the Suzuki SX4.
Hit the jump to check out the details of Top Gear USA, Episode Two.
After seemingly countless delays, GT5 will finally be released on November 24th – just in time for Christmas. What’s even more exciting is that Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) and Polyphony Digital Inc., in partnership with Nissan North America, have announced the opportunity of a lifetime for GT gaming and racing enthusiasts. They are about to make thumb bandits’ dreams come true by giving gamers the opportunity to experience a proper professional racing experience. Similar to the setup in 2008, the GT Academy 2010 will be launched on December 1st in North America and will serve as a platform for fans of GT5 to see if their Playstation skills match up to their real world racing ability. The GT Academy will challenge gamers and racing fans alike across the U.S. to compete in a series of predetermined online time trials. The cars will obviously be various Nissan models that will built up from road going versions through to hardcore race-spec machines.
Hit the jump for details on the competition and how to enter.
