Autoblog

click above for more high-res pics of the 2007 Nissan 350Z

Speculation is circulating around the automotive media that Nissan is preparing a revised version of the Z-car. According to reports, the 350Z will turn into the 370Z when Nissan updates the sportscar with the 3.7-liter V6 in its recently-revised sibling, the Infiniti G37 coupe. Whether the Japanese automaker will use this opportunity to facelift the model altogether as anticipated remains to be seen.

The reports suggest that the 370Z will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, home turf to Nissan's sister-company Renault, this coming October. That's still months away, so stay tuned for more information.

[Source: Autocar magazine via Winding Road]

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]

UPDATE: Ed Hellwig from the Straighline Blog totally disagrees.

click above image for high-res gallery of Toyota's FT-HS Concept

Toyota's next-generation Supra is veiled in mystery, but we tend to take seriously any news coming from Winding Road's Peter Nunn because, well, he actually lives in Japan and hears the hometown gossip. According to Nunn, rumor has it that the next-gen Supra's design will be inspired by the FT-HS Concept, which we kinda sort of already knew, and be powered by either a hybrid drivetrain or an all-gas V6.

The last issue of Automobile Magazine claimed that the FT-HS Concept would go into production as Toyota's Supra successor, but made no mention of another all-gas version. WR's Nunn, however, speculates that the car will be offered with either an updated version of the 3.5L V6 from the Lexus IS350 producing around 330bhp and a V6 hybrid drivetrain likely scooped from the Lexus GS450h and producing 400bhp.

The all-gas Supra would obviously be less expensive than the hybrid version, and thus would likely be the volume seller of the two. Looks like we're expecting both to arrive sometime in the latter half of 2008, though any details having to do with Toyota's plans for the Supra are obviously about as firm as Jell-o.

[Source: Winding Road]

Click the image for our full, hi-res gallery.

Although the car has been on sale since January 5th, we just got word of pricing (and pics) on Nissan's 2007 350Z lineup. One of the best sports cars on the market since it was introduced a few years ago, the refreshed '07s get even better with a newer 306hp version of Nissan's much-lauded 3.5-liter V6, as well as an updated nose, Bluetooth phone compatibility with steering wheel controls and a few new control choices. All that for just an extra $250 over the 2006 models. The only model that goes up in price more is the Roadster Enthusiast model, which finally gets the front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags which are now standard on all Zs. That model will be $500 more than a comparable 2006 version. Still a bargain in our book.

The 350Z is now available in your choice of four coupes or three roadsters. The full rundown of prices is as follows:

350Z 6MT ($27,900)
350Z Enthusiast ($29,600-6MT, $30,600-A/T)
350Z Touring ($32,700-6MT, $33,200-A/T)
350Z Grand Touring ($36,100-6MT, $37,100-A/T)
350Z Roadster Enthusiast ($35,550-6MT, $36,550-A/T)
350Z Roadster Touring ($37,900-6MT, $38,900-A/T)
350Z Roadster Grand Touring ($40,250-6MT, $41,250-A/T)

The press release is posted after the jump.