With all the hubbub of the
Detroit Motor Show it is all too easy to ignore the no less important Autosport International back here on home turf. The show itself runs from January 13th to the 16th, and as well being one of the most important motorsport and motorsport engineering shows of the year, a few exciting new cars usually crop up, like the Nissan 350Z Gran Turismo 4 pictured here.
As the name suggests, Nissan has tied up with Sony in the run-up to the launch of the latest edition in the cult
Gran Turismo driving simulator series from Polyphony. The game itself finally reaches eager gamers in their millions in March this year. Sadly, a lot less people will get their hands on the keys of this very limited edition 350Z - only 176 will be sold in the UK.
Now, before you click away to another story you should know that the 350Z GT4 is a lot more than just a fancy name; yes, it has a numbered plaque, a set of unique 18-inch alloys, two gorgeous colours (Kuro Black and Ultra Yellow pictured here), and all the standard kit from the GT pack, but surprisingly the engine has also been significantly modified.
The most we have come to expect from special editions is a big exhaust and perhaps a freer-flowing inlet system, but Nissan has not held back on the GT4. The already fantastic 3.5-litre V6 gets changes to its pistons and camshafts, as well as to the control strategy of the exhaust valve timing. The result? Nearly 20 extra horses, bringing the grand total to 296bhp (300PS) at an increased speed of 6400rpm. The extra power allows the 0-62mph time drop from 5.9 to 5.8 seconds.
Nissan will begin taking orders at 3.50pm (350...geddit?) on the 1st of February. The price will be announced at the Autosport Show, though should not be far short of £30,000. If the rarity is not tempting enough for you, how about the inclusion of a new Sony PlayStation 2 and copy of the new
Gran Turismo 4 game in the boot?
We can't help but notice that a lot of effort has gone into a small number of cars, especially on the engine front. Surely this upgrade is due for production in the near future? We'll see… In the meantime,
The Car Enthusiast will be at the Autosport Show and will certainly take a closer look. Watch out for more information on the main
Motorshows page.
Shane O' Donoghue - 8 Jan 2005