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Tags: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=121314

Tag Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=121314

Great job GT-R! What about Z?
Enough of GT-R. Now that we know NISSAN can match and beat the best of sports car, let's focus on its most affordable yet capable sports car, Z.

According to Edmunds.com, Nissan brought along a BMW Z4 coupe and a Porsche Cayman for test session of next generation Z at Nürburgring. Below are lap times of these 2 comparison competitors, although one of them is a lot faster.

8:11* - 151,274 km/h - Porsche Cayman S, 295 PS/1340 kg, test driver Walter Roehrl (*mfr.) (sport auto 07/05)

8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0 SMG (sport auto 04/03)

What do you think? Can new Z beat Cayman S? Or they will be looking at 8:15 range? There will also be a good possibility NISSAN comes up with a model targeting at 7:50 lap time. What would that be? Turbocharged Z?



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investor27investor27 - 10/21/2007 9:41:43 PM
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Weren't they testing a baby Z? Now an affordable car that is smaller, lighter, and has more horse power than the current Z would sell thousands.

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Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 10/21/2007 10:09:56 PM
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I dont know if that's the case. Most buyers of the current Z like its handling and size already. A smaller, more spartan one than is already made probably wouldn't attract any more buyers in its segment. More power (as always) and an interior that doesn't look like it should carry a Tupperware label would be the real ticket.


EL34EL34 - 10/21/2007 10:25:44 PM
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Nissan may have built a car around a gigantic engine, but they sure can't design a body or interior worth a damn.

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ILikeLamboILikeLambo - 1/29/2008 4:47:40 AM
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either that or he has been underage binge drinking for the past ten years


LyallLyall - 10/21/2007 11:01:38 PM
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I'd like to spologize to all other posters/contributors on this blog, for the OC excrescence that is EL34. I assure you, the rest of us Californians or even Americans aren't like this garbage. We can actually trace a car's history and recognize the design goals, ably met, with the GTR's undiluted, attack-jet design.
This is not your average real estate brokers machine- the ubiquitous Lexus is.
EL-34- real estate down ain't it lately? No wonder you've allthis extra time to post ten times a day on how ugly the GTR is. I can only imagine what you yourself look like, you republican lowlife.

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Benzo_BBenzo_B - 10/22/2007 8:14:08 AM
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" I can only imagine what you yourself look like, you republican lowlife."

You have added nothing of value to this conversation other than to give your opinion on a persons', who you know nothing about, political stance. In the future you should try to dazzel us with your automotive knowledge and not your politcal stance that has nothing to do with cars.


0to600to60 - 10/23/2007 10:34:19 PM
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here's another uptight republican :-)


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 12:34:50 AMView My AgentSpace
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"There will also be a good possibility NISSAN comes up with a model targeting at 7:50 lap time. What would that be? Turbocharged Z?"

I think that would be called the Too-Close-to-GT-R.

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DaHarderDaHarder - 10/22/2007 6:20:59 AM
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Exactly...

The 350Z is fine at its current price/performance level, though we all know that the 370Z is looming.

I've just never warmed up to its deformed frog-like styling...

Absolutely Grotesque Profile!


montyz81montyz81 - 10/22/2007 10:19:48 AM
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I have to disagree about the frog-like styling. You can clearly see the heritage that Nissan were after with the current 350z. I have a 1981 280ZX and I can see exactly. It really makes you think how nice of a job they did bringing the Z back and into the 21st century.


DaHarderDaHarder - 10/22/2007 1:54:17 PM
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^ I don't disagree with the fact that there are some 'heritage' styling cues, but the over-all execution looks far too bunched-up and slab-sided for something with sporting-pretensions.

It's rather ungainly looking overall.

If you like the design, GREAT... I don't.


MotorheadMotorhead - 10/22/2007 12:24:14 PM
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Nissan 350z still has a long way to compete with the Porsche. After owning a Anniversary edition, bad ride comfort, heavy car, so so handling and performance. Visually exterior is a nice transformation from the past ( after all they did good on first years sales, i think strictly on looks ) Interior was bad, the design was a decent effort but layout was bad on a manual. Currently i own a Porsche Cayman S. Nissan has a long way to catch up. The currenty FM setup on 350z is junk, every bump you tackle feels like a smack to your face. Backing up with the 350Z you cant see much. Ride comfort was bad, run over ants and you can hear their screams in the car. Porsche cant be compared with a 350Z just on price range alone, does'nt have the bling of Ferrari,but you can really tell the engineers tackle as much small details as they can. Comfort, Handling, Drivability. As for GTR attacking the U.S. and going against Top end cars, i appauld it. Making the top end cars work alittle harder and drop pricing alittle more =) Paddle shifter on a GTR? The majority of targeted consumers i think would want to see a manual on a GTR.
For now my money is saved up for a upcoming 911 turbo see what Porsche have to offer.

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Htay7500Htay7500 - 10/22/2007 3:34:48 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
what about reviving the silvia/240SX?

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DaHarderDaHarder - 10/23/2007 1:38:37 AM
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In America, after 1991 (or so) no one seemed to care about it either way (could have been the 150hp)...

I'm not convinced that they will now, but one never knows how a new vehicle will be received these days.


dlindlin - 10/23/2007 2:57:54 AM
+3 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I don't think 7:50 is close to GT-R at all, and that's why I submit this article and question. Any MFR, or player of GT4 on PS3, will kill for 3 seconds in Nürburgring, let alone 15 seconds.

Anyway I just found something interesting. The official lap time of current 350Z is tested by German magazine, Sport Auto, in 03:

8:26 - Nissan 350Z (Sport Auto 10/03)

While they also tested Cayman S in 06:

8:25 - Porsche Cayman S (Sport Auto 11/06)

Sport Auto Nürburgring lap time is usually performed by their editor-in-chief, Horst von Saurma, who held 7:32 lap time on Carrera GT.

Maybe 350Z already can run as fast as Cayman in a skilled driver, if not in the hand of Walter Roehrl.

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