Car Reviews: 10/04/09

Sunday, October 4, 2009

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster details

Nissan has today officially unveiled the new 2010 370Z Roadster which will match its hardtop Coupe sibling for excitement with the relaxed lifestyle of open-air sports car driving.

The brand has yet again opted for a much more elegant – and not to mention lightweight – folding canvas roof which has been designed to maintain the sleek silhouette of the Coupe.

This latest Roadster is far more refined than its predecessor, featuring a standard automatic latching power top which offers an easy single-action open-close operation with reduced wind turbulence and all-climate passenger comfort.

From start to finish, the top operation takes approximately 20 seconds with the driver only required to press a button located on either the centre console or door which also raises a glass partition between the headrest bars while open to reduce wind turbulence in the cabin.

While lopping the roof off a Coupe tends to make it heavier, Nissan has replaced the bonnet, door panels and trunk with aluminium components to offset any weight gain while at the same time significantly revising the body structure to improve rigidity and stability.

The performance-focused 3.7-litre V6 engine has been carried over from the Coupe, boasting an identical 245kW and 363Nm coupled with either a 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual available with “SynchroRev Match”.

The Nissan 370Z Roadster’s list of standard safety features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; door-mounted curtain air bags; and seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.

In overseas markets at least, the Z convertible will be offered in two trim levels – the 370Z Roadster and the 370Z Touring Roadster.

Along with the standard features of the Roadster, the Touring variant adds heated and cooling leather appointed power net seats, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, 8-speaker Bose audio system, and aluminium-trimmed pedals.

Nissan launches new sports cars

Nissan Middle East today announced the Middle East launch two sporty new additions to its product range.

The all-new 2010 Nissan Maxima sedan and 2010 Nissan 370Z Coupe will be available to customers from its GCC retail partners this autumn.

The company also confirmed it would add the convertible 370Z Roadster model to its GCC line-up in early 2010.

It also announced the availability for the first time of a selection of its Nismo racing accessory parts for the new 370Z Coupe, Altima sedan and Tiida compact car.

2010 Maxima sedan

Nissan Maxima

The all-new 2010 Maxima has been designed as a commanding four-door sports car (4DSC) that is unique in both appearance and driving feel. High targets were established for the development of the new Maxima, including the goal of creating ‘the No.1 front engine, front-wheel drive car in the world,’ along with the goals of class-leading acceleration, braking, handling, craftsmanship and cockpit design.

The breakthrough exterior design of the new Maxima imparts a feeling of ‘liquid motion,’ which combines an aggressive stance and powerful fender design, said a statement. The Maxima’s dynamic new stance is accented by standard 19-inch alloy wheels with low-profile performance tires.

The new Maxima’s interior design team developed an interior concept of ‘Super Cockpit’ – imparting the feeling of sports car with controls ergonomically close, yet with ample room and comfort for both driver and passengers.

The luxurious features include a navigation system with a rearview monitor, Bose premium audio system, Intelligent Key with push button ignition, premium leather power seats with both cooling and heating functions, etc.

The Maxima comes equipped with a standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve award-wining VQ-series V6 engine, rated at 290 horsepower and a punchy 35.7 kg-m of torque – making this Nissan’s most powerful sedan ever. The new Maxima’s standard intelligent Xtronic CVT transmission is tuned specifically for the car’s sporty driving character. It includes a manual shift mode, new “Ds mode” (drive sport) and available F1-style paddle shifters.

“The 2010 Maxima has two sides to its character – a rational side with sedan practicality and luxury but also the soul of a sports car, so we call it the first premium “4-door sport car” from Nissan” said Gilles Normand, Corporate Vice President, Nissan Motor Company. “The all-new 2010 Maxima is reclaiming its rich high-performance sedan heritage with an infusion of emotional design, driving excitement and advanced technology – creating an aggressive, stimulating sports sedan like no other on the road today.”

2010 370Z sports car

In the first full redesign of the iconic Nissan Z sports car since its re-introduction as the 350Z in 2003, nearly every piece and component of Nissan’s new 370Z has been rethought or redesigned, said the statement.

The 2010 370Z has a shorter wheelbase, makes greater use of lightweight body materials, has a new engine with a class-leading 328 horsepower yet with improved fuel economy, has a new 7-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters and a world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the six-speed manual transmission. Inside, a new high quality driver-centric interior puts the driver centre stage plus a host of new technology features become available including a touch-screen Navigation system.

The 2010 370Z’s dynamic new styling offers dual benefits – a more aggressive appearance and a lighter, tighter structure for enhanced performance.

The new Z is powered by the fourth generation of Nissan’s award-winning VQ-series V6. The new 3.7-liter VQ37VHR engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) is rated at 328 horsepower and 37.0kg-m of torque.

The new engine is backed by a choice of two new advanced transmissions, both designed to improve driver performance. The new close-ratio 6-speed manual includes an available world’s first “SynchroRev Match” system, which automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the exact speed of the next gear position, essentially “blipping” the throttle to smooth out any up/down shifts. The new 7-speed automatic with magnesium paddle shifters is designed to offer ultra quick, manual-like shifting when operated in manual mode with a target time of 0.5 seconds between shifts.

The 370Z will initially be available as a coupe from autumn this year but a convertible Roadster version will be introduced across the GCC from early 2010, it said

Ratusan Mobil Chevrolet Konvoi Dukung Batik Indonesia

Para pecinta mobil Chevrolet dari berbagai daerah di tanah air, Minggu, berkonvoi dengan sedikitnya 240 mobil mengelilingi Jakarta dan sekitarnya untuk merayakan pengakuan batik sebagai warisan budaya dunia asal Indonesia.

Acara yang digelar oleh Blazer Indonesia Club (BIC) dan GM Autoworld Indonesia (GMAI) itu mengambil start di Patung Panahan Parkir Barat Senayan dan dilepas oleh Managing Director GMAI Mukiat Sutikno dan Ketua Umum BIC Satyo Nugroho.

Menurut Manajer Public Relations dan Corporate Communications GMAI, Kiki Fajar, selain berkonvoi mengenakan batik, acara itu juga diisi dengan donor darah yang hasilnya akan diserahkan ke PMI Sumatra Barat sebagai bantuan bagi para korban gempa.

F1 in UAE

An artist applies brush to a replica of Formula 1 car at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi on Saturday

2010 BMW EfficientDynamics Sport Diesel Hybrid Concept Car

EfficientDynamics concept, a world premiere which will be held in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Spectacular quadruple-door coupe with the “guillotine” represents the fusion of sportiness and eco-friendliness. Its hybrid power unit consists of a three-cylinder turbo diesel and two electric motors with total capacity 356 hp.
Coupe can move and electric traction, although in this case, the mileage is limited to 50 kilometers. With all three engines accelerate to 100 km / h takes just 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250 km / h, while fuel consumption does not exceed 3,76 l/100 km.