Last week we told you about Nissan's plan to revise the 350Z and add a new, smaller RWD sports coupe to its lineup. All of a sudden, pics of that smaller sports coupe have appeared today on the interweb. Winding Road has a few clear shots of an oddly shaped 350Z-based mule tagging along behind a Porsche Boxster. The car looks a lot like a 350Z, but is much shorter overall and has spy photographers speculating it will be the Z-car's baby bro'. Whether a new Z-car, new 240SX or whatever, it's just a mule for now. The Urge Concept is said to be the inspiration for the shape of the new small sports coupe, so hopefully future prototypes will be wearing a body we can recognize as influenced by that concept. There's no word on a powerplant for this new coupe, but we've already voted for a turbocharged version of the SE-R Spec-V QR25DE motor, just in case Nissan is listening. Hopefully it will be rear-drive, as well, but that goes without saying on a car like this. Click the Read link or the pic to view a few larger photos of this odd mule.
[Source: Winding Road]
Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept
Spy Shots: Production Audi TT Clubsport Quattro
Chevy Camaro getting early unveil at Indy in September
James Garner recovering from mild stroke
VIDEO: God's ringtone is a V10-powered Audi R8
First Drive: 2009 Ford Escapes, more of almost everything
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
freckles @ Jun 12th 2007 3:31PM
just build it!!
shifthead @ Jun 12th 2007 4:00PM
Looks like the reports of the 09 Hyundai (Tiburon) rwd is gonna have some competition
Bandit62 @ Jun 12th 2007 4:06PM
The list of cars/prospects to look forward to in the next few years is getting long. Only now are manufacturers realizing that not everyone is interested in a 4000# torque monster.
stefan @ Jun 12th 2007 4:08PM
A new silvia and please no QR25DE i rather have the JDM SR20DET.
epp_b @ Jun 12th 2007 4:21PM
Naw, Nissan should make a QR25DET! :) That would absolutely *fly* !
gwballin @ Jun 12th 2007 4:09PM
I had a hard enough time trying to fit in the (presumably) larger 350z, so this thing will likely not be my ride of choice. Don't get me wrong however, this would still probably fit into my "I will not buy it but I'm glad to see it on the streets" category.
Guenther @ Jun 12th 2007 7:49PM
are you serious?? I have seen some big people (6'4,220; 6'2,300) fit the Z just fine.
Reason I would favor the V-spec 2.5 is BECAUSE ITS CHEAP.
Picture looks doctored because the CAR is doctored to be a MULE for a smaller platform derivative.
The point is not to compete against a car that cost twice as much, but rather to measure your own performance against a good measuring stick- benchmarking.
Dude @ Jun 12th 2007 4:18PM
I thought the Z was Nissan's affordable RWD sports car. ;-P
felipe @ Jun 12th 2007 4:47PM
wtf.... to have a car in the segment they are just cutting 4-6" out and sticking the car back together?
this looks like a 350z with Downs syndrome.
REDO a nice 240z you dopey nissan ninnies!
felipe @ Jun 12th 2007 4:52PM
damn it damn it damn it
i never see the word 'mule'. sorry.
ps
hate the urge too
glitched @ Jun 12th 2007 5:07PM
"but we've already voted for a turbocharged version of the SE-R Spec-V QR25DE motor"
UM, We have?
no no no, if you read the comments from the previous post, "we" - as in the readers - voted for any other besides the spec v motor - nissan has a couple engines already in use that would make much better choices than the spec V motor, that even already have the proper orientation for crying out loud!
Todd @ Jun 12th 2007 5:19PM
Just to clarify: The car was following the Porsche 987 COUPE, commonly called a Cayman, not a Boxster.
And, if it is built to compete with the Cayman, it ought to be an outstanding car.
Dave K. @ Jun 12th 2007 5:24PM
compete with the cayman? the 350Z doesn't compete with the cayman.
The picture looks doctored.. like a previous poster said - 350z with six inches lopped off the middle..
stefan @ Jun 12th 2007 5:22PM
#10
And that engine is the SR20VET
Fabulo @ Jun 12th 2007 6:04PM
Nissan has a VQ25. 2.5 V6, high revving, light, me like.
Bill @ Jun 12th 2007 6:05PM
This car looks pretty interesting, they have to change the roofline before it makes it to production though. I never liked the 350Z because its side profile looked dopey but this is far far worse.
Cognoscente @ Jun 12th 2007 6:58PM
Whatever it is, Nissan should build it. The market needs to get away from the abundance of SUVs and CUVs (cute utility vehicles) and give a little more attention to the performance enthusiasts.
http://www.autoconcourse.com
Andy @ Jun 12th 2007 7:07PM
Other blog sites have been making much of a Nissan/Porsche battle. I wouldn't put a Nissan with a Porsche. A fair comparison would be a Ford Mustang or Mazda RX-8. Would anyone with Porsche money choose a small Z over a Cayman? I think not. A smaller Nissan coupe for around $23,000 could catch my eye.
spdracerut @ Jun 12th 2007 7:37PM
Also, not likely you'll see any SR20 ever again. The design is too old and can't meet modern emission standards.
spdracerut @ Jun 12th 2007 7:37PM
Nissan uses Porshes as PERFORMENCE targets, nothing more. 350Z is to boxster as Z06 is to 911 turbo :) Have to make sacrifices somewhere to keep the costs down, just not in the performance department.
I doubt the pics are photoshoped. Car companies often use modified chassis of existing cars to test new powertrains. Much like the pics of the G35 coupe chassis that was used to test the upcoming GTR powertrain.