Has anybody else notice that Nissan has been going crazy with high HP cars and trucks? For example:

Maxima has 255 HP
Altima has 240 HP
SE-R has 175 HP
Xterra has 210 HP
Pathfinder has 250 HP

It's good to see a Japanese car maker serious about performance. I have a feeling a few years from now, everybody will be saying, "Nissans makes really powerful cars." I hope Honda and other Japanese car makers follow suit.

 

Great topic! Unfortunately, Nissan has caught a lot of crap for producing some of the most boring commuter cars known to man. But they also have a long history of introducing unique and fun cars that set the standard for their respective markets at the time (510, all Z-cars, Sentra SE-R, etc). It is nice to see them getting back into performance, taking risks, and hopefully selling a lot of great cars in the future!

Jon
who thinks that the new high-hp Altima with some better tires and a bigger rear swaybar would be a fantastic daily driver...

 

Even with 210 or 250hp on those SUV/tucks, the acceleration is still bad. I mean Toyota's V8 Tundra has almost 300hp. HOw fast (1/4 mile) is the SE-R and Maxima?

 

that isnt much power for how heavy they are. The xterra is an SUV, it deserves much more power to get that heavy thing to go. Is that the one that is supercharged too? Look at the supercharged F150! That thing has power, it runs like mid 13 sec 1/4 mile. These aren't their performance cars, look at the twin turbo Z, the 240 sx (not much power, but quicker than those other nissans you mentioned), old duatsons were quick (280z)... Almost all japanese companies have fast cars on their market. Power doesn't mean that much when looking to see if a car is fast or not: weight it a bigger factor and transmition ratios too are juist as important as horsepower. Toyota bought fast cars to the US: supra, MR2, celicas(not too fast), mazda RX7, subaru imprezza( the older generation are the ****), Mitsubishi 3000 GT, honda integra, S2000, NSX. Nissan skyline is one of the best tuning cars around, tuners get them above 1000 horsepower! The crs I mentioned above are the ones avaliable in the US, the fastest japanes cars are not in the US: lancer Evo, Skyline GTR VSpec, Toyota Altezza (with more power and 6 speed gearbox rather than the watered down IS300 for us), Civic Type R ( + many light weight civics and crx with OEM equiped dohc vtec engine), NSX type R.

Enough of my rambling, but most japanes car companies already make high horsepower automobiles. Those heavy *** ones you mentioned are slow compared to their brothers and sisters in the company.

 

look at this, if you want to see Japanes cars being made for performance!

[URL]http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/e/2001/1018/e05nsh_hi9999_05.html[URL]
why cant I get the link to work, this is my first time trying this.

[Modified by blueG2, 7:22 AM 10/24/2001]


[Modified by blueG2, 10:50 PM 10/24/2001]

 

Nissan's VQ engine is tight. I can't wait until they release the twin turbo version of the new Z. Maybe if we're lucky we'll eventually get the real Skyline and not the lame one they're going to bring as an Infiniti.

 

They make limited edition TRD Altezza in Japan that makes 260hp with short ratio 6 speed.

The Skyline is here as I35 Infiniti. It has 255hp 6 pot engine. Basically its the normal Skyline with 260ps engine V35. When they first showed the car it looked just like the Japanese verison but was called the G35. But I guess they change the name to be more appealing to Infiniti buyers plus the front bumper, hood, lights, fenders, wheels, and rear bumper and rear trunk lid are all different...same chassis however. The inside was restyled to look more infiniti like becuase the Skyline looks alot sporter. I believe they only kept the seats the rest was changed. Also the car doesn't come in awd just two wheel drive. But it uses the same engine as the Skyline and only comes in automatic. I'm not sure why they changed the styling so much but maybe the new skyline looking didn't appeal to Nissan here or Infiniti test market. Also remember this is the skyline just in USDM form..if it wasn't kinda look odd to have two 35 models with only one letter difference. Also I believe the new 35 GTR will go on sale sometime early next yr to replace the 34 GTR.

 

Hmm, I thought the Maxima had 222, oh well, I learned something new.

 

That was last year

And about the Nissan HP theme, check out the new SCC. They dyno'd five (count'em 1-2-3-4-5) SE-R Spec V's and guess what they all dyno'd in the 141-143 range. Very discouraging in both their eyes and mine. The car is actually not any faster than the original SE-R back in 91. For comparison a 2001 GS-R was dyno'd at 150 and it has 5 less rated hp than the Nissan. Sounds like another Mazda Miata to me...

In any event, they created a lot of hype for the SE-R but it doesn't look like it packs the punch anyone expected. Oh well, long live the king (ITR).

 

the current ones have 222, but the 2002 ones will have a redesigned engine that bumps it up

 

I just wish they brought the real Nissan cars to the USA. Skyline, Silvia ex.

 

just seeing the trend of cars Nissan has been putting out in the last year or so (the New Primera, Skyline, and the new Z to be out next year) I don't think that the new BNR35 is going to be an eye catcher....probably more of a sleeper type appearance.

 

I don't know about the 250hp Pathy's being slow. The 4x2 ones have been known to hit high 15's in the 1/4 mile, which isn't too far off the pace of GS-R's. Add I/E, and you get almost 20hp (seriously). Edmunds even got the "slow" 4x4 auto Pathy's (w/only 240hp) to do an 8.4s 0-60 and a 16.4s 1/4. Maybe slow compared to cars, but pretty darn fast for SUV's if you ask me.

 

To Nissan for giving enthusiasts what they want. The new 255 hp Maxima is brutaly fast and will mop the floor with an Integra Type R right out of the box.

 

ki hee hee hee

 

In a straight line maybe - but we all know that is not what the R was made for...

 

Agreed, but if you've read any articles or reviews of the new Maxima, that's where the performance ends. Very underdamped and undersprung or "squishy" as I think I've heard. Great "grunt" but not a sports sedan anymore, but rather a fast "touring sedan" more and more like what Cadillacs are IMO.

 

some maxima is faster then our cars?!?!

oh man!! y do u gotta tell me **** like that!

jason

 

The new Maxima responds exceptionally well to modifications. There is one that frequents E town. And it's an automatic 2001 Maxima with Sprint Springs, 19 inch wheels, and a Stillen/Vortech supercharger. Stock exhaust and all, the car runs low 13's/high 12's with ease and is perfectly civilized. That impresses me.

 

Fuq that! I don't care how much horsepower those road-clogging pieces have. As far as I'm concerned, they should have gov't mandated HP restrictions on SUVs. Nothing worse than incompetant SUV drivers on their cell-phones carrying 20 kids in the car.

 

Well you should have done some research b4 saying that statement b/c yes the new infiniti I35 is based on a skyline but not on the skyline your thinking about b/c in japan there isnt just the gtr there is actually civilized versions of the skyline that have four doors and stuff.. Skylines have been around since the mid 50s(1955 i believe) and they werent all GTRs.. i believe the I35 is based on the G35 chassis not the R35 chassis..

if im wrong in any way someone please correct me..

later..

 

It's about time Nissan started to turn things around. They have been losing tons of cash with borign cars. It was either change or go bankrupt. You know...it seems like alot of car companies have this philosophy. They are doing well and have the idea if it ain't broke don't fix it. They don't think they need to continually refresh their car designs or generate exciting new models. So...as time goes on, and sales go south....they need to rethink themselves and get back their customers. It happened with Chrysler and VW to name a few others. It is a comptetitive market out there...great for the buyer. Never before have so many car models been available. Just think, maybe 20 yrs ago there we possible only a few convertible cars out there, now there are around 30 or so. Every manufacturer has them.

 

I'm considering a new Z depending on the HP/Weight ratio. Here's some info. Click on the picture of the future Z (requires flash) for some info, pics, etc. Click on Coming Vehicles Lineup for more.
http://www.nissandriven.com/

Here's more info from the Japanese release:
http://www.nissan.co.jp/MS/PRESS/EN/...airlady_z.html

Here's a pic for all you extra lazy folk...me likey.



The R may be retired for one of these next year if it comes through at low weight and high HP.


Here's info revealed on the new GT-R:
http://www.nissan.co.jp/MS/PRESS/EN/...EASE/gt-r.html