Nissan Launches 2008 Skyline Coupe In Japan

Nissan introduced the 2008 Infiniti G37’s (see here) twin brother in Japan today. Equipped with Nissan’s new 3.7-liter V6 engine that delivers 333 Hp, the all-new Skyline is offered either with a 6-speed manual transmission or a full-range electronic 5-speed automatic transmission. In Japan the new Skyline coupe will be available in four models (370GT, 370GT Type P, 370GT Type S and 370GT Type SP) with prices kicking off at 3,696,000 yen ($31,900 or €22,400). According to Nissan, target sales are set at 200 units per month. -Press release & high-res images after the jump

Nissan Announces All-New Skyline Coupe

TOKYO (Oct. 2, 2007) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today introduced the all-new Skyline coupe in Japan, a grand touring coupe designed to set new benchmarks for dynamic styling and outstanding driving performance. It is available now at Nissan dealers nationwide.

SHIFT_passion: A Skyline Coupe Created to Make the Heart Pound

The new Skyline coupe builds on the strengths and attributes of the current Skyline sedan - attraction, sophistication and high-performance - and takes them to an even higher level. It combines dramatic styling and a refined, driver-oriented interior with the advanced performance made possible by a newly developed, innovative VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) 3.7-liter V6 engine and a high-performance platform to create a vehicle that will appeal the discerning coupe buyer.

A Glamorous, Dynamic Exterior

The new Skyline coupe's seductive exterior design starts with its powerful, elegant front fender curvature, flowing silhouette and glamorous front and rear fenders. The expressive front fascia features characteristic Skyline fender lines and a low, rhythmic, wave-like hood. The sculpted, bright-finished grille and L-shaped Bi-Xenon headlights add to its commanding presence. Large wheel wells, Skyline-signature LED combination taillights and dual exhaust enhance the new Skyline coupe's high-performance appearance. A unique front bumper with matching side sill spoilers is available with Skyline 370GT Type SP and S models. Seven exterior colors are offered, including Nissan's two new colors: Vibrant Red and Luna Mare Silver.

A Highly Refined Interior, Innovative Technology

The new Skyline coupe's interior is designed with one overriding goal: to make driving a joy. The comfortable, embracing driver's position and supportive seats combine with a parallel hand-stitched, genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and light, sturdy magnesium paddle shifters to set the stage for driving exhilaration. The stylish curves of the front seat and door trim help create a sporty elegance. Two interior color schemes are available - Fauve, with real wood trim (manufacturer option), or Cool Black, featuring real aluminum trim.

The Skyline coupe interior also offers an array of advanced technology systems, including an Intelligent Key system that electronically locks the steering, immobilizes the engine and handles other jobs according to the key ID for enhanced theft prevention. Also available is a Blind-Side Monitor system that assists the driver when pulling to a curb or parallel parking, by displaying a view of the blind areas around the front left of the vehicle. The Blind-Side Monitor is offered together (as a manufacturer option) with a RearView Monitor system, which displays images behind the vehicle through the use of a compact CCD camera.

The HDD CARWINGS navigation system (manufacturer option) now includes a touch panel for greater convenience. Besides the navigation function, it is packed with entertainment features, including the Music Box recorder/player and playback of DVDs, audio and video media, as well as Bluetooth Hands-Free features.

The Skyline coupe also offers a premium Bose audio system, which turns the cabin into a very special listening environment. The advanced Bose system, available as a manufacturer option, features top playback quality in an onboard system and includes a pair of three-way integrated speakers in the doors and four woofers in the doors and rear shelf.

Exhilarating, Exciting Performance From a New Engine and Advanced Platform

The new Skyline coupe continues to offer exceptional levels of driving performance, ride comfort, roominess and utility through use of the advanced FM (Front Mid-ship) package and FR-L platform. First utilized in the V35 Skyline, the newly enhanced FR-L platform combines a sturdy, low-vibration body structure that makes the driver feel one with the car with high performance and stability - while also satisfying safety and environmental requirements.

At the heart of the Skyline coupe's dynamic performance is the newly developed VQ37VHR engine, which responds briskly, accelerates smoothly, is fuel efficient and attains high emissions standards. The VQ37VHR represents a new generation of high-performance engines and, at 333 horsepower, is the most powerful V6 in its class. Generating 90% of maximum torque between 2,400 and 7,000 rpm, the engine power is light, smooth and easy to handle right up to the 7,500 rpm redline.

The VQ37VHR's new, advanced Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) system continuously changes the angle and lift of the intake valves, depending on the degree of acceleration and speed of the engine. The fully symmetrical air intakes on right and left increase the volume of intake air and reduce pumping loss, significantly increasing responsiveness. The result is the simultaneous achievement of seemingly conflicting needs: quick acceleration response, high power, low fuel-consumption and cleaner exhaust.

The new powerplant is mated to a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission allows for quick shifting and sporty touring using a short-stroke design and triple-cone synchros for the first three gears. For ease of operation, the Skyline coupe's available full-range electronic 5-speed automatic transmission includes a standard automatic shifter plus a driver-side manual shifter. The normal "D" mode provides smooth driving, while shifting to the "DS" mode provides a sportier feel. The transmission's ASC (adaptive shift control) adds comfort by automatically selecting the best gear for cornering, downhill driving and other critical situations to suit both the driver's style and environment.

Nissan engineers maximized sturdiness and lightness in the Skyline coupe's double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension designs to enhance stability and responsiveness, as well as driver control. The dual-flow pass shock absorbers were developed through extensive review of damping force and rebound spring criteria, helping create the Skyline coupe's smooth, refreshing ride feel while maintaining high levels of maneuvering stability.

To match braking capability to the increased engine performance, the Skyline coupe employs four-wheel aluminum-caliper opposed-piston brakes (standard on both the SP and S versions of the 370GT) - which are designed to optimize the stroke at low speed and provide secure stopping power at higher speeds. The standard 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) also includes Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), while Intelligent Brake Assist is available as a manufacturer option. The Skyline coupe also features standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and a speed-sensitive hydraulic power steering system.

Another advanced performance feature available with the new Skyline coupe is Nissan's four-wheel active steering (4WAS) system, which adjusts the steering-linked angles of front and rear wheels according to speed, making the vehicle more responsive to the driver at low and medium speeds, and stable and smooth at higher speeds. 4WAS is standard on both the SP and S versions of the 370GT.

Leading-Edge Safety and Environmental Technologies

The Skyline coupe also offers a long list of convenience, safety and environmental features, including Bi-Xenon headlights with Active AFS (Adaptive Front lighting System), door mirror with heater, flat-blade wipers, fuel efficiency gauge and reduced levels of volatile organic compound used in the cabin, which helps create better interior air quality.

Standard safety equipment includes rigid, safe Zone Body construction, driver and front passenger SRS Air Bag System, driver and front passenger SRS Side Air Bag System, SRS Curtain Air Bag System, Active Front Head Restraints and three-point ELR rear seat belts. Emergency Brake Operated Pre-crash Front Seat Belts are optionally available.

The Skyline coupe body has been designed to offer greater pedestrian protection, including the application of Nissan's new "pop-up engine hood" technology. When sensors embedded in the front bumper detect an impact with a pedestrian, the system's control unit determines if the hood needs to be instantly raised. If deemed necessary, the control unit activates a pyrotechnic actuator that raises the rear edge of the hood, creating a larger, protective buffer space between the hood and hard engine components underneath. This helps cushion the impact to the pedestrian's head if it collides with the hood.

From an environmental standpoint, all Skyline coupe models are certified as SU-LEVs, meeting 2005 standards to cut emissions by 75%. In addition, over 95% of the vehicle is recyclable (based on definitions of recyclables for new cars and calculation guidelines by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, 1998).

Models and Sales Target

The new Skyline coupe is available in four models, each equipped with the new 3.7-liter VVEL V6: 370GT, 370GT Type P, 370GT Type S and 370GT Type SP. Target sales are 200 units per month.

				(Unit: Yen)
Drivetrain	Engine	Grade	Transmission	Price
2WD	VQ37VHR	370GT Type SP	5AT(with paddle shifter)	4,473,000
			6MT	4,410,000
		370GT Type S	5AT(with paddle shifter)	4,179,000
			6MT	4,116,000
		370GT Type P	5AT	4,011,000
		370GT	5AT	3,696,000

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Mazda Taiki: Tokyo Show Concept Previews New 1.6-liter Rotary Engine

To our misfortune, Mazda won’t exhibit a pre-preview version to the RX-7 successor at the Tokyo Show later on in October. Well at least not something that comes close to a production version. Agreed; Mazda may support that the Taiki Concept reflects one possible direction for the front-engine, rear-drive sports car of the future, but this is way too far ahead of our time.

The Taiki is the forth concept in the Nagare design theme flowing the in the footsteps of the Nagare, Ryuga, and Hakaze concept vehicles. Even more importantly though, the Taiki introduces Mazda’s next generation Rotary Engine dubbed 16X. Compared to RX8’s RENESIS unit, the 16X features an enlarged capacity (1.6-liters instead of 1.3-liters), a direct injection system and aluminum side housing. -Press release and more pics after the jump

Mazda Taiki

Mazda Taiki reflects one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping create a sustainable society. The fourth concept car in the Nagare design series, Mazda Taiki further evolves the “flow” theme to establish a breathtaking presence that clearly distinguishes it as the next in the series, and which visually expresses the atmosphere – called taiki in Japanese – that wraps the Earth in its protective mantle.

The basic proportions begin with the stretched coupe form of a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, the short overhangs, and the liberating feel of an all-glass canopy. The challenge to create “a design that visually expresses the flow of air” was inspired by the image of a pair of Hagoromo – the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend – floating down from the sky.

Inspired by Japanese koinobori – the decorative “climbing carp streamers”– the notion of creating an Air-tube became the concept word for the interior design. In accordance, from the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space creates the dynamic sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually depicted.

Centering around the performance rotary engine sports packaging that is synonymous with the Mazda name, technologies introduced for the Mazda Taiki include the next-generation RENESIS (rotary engine 16X), which sets new standards for environmental and driving performance, a front-engine rear-drive layout, a unique 2-seat configuration, and Mazda’s rotary sports package, which conveys an image of lightness. The effect integrates the design theme perfectly to realize outstanding aerodynamic performance.

Next Generation RENESIS (Rotary Engine 16X)

In developing the next-generation RENESIS, Mazda made a thoroughgoing revision of engine dimensions including the trochoid rotor housing, adopting a longer stroke and larger displacement of 1600cc (800cc x 2) aimed to raise thermal efficiency and boost torque at all engine speeds. By employing the Hydrogen RE design policy of a direct injection system and aluminum side housing, as well as various other measures, we are further promoting the rotary engine’s merits of light weight and compact size.

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Top Gear’s American Road Trip

In this episode which is actually more like a mini-film, Top Gear presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May head to the States in order to drive from Miami to New Orleans. The catch? Well, each was given $1,000 budget in order to buy a car. Clarkson picked out a Chevy Camaro RS, Hammond bought himself a Dodge Ram pickup truck and May, a Cadillac Brougham. We won’t spoil the fun by telling you what happened. After you finish watching the video above follow the jump to check out the rest of the episode. -Continued












Via: Youtube

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Lamborghini Gallardo Tattooed

Holy merde; for a minute there, I thought I was looking at my high-school math book –I’m not kidding! The shapes, the colors everything looks like what I use to engrave on my workbook in-between breaks – if my mind’s not playing tricks with me, I think it was called class. Engraving “sticks & shapes” on your school books simply because you’re daydreaming in class is one thing, but doing it on your $250,000 or so Lamborghini Gallardo? There’s something totally wrong upstairs dude… -More images after the jump

Via: Diariomotor

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Lee Iacocca Takes A Hit On Snoopy Dog & George Bush

If you’re into cars than needless to say you know Lee Iacocca. If not, well, we shouldn’t be doing this but in a nutshell, he’s one of the most renown businessmen in the U.S. widely know for the revival of Chrysler Group in the 1980’s when he was the CEO of the American carmaker. Iacocca has been interviewed by the guys at “Detail” magazine that hits newsstands on October 2, 2007.

Among other things, Iacocca spills his guts on President Bush stating, “There’s something wrong philosophically with how Bush’s brain works-I feel sorry for him”. Of course he also said that he campaigned for Bush because he knew his mother and father for 30-years, and that isn't something smart in our books… You can check out what Iaccoca had to say about his Chrysler’s souvenirs, the perils of riding in Snoop Dogg’s golf cart and more after the jump. -Continued

Via: Details

On campaigning for President Bush: “I campaigned for George because I knew his mother and dad for 30 years, and I figured he was from pretty good stock. But Jeb was being groomed too-they got the wrong kid. There’s something wrong philosophically with how Bush’s brain works-I feel sorry for him. I used to think Gore was nuts in his worrying about global warming, but he was ahead of his time.”

On the most important business advice he has gotten: “My first boss at Ford, Charlie Beacham said, ‘If you don’t know a dollop of horseshit from a dollop of vanilla ice cream, you’ve got a problem. You’ll never figure it out.’ And my father would say, ‘Just worry about day-to-day. Live life to the fullest every day. The sun’s going to come out-it always does.”

On his Chrysler souvenirs: “I have a viper and one of the last wooden K cars, a convertible. That’s all I kept-a Woodie and a Viper.”

On working with Snoop Dogg on a commercial for charity: “Well, he had a bunch of big, tough-looking guys guarding his air-conditioned RV. The director would be yelling for him, and he was in his RV, maybe having a little puff of some kind. He was a nice kid, but when he drove the golf cart-jeez, he scared the hell out of me. There was a steep hill, and he said, ‘Wouldn’t it be something if you and I rolled over in this cart?’ I said, ‘Cool it, snoop.’”

On Jimmy Hoffa: “I was in a restaurant where he got abducted in the day it happened. They never found his body, but they were pouring all that concrete for that new highway right through the area where he got abducted. I always speculated that it would be a natural place to dumb somebody.”

On Jack Nicholson: “I once went to a party Jack Nicholson was at, at a friend of mine’s house in Beverly Hills. I was wearing my brown-and-white saddle shoes, and he had black-and-white. So even before we got to know each other, I said, “I like your shoes!” He said, “I like yours, too.”

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Jason’s Corvette Z06 Based KITT Proposal

Our second proposal on the car that could take the place of the original Pontiac Trans-Am in NBC’s new Knight Rider TV Series comes from our reader Jason McCutcheon. While Vincent chose the Saab Aero-X Concept as his muse in our previous post (see here), Jason picked out GM’s best offering, the Corvette Z06. And you’ll probably agree with us that the blacked out Corvette Z06 looks “murderously” bad. If any you have time to “chop” up a potential “KITT” –the weirder the car, the better, we’ll be more than glad to host your work. You can also check our chops by clicking here. -More images of the Vette after the jump

Thanks for the chop Jason!

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Jalopnik Get’s Some Femme Fatale Perspective

As I was scanning the auto-blogoshpere I discovered the “fellas” at Jalopnik decided to take on a female blogger, Laura Belstein. We –and I as Carscoop’s female “bloggerina”, would like to welcome you aboard!

It’s fantastic to see the auto blogosphere is taking some female perspective into its realm, because, let’s face it, men aren’t the only ones driving, buying or loving cars around here. Women work and play for a living too! They should able to have an opinion about the cars that they drive, the auto industry and whatever has four wheels and makes us click. And considering the market place is made up of a diverse consumer culture, and stats show there are actually 44,000 more female than male drivers in the U.S., -I’m not kidding, take a look at the US Dept. Of Transportation statistics here, it’s time to listen up to what the gals have to say! Link: Jalopnik

Posted by Daniella

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