Nissan cars

2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo Euro-Spec

The Nismo version of the new-generation Nissan Z was initially announced back in 2009 and has undergone no major updates since. Today, however, Nissan Europe announced that an updated version of the 370Z Nismo will go on sale later in the summer, making it a 2013 model year.

Under the hood the car keeps the usual 3.7-liter V-6 engine, but output has been increased from the previous 328 horsepower up to 344 horsepower, while peak torque goes from 267 to 273 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and will sprint the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.2 seconds — 0.1 seconds faster than the previous year.

The exterior also receives a series of updates, including a bigger diffuser with integrated twin exhausts, wider side skirts, fixed rear wing and a new front splitter. The 370Z Nismo sits on a new set of 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tires sized 245/40R19 front and 285/35R19 rear.

The interior has also been updated with a new black and red trim, new Nismo sport seats and a new steering wheels wrapped in Alcantara.

There is no confirmation yet, but we assume that this is a nice preview for the 2014 U.S.-Spec 370Z Nismo.

Nissan GT-R R35 to Star in Fast and Furious 6

After having a cameo in “Fast 5,” the producers of the next installment have finally decided to give a more deserving role to the award-winning Nissan GT-R. And guess what? Like how Gerard Butler worked out for the movie "300,” the Nissan GT-R will also grow some muscles and abs for the movie, thanks to BenSopra and SP Engineering.

This car is a tuner enthusiast’s dream with the host of upgrades, both in styling and performance, so it is bound to grab some attention from the lead actor Vin Diesel.

This superstar GT-R features a muscular and aerodynamic body kit by BenSopra that makes the car look like a fire breathing Godzilla (which it actually is) and a full carbon-fiber treatment by Seibon that includes the doors, door sills, cooling panel set and engine cover. AMS Performance stepped in an offered up a carbon roof and trunk lid. Pretty awesome, don’t you think?

To smoke the competitors, both on the big screen and for real, the GT-R’s 3.8-liter V-6 carries Switzer’s P800 turbo kit, including HKS downpipe and resonated Y-pipe provided by SP Engineering. The soon-to-be movie star also stops faster thanks to the custom ceramic brake set-up by Weapons Grade Performance.

Overall, this custom Nissan GT-R just gives us a good reason why we should watch the 6th installment of the Fast and the Furious. Now, if only they had an Oscar Award for baddest cars...

2014 Nissan Versa Note

Nissan has unveiled a new addition to the Versa lineup at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. This new Versa Note will go on sale in the summer of 2013 at a price of $13,990 and in four different trim levels: S, S Plus, SV and SL Packages.

When compared to the Versa sedan version, the new Note version will get its own distinctive look, feel and added hatchback utility. Design elements have been inspired by the Note designation used in other global markets, and will include steeply sloped front windshield, sculpted front doors and dramatic character lines.

All four models will be powered by an advanced 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a Nissan Xtronic CVT transmission. This combination allows the new Versa Note to deliver an impressive fuel economy of 35 mpg, on combined cycle.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Nissan Verso Note.

Nissan Planning a Sports Car Below the Mighty Z-Car

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the very few compact sports cars that grabs a fair share of the limelight. Thanks to the increased demand for such compact sports cars, it is no surprise that other manufacturers are planning to join the bandwagon. BMW, for instance, is planning to launch a Z2 to rival the Miata.

And now, thanks to the confirmation from Nissan’s executive vice president Andy Palmer at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, Nissan will also accompany BMW in building such a vehicle, sans the open-top option from what we can tell.

This little sports car will be the entry level model for Nissan’s two-door sporty offerings, sitting below the Z-models and the mighty GT-R. Bear in mind, however, that this upcoming sports car isn’t meant to rival the award-hogging Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S.

Expect the car to be designed by the same hands that gave birth to the design of the Juke, so we can all anticipate a more youth-oriented approach.

Under the hood, Palmer mentions that the car will be "guilt-free.” What could be guiltier for a vehicle than polluting the environment? So, expect either an electric or a hybrid powertrain, though we have our bets placed on a hybrid system.

Palmer confirms that a concept model of the entry-level sports car will be shown off within a year. So, expect its production version to land in our shores somewhere around 2015.

We’re sort of excited about such a model being announced from the makers of the Godzilla. It gives more people an opportunity to enjoy sporty two-door model in a less expensive package.

Image Shown: 2011 Nissan ESFLOW Concept

2013 Nissan GT-R Euro-Spec Laps Nurburgring in 7:18

As promised, the 2013 model year Nissan GT-R (2014 for the American market) will be further improved when compared with the 2012 model year. Nissan Europe announced that the 2013 GT-R has scored an impressive 7 minute 18 seconds Nürburgring lap time — a 3 seconds improvement when compared to the 2012 GT-R.

During a lap test around Nürburgring, the 2013 GT-R scored a time of 7 minutes and 19.1 seconds, but the car’s creator Kazutoshi Mizuno says that 0.5 seconds were lost to traffic on that hot lap leading us to a time of 7 minutes 18.6 seconds.

Along with being faster around Nürburgring, the 2013 GT-R will run from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than in the 2012 car. The GT-R is offered with a tweaked V-6, 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine that delivers a total of 550 horsepower.

In the European market, the 2013 GT-R is now available for order.

2013 Nissan Resonance Concept

It looks like many automaker have used the 2013 Detroit Auto Show to preview their future design language, and Nissan is one of them. Their new Resonance Concept previews the "future direction of Nissan crossovers with smart, edgy design."

The exterior features a new V-Motion design language that includes the front grille, the hood and of course the new boomerang shaped headlights. What we really like about the new concept is that very cool Flare Orange exterior paint combined with the 22 aluminum-alloy wheels with Satin Chrome accents. The interior features a "VIP lounge" look and includes buttery leather and premium-stitched seats, an advanced instrument panel and a open glass roof.

The new Resonance is of course a hybrid vehicle: it combines a smaller displacement internal combustion gasoline engine with an electric motor

Updated 01/15/2013: This review has been updated with the full details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Nissan Resonance Concept.

Nissan to Surprise NAIAS Visitors With New Concepts and Fragrance

While most manufacturers are busy prepping to launch brand new models to keep visitors drooling, Nissan has taken a different approach by announcing a new fragrance that soothes the visitors at the Nissan stall.

Dubbed the "vert oriental,” this fragrance is reported to smell like green tea leaves during the Chinese spring harvest, which is soon going to be the trademark "smell" of any Nissan. Clearly, that’s one aspect that no one bothers spending time on...

To make the odor familiar amongst visitors, Nissan will be periodically releasing the fragrance. So people planning to visit the NAIAS, you know what to look out for when you step into Nissan’s territory.

Other than that, Nissan will announce a radical new concept and a mini hatchback. Also sharing the spotlight will be the evergreen 2013 Nissan Leaf and people who love bling can look forward to the Gold GT-R developed with Usain Bolt.

To make the experience closer to the movie Minority Report, Nissan has installed an "Innovation Wall" that makes use of the Kinect sensor for X-Box to communicate with the visitors and explain the history of the brand’s achievements through six different screens. Pretty neat, huh?

2013 Nissan Qashqai 360 Edition

Nissan UK has just added a new special edition to its Qashqai lineup in the form of the new 360, which replaces the n-tec+ and adds additional equipment for the same £19,945 (about $32,000 at the current exchange rates).

The new Qashqai 360 will be distinguished by a set of additional features like gloss-black roof rails, door mirrors and "360" badges. For the interior, the model will add part-leather trim with double white stitching, a gloss-black gearlever surround, gloss-black door handles and a leather armrest. The model can be ordered in a new Storm White exterior paint priced at £500 ($804) and will be offered with an exclusive set of 18-inch "Onyx" alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and a panoramic roof.

The list of standard equipment will include Nissan’s Connect with 360-degree Around View Monitor system with integrated satnav, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity.

Under the hood, customers can choose between all the engines and transmissions offered for the current Qashqai lineup, but Nissan believes the 1.6 dCi diesel with stop/start technology will be the most popular variant

2013 Nissan GT-R "Goliath" by Switzer Performance

Any time a tuning company decides that a program deserves to have its own teaser, you know it’s preparing a showstopper. And naming that said program "Goliath" only adds to the hype.

That’s what we have now from Switzer Performance, the US-based Nissan GT-R aftermarket specialist, as it recently released an interesting teaser of its program for the Japanese supercar. The package is being touted as the Goliath, and fittingly enough, it carries itself like one with improved performance credentials that are expected to peak at 1,500 horsepower at a shade over 7,000 rpm.

So, how was Switzer able to fit all of those ponies in the GT-R’s 3.8-liter V-6 engine? Surprisingly enough, it did this by using tested and proven parts like intercoolers, plumbing, and the exhaust hardware and modifying them in such a way as to be able to handle the massive uptick in output.

We expect Switzer to divulge more info about the Goliath GT-R in the coming weeks. We’re pretty sure that with a program like this, there’s more to the Goliath than having 1,500 horsepower. At the very least, we expect some exterior mods that’ll do justice to the name it’s been given.

2013 Nissan GT-R Stage 3 by Jotech Motorsport

We’ve seen what Jotech Motorsports can do when it puts its Stage 2 and Stage 5 kits on a Nissan GT-R. This time around, the tuning specialists have released details on its Stage 3 upgrade for Godzilla.

It’s not as powerful as the ungodly Stage 5 program, but the Stage 3 kit does have some pretty interesting additions for the GT-R. Two of these upgrades that bear strong interest are bolt-on turbo programs that come from either HKS or GReddy. The latter, in particular, also comes with a GReddy XL Intercooler kit, which also features a polished-aluminum piping, GReddy Type RS blow-off valves with all fittings and hardware coming as part of the program.

Whatever turbo kit you choose to have installed, Jotech will wrap them with DEI turbo blankets, ensuring superior performance credentials for the Japanese supercar.

In addition, Jotech was able to accomplish higher output with some help from a Cobb AccessPort #006 with TCM capability with the supercar’s fuel system now receiving 1,000 cc injectors, a pair of HKS twin fuel pumps, and HKS Iridium Spark Plugs.

With all those upgrades in tow, the GT-R can now hit in excess of 700 horsepower on 93-octane fuel. Any which way you slice it, that’s a lot of juice for a supercar that already packs a wallop in its standard configuration.

A set of HRE Series S101 wheels were also added to the program, rounding out a program for this red Nissan GT-R that was actually tuned by Jotech for Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh.