Autoblog

Nissan-wielding Bloodmasters wreak havoc on Raceway Park

Zach Bowman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Nissan, Racing

At some point, drifting made the shift from counterculture revolution to the sponsor-laden vehicular equivalent of figure skating. We're not sure when it happened, but we certainly miss the days of watching grainy videos of mountain pass heroes piped over from Japan. The Bloodmasters crew seem to get where we're coming from. The guys just turned out a new video showing what happens when the crew gets together for a little fun at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. Let's just say there isn't a single booty-short wearing energy drink peddler or tube-chassis manufacturer vehicle in sight.

Instead, we're treated to some good old-fashioned fender bashing and tire shredding orchestrated under a mighty fine soundtrack. These guys are the kind of crazy that brought drifting across the Pacific in the first place, and from their ludicrous camera angles and similarly insane sideways antics, it looks like they're having considerably more fun than the Formula D crowd. We love that they don't seem to care how many dings and dents their Nissan 240SX coupes get, and they don't seem bothered by a few missing body panels, either. The whole film is well-shot, with portions looking downright Mad Max-like. Hit the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Nissan-wielding Bloodmasters wreak havoc on Raceway Park

Nissan-wielding Bloodmasters wreak havoc on Raceway Park originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Brick: Classic Volvo 240 Wagon races an M5

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Wagon, Videos, Volvo

The Volvo 240 - and in particular, the five-door version known to fanatics as the 245 - is a certified classic. Its boxy shape, well-earned reputation for safety and cult status among collectors means this Swedish Brick will forever be on our radar as a memorable machine. And, for what its worth, this author owned a gold example for a number of years.

If there's one thing the 245 is not known for, it's speed. Sure, you could get a turbocharged version of Volvo's ubiquitous B-series "Redblock" four cylinder, but that really only made the brick acceptable. For some real speed, some enthusiasts turn to classic American V8s. Others, like the man behind the menacing subject of the video pasted after the break, look a bit further outside the box (pun sadly intended).

Specifically, we're honing in on an old Volvo wagon fitted with a 2JZ-GTE engine that was likely lifted from a twin-turbocharged Toyota Supra. With dual-overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and an air-to-air intercooler, this inline six is known to tuners as a beast just waiting to be unleashed. And in this case, the Volvo-bodied beast is preying on an unsuspecting BMW M5 sedan. See the action in the video after the break.

Continue reading Quick Brick: Classic Volvo 240 Wagon races an M5

Quick Brick: Classic Volvo 240 Wagon races an M5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fontastic! Artist creates font based on Volvo 240 Station Wagon

Alex Nunez — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Wagon, Etc., Volvo, Design/Style

Times New Roman? That's for boring people. Graphic artist Alex George is clearly not a boring person. We know this because his love for the the timelessly awesome, relentlessly bulletproof, and "absolutely candid" Volvo 240 Station Wagon spawned what you see above. This, friends, is a font based entirely on the design of the inimitable, beloved "brick." It's called, quite simply, 240SW. And it's brilliant.

You can view more of Alex George's work over at his blog. By the way, if you happen to have a used 240 wagon for sale, Alex would like for you to let him know.

[Source: Alex George via HemmingsNews]

Fontastic! Artist creates font based on Volvo 240 Station Wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan cancels RWD Silvia successor and GT-R sedan, Prius-fight planned

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Infiniti, Nissan

We knew this was coming, it was just a matter of getting confirmation. According to Autocar, Nissan has suspended plans to create a compact, rear-wheel-drive successor to the Silvia due to Nissan's financial difficulties and Carlos Ghosn's pledge to reduce costs.

The first indication that Nissan was working on a Silvia/240 replacement came in the form of the Foria concept that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. The Urge design study quickly followed and development of the RWD coupe continued over the following years. We talked to a Nissan exec back in August of 2008 and they were able to confirm that work was still underway, but wouldn't put an exact date on when it would be unveiled.

Another casualty of the financial crisis is the rumored and refuted GT-R-based sedan for Infiniti. Work on the Porsche Panamera fighter has been put on indefinite hold, but it hasn't been cancelled outright. Ghosn wants the automaker to focus its development efforts on producing small- and medium-sized cars, including a Toyota Prius competitor which could arrive as early as next year.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Nissan cancels RWD Silvia successor and GT-R sedan, Prius-fight planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Nissan's new RWD sports coupe could be hybrid-powered

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Green, Nissan, Rumormill

We've been obsessively following the developments surrounding Nissan's rumored re-entry into the compact, RWD market, and up until now, it's been assumed that a small-displacement engine would be mounted up front, possibly fitted with a turbocharger. But according to a report by Drive.com.au, Nissan is actively considering a hybrid drivetrain to power its Silvia replacement.

The Aussie automotive news outlet spoke with Junichi Endo, Nissan's senior vice president of global marketing, who said that the automaker is trying to strike a balance between "fuel economy and driving pleasure," and that a hybrid-powered sports car has a "50-50" shot at production. However, the fate of such a vehicle hinges on the hybrid sports coupe's marketability.

While the idea certainly isn't original - Toyota is considering a gasoline-electric hybrid sports car inspired by the FT-HS concept and Honda has confirmed that the hybrid CR-Z is on its way - the move by Nissan would be a significant departure for an automaker that's kept hybrids and hybrid development at arms length, save the Altima hybrid. Additionally, Nissan maintains that if such a vehicle gains the affection of consumers, an all-electric sports car is the next logical step.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Rumormill: Nissan's new RWD sports coupe could be hybrid-powered originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo's 81-year history in 9 minutes

Chris Shunk — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Volvo

Click above to view video

Volvo has been making automobiles since April 14, 1927, and while most of us know Volvo for its safe and sometimes fun-to-drive vehicles, the Swedish automaker's history is of course more complicated than that. For instance, Volvo earned its reputation as a safe automaker before it sold a single car by getting in a head-to-head accident with an American car, which totaled the domestic while only scratching the Volvo. Volvo also featured the first standard three-point safety belt and was the first automaker to have a catalytic converter. Hit the jump to catch up on Volvology. It's a very solid nine-minute Volvo history course, even if it fails to mention current owner Ford all-together.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Volvo's 81-year history in 9 minutes

VIDEO: Volvo's 81-year history in 9 minutes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another Cheap FR Sports Car? Nissan joins the fray

Justin Gardiner — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Japan, Nissan

Japan's top two auto makers have a long and sordid history of ripping off each other's successful designs. No sooner had the Nissan Cube become a run away success in its home market than Toyota came up with the similarly boxy bB (Scion xB). Many years earlier, after the Toyota HiLux Surf (4Runner) proved a hit with, well, surfers, Nissan restyled their Terrano with nigh on identical lines, hoping to ride on the coattails of the Toyota. And let's not get in to the Supra vs. Z and Celica vs. Skyline wars.

Now, just weeks after confirming that Toyota does indeed have a successor to the lauded AE86 in the pipeline, Best Car magazine claims to have evidence that Nissan has got a team working on building a new Silvia. Like the final 2002 S15 Spec R Silvia the new car is reckoned to be powered by a turbocharged two-liter good for 247 HP, but will just be 10 kgs heavier at one and a quarter metric tons (2450lbs).

The new range should sell for between 2.5 and 2.8 million Yen ($21,000 - $23,700), but not until 2010. Best Car's scoop ties in nicely with photographs of a shortened Z, most likely a mule testing a new, smaller FR drive train, taken at the ring earlier in the summer. If the new Silvia is indeed to be based on a modified Z/Skyline LM platform, expect a similar wheelbase of 8' 6", but smaller overall dimensions, around 14' 4" long by 5' 8" wide.

Chances of Nissan bringing a concept car, possibly derived from the URGE shown in Detroit last year, to October's Tokyo Motor Show? 60-percet according to the magazine.

[Source: Best Car]

Another Cheap FR Sports Car? Nissan joins the fray originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxy, but quick - twin-turbo Supra engined Volvo 244

Dan Roth — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Volvo

If such a thing is possible, Volvo 240s have an even mustier image in Australia than they do in the United States. That's good for those of us who know that they're anvil tough and respond well to modifications. Being front engine, rear wheel drive and European, the ingredients for a stormer are there, if you care to do some work. Additionally, 240s are super easy to work on, and there's a decent enthusiast base, especially now with the interweb tubes in full swing.

Engine swaps into RWD Volvos are nothing new, Converse Engineering and Jags That Run have been selling kits to provide your "Brick" with a small-block heart transplant for years. A particularly determined Aussie has swapped in a twin-turbo Toyota Supra engine good for 284 horsepower. Sure, the V8s will bump out that pony count all day, but they won't have that inline-six wail. Of course, there's something equally alluring about the rhythm of a V8 doing its work, too. Decisions, decisions. Guess we'd just have to get a few and go swap-crazy. Good thing old Volvos are cheap!

The dyno run video is posted after the jump.

Gallery: Supra powered Volvo

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading Boxy, but quick - twin-turbo Supra engined Volvo 244

Boxy, but quick - twin-turbo Supra engined Volvo 244 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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