Autoblog

Click for more high-res pics from the Stillen Nissan/Infiniti open house

Steve Millen is very appreciative of his racing successes as a factory driver for Nissan. Since retiring from competition, he hasn't let the automaker forget his gratitude. He does so through his aftermarket parts company and tuning shop, Stillen. Stillen's core market consists of the Nissan/Infiniti enthusiast, while Ford fans round a close second. For the past 12 years the Costa Mesa, CA facility has hosted an annual customer appreciation open house aimed at giving a little something back to those who keep things running. During the event, Nissan and Infiniti owners crowd the streets with their rides for a car show, the shop performs installations under the gaze of spectators and the dyno was available for those that wish to show off more than their vehicle's exterior.

This year's open house event even saw Nissan chipping in with some eye candy as well. A handful of knowledgeable and passionate employees were on hand to show off a pair of 2009 Nissan GT-Rs. One of the cars was the very same GT-R track tested by Mr. Millen for a Road & Track feature. Also taking up space in the parking lot was a 2009 Infiniti FX and a 2009 Nissan Maxima, brought along in order to gauge reception from the crowd. The GT-Rs and Maxima were greatly poked and prodded upon, but the FX received little attention. The lack of interest in the FX did not necessarily speak ill of the redesign, but more so of the crowd's nature. A few trucks and SUVs were in attendance, but the majority of vehicles lining the street were of the 350Z, G35, Sentra and 240SX variety. Take a peak at the photo gallery to see a sampling of what was there.

Click the image above for more hi-res shots of the 370Z and Infiniti design teasers.

There were crisp images of a blurry car being swapped and discussed today at Nissan 360. When Shiro Nakamura, the head designer at Nissan, revealed the barest hints of a car outline hidden behind a taut sheet of fabric, speculation began as to whether it represented the new Z. The arced flanges over the wheels, and the way they follow the wheels, have 370Z written all over them. However, it doesn't look as if it would fit this rendering exactly -- which is not a bad thing. All Nakamura would say is that we'll be seeing that wheel later this year, which, coincidentally, is when the next Z -- supposedly lighter and four inches shorter than the current car -- is slated to be unveiled.

The other design teaser was a top-view sculpture of future Infiniti design elements. Who knows what or how much of the elements -- like the ducktail rear -- will make it to the final product, and who knows what those features will look like when in production. But it's a good looking piece of art in its own right. A brace of edges peeking out from a sea of crimson undulations -- if they had thrown wheels on it I would have driven it out of the hotel last night.


Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.

Click the image above for the gallery

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has lived a charmed life, and he's giving back to the technical sciences by auctioning off his 2005 350Z special edition for charity. The Woz has a soft spot for the old Nissan Z cars, as he appeared in a commercial for the 280Z back in the day, and he has put together a remake of the old spot featuring his 350Z. The spoof commercial features a rotund Woz rolling across the back yard of his spacial digs in a Segway, while sound from the original commercial mentions that the Apple co-founder has two sports cars. The spoof video ends with the Weird Al version of "Ridin Dirty" playing while the Woz rides off into the sunset, Apple II license plate in full view. The sale price for the car is $100,000, but Woz is also accepting lower offers. Click here to view the "remake" video, and follow the jump to check out the classic original.

[Source: TUAW]

The iPhone has been perhaps the most hyped tech gadget of 2007, and a 17 year-old from New Jersey recently achieved fame by being the first to "unlock" the Apple device. George Hotz, who many are referring to as the new "DVD John," rigged the $599 iPhone to operate on any network with any SIM card. For his epic hack, Hotz was given a free Nissan 350Z and three 8 GB iPhones. All he had to do was hand over the compromised handset to Terry Daidone, owner of phone refurbisher and aftermarket parts maker CertiCell. Not bad for a kid that hasn't even started his first day of college.

A bad-ass 350Z is definitely a hell of a deal in a trade for a phone that costs a mere $499-$599. If Hotz doesn't get into legal trouble for his work, we think the brilliant teenager will likely get a killer job with a tech company well before he finishes college... right about the time he gets his third speeding ticket.

[Source: iPhone JTAG]

Thanks for the tip, Phil!

The Nissan GT-R is among the subject of the most sought-after spy photos in the business, mostly because so many people want to see and know more about Nissan's upcoming speed-demon. A 3.7L turbocharged engine with at least 450 hp combined with a storied name that is finally making its way Stateside tends to excite us enthusiasts. When we made our way out to the 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed, our own Frank Filipponio got some terrific shots of a hardly disguised GT-R making runs, and someone else got video of Nissan's road-rocket before it hit the track.

Watching the video, it doesn't take a trained ear to hear serious horsepower. The cameraman got close enough to see the camo'd interior, and you can hear banter between the GT-R's driver and some people in the crowd. Check it out after the jump, it's a small GT-R fix before its October unveiling in Tokyo.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Click image for gallery

While those of us in the States must make due with either a modest revamp or an aero-enhanced version of the 350Z, the Japanese will be able to get their hands on a what is arguably the most desirable Z-car yet – courtesy of NISMO.

The Fairlady Z Type 380RS-Competition gets its new numerical nomenclature from increasing the displacement of the stock 3.5-liter V6 to 3.8-liters, boosting power to 350 HP and 293 lb.-ft. of torque. The increased oomph will likely be sent through a six-speed manual gearbox, with what we'd assume is a beefed up clutch to handle the extra horses.

[Sources: Inside Line, Carview (via Response)]

Autoblog reader Sei tipped us off to an article over at the GT Channel that purports to have the inside scoop on the development of a prototype retractable hardtop that can be fitted to the 350Z. Autech, an arm of Nissan whose focus is on specialty vehicle conversions, has developed a system that is likely to be equipped on the next Z car – if it's deemed cost effective and can fit within the Z's pricing structure.

If certain rumblings are to be believed, the next Z could debut as early as this year's Tokyo Motor Show in October, likely a refresh rather than an outright redesign. The coupe would be shown in concept form, with sales likely to begin in 2009, and that's when we'd expect this rumor to be confirmed.

[Source: GT Channel]

Several photos have popped up in the last week of a Nissan 350Z –based mule that has been circulating on public roads. The prototype is clearly based on the existing car but with a shortened greenhouse. World Car Fans has a bunch more photos of this car today, but in the first photo the mule is followed by a second mystery car that may in fact be more interesting. Featuring a single blade wiper and what may be rear quarter air scoops, this one may not have turned up before. If anyone has any clues as to the identity of this other car, please chime in the comments or send us a tip.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

The Channel that's all about Grand Touring (or something), posted a rendering that could foretell the future styling direction Nissan may take with the next Z car. With the current "Zed" getting a bit long in the tooth after five years of diligent service, and the recent speculation surrounding the next iteration, the image above confirms Autocar's initial report that the next Z will be keeping the general shape of the outgoing model, but with a more smoothed out appearance. Then again, this looks like a scan from one of the dozens of speculation-happy Japanese mags that come out every week, so we're not holding our breath.

Naturally, with an appearance upgrade, changes under the hood are all but assured, and the smart money seems to be on the 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 that's currently found beneath the bonnet of the new G37/Skyline.

The obvious question remains, when will Nissan unveil the next-gen Z? We would like to think it would be at this year's Tokyo Motor Show, but with the unveiling of the production GT-R and a rumored Silvia-replacement concept, we doubt they'd want to blow it all on one show. Frankfurt? Geneva? Detroit? We'll be waiting, as always.

[Source: GT Channel]

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]