Mazda CEO: Ford and Mazda relationship remains unchanged

Ford still loves Mazda - or the other way around. Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda’s North America operations, said that the Japanese automakers relationship with Ford has remained unchanged and is as strong as ever.

Ford reduced its ownership in Mazda from 33.4 percent to 13.4 percent last year - letting go of its controlling interest in Mazda. Nonetheless, O’Sullivan said that both automakers are pursuing joint ventures that are 50/50.

“The other piece that remains unchanged is that we are working very closely with them on technology, hybrids – all of the things that are happening related to product development,” O’Sullivan told reporters. He said that four of Ford’s top executives were once Mazda employees.

The only change O’Sullivan pointed out was that he and a handful of other Mazda executives were still on Ford’s payroll until Jan.

Source: Detroit Free Press

New Renault-Nissan V6 diesel to power wide range of cars, SUVs

Diesel engine sales have stagnated in the U.S. because of lingering perceptions of the clattering, foul-smelling contraptions of the 1970s and earlier. Many carmakers have been reluctant to even offer them in America because of the cost of emissions certification and small profit margins, but Renault-Nissan have just announced their first-ever V6 diesel engine and it will be coming to the U.S. in the Maxima sedan. Many other Renault-Nissan vehicles will also get the powerplant, which is rated at 235hp (175kW) from its 3.0L displacement.

2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Nissan Qashqai+2 1.5dCi (2009) CAR review

Live for the unexpected. That’s Nissan’s slogan for the Qashqai. And what you might not expect is a 1.5-litre diesel engine where the 2.0-litre normally lives. This is a big car – the +2 is 211mm longer than the standard Qashqai and weighs 1604kg – so the newly introduced small engine might not be your first choice. Question is, should you choose it at all?

A tiny engine. Must make this a cheap car then?

You’ll save yourself £1230 by choosing this instead of the 2.0-litre but £18,495 isn’t exactly cheap. The performance figures are less impressive than the 148bhp 2.0-litre’s too but they feel a lot further apart even than a 12mph top speed and 2.4sec 0-62mph sprint time deficit suggest.

The 2.0-litre diesel feels revvy and responsive, with plenty of acceleration on tap. The 1.5 feels like you’d expect it to feel in such a big car: slothful. You can row it along on the modicum of torque but you’ll soon give up wringing its neck. From a performance point of view, this is not a diesel for enthusiastic drivers and it emits a tediously tinkly soundtrack too. Cruising is peaceful enough though, once you’ve got up to speed. Eventually.

Doesn’t bode well for a full load

Actually, the Qashqai feels equally slow no matter how many people you pack it with. So don’t worry about that. Worry instead about the quality of the accommodation for your rear-most passengers.

Actually, Nissan says the third row is intended only for those less than 1.6m tall. And they really are just occasional seats for kids. They’re nicely trimmed, have proper belts and head restraints plus some padded trim either side of them on the inner panelling, but don’t take them seriously. It’s a real effort to get back there – you basically fold the middle row and clamber over – and it leaves you with virtually no boot space. Once there, you find room only for headless bicrural amputees, so don’t bother. I did it for you.

With the third row folded away – a simple task, and just as easy to flip them back up – you get a long, if shallow, boot and you can vary the balance between that and second-row legroom by sliding those seats back and forth.

Leaked: Nissan 370Z Roadster patent drawings

Nissan 370Z Roadster drawings

We're betting that automakers are getting plenty ticked off at the European Trademark Office, because it seems that bureau has more leaks than a colander. Following leaked drawings of the new Mazda MX-5, Mazda3 and Suzuki Kizashi, the latest to slip out appears to be the upcoming Nissan 370Z Roadster. Of course it's no surprise that Nissan is preparing to launch a convertible version, since the previous 350Z made for a very handsome roadster, and even its premium stablemate, the Infiniti G37, has now spawned a convertible version. But this would be our first glimpse at the shape the new Z-Z-Topless will take.
From the leaked process renderings, we can see that the 370Z will keep a soft top like its predecessor, rather than go with a retractable hardtop like the Infiniti. We trust the roof will be less leaky than the European Trademark Office, though. While the 350Z Roadster had a sloping rear deck, the new version appears to be more bulbous. Which looks better is a matter of taste, and this writer at least liked the old one, but we'll reserve final judgment for when it appears in the flesh at the New York Auto Show in April.

Gallery: Nissan 370Z Roadster patent renderings

[Source: The Motor Report]

You can’t be serious: 4-door Nissan GT-R, GT-R SUV, Lexus LF-A, new Toyota Supra on the way

So you’re still weeping about Honda canning the Acura NSX. Don’t worry - because despite the global economic crisis there are still a couple of high-performance cars that will still come out of Japan for you to drool over.

According to Inside Line, Nissan is still working on four-door GT-R that will be badged an Infiniti for 2011. Around the same time, we will also see a GT-R SUV. That’s right, Nissan is allegedly working on a GT-R based SUV to rival the Porsche Cayenne.

While the NSX has been shelved, Inside Line says that Honda is working on an all-new two-door Beat that will be powered by an upgraded 800cc engine. Also, the Japanese automaker has yet to delay the redesigned S2000 which is slated for a 2011 debut.

Lexus is still working on the $340,000 V10 LF-A which is expected to arrive in 12 to 18 months. Toyota itself has plans for a V6 Supra in its product pipeline scheduled for a 2011 debut.

Will all this become a reality? Only time will tell if Inside Line is right about their findings.

Source: InsideLine

South Side Performance introduces 820 hp turbo upgrade for Nissan GT-R

South Side Performance Nissan GT-R turbo upgrade

Most of this week's Nissan GT-R tuning news has been coming out of the Tokyo Auto Salon, but South Side Performance is making its own headlines. The tuning firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is offering a set of upgraded stock turbochargers for the GT-R that have the potential to boost output to 820 hp when used in conjunction with other (undisclosed) performance modifications.
The upgrade consists of swapping out the stock turbos' center section with remachined compressor and turbine housings, sized 68mm and 53.8mm, respectively. The aluminum compressor wheel is good for up to 32 psi of boost, and since the basic hardware remains, the swap appears to be a simple bolt-on affair. According to South Side, the turbos make more power at stock boost levels and provide a linear power band throughout the rev range.
GT-RR.com is distributing the GTR820RR kit for South Side, and owners can send their stock turbos and $6,499 for the upgrade, with an approximate turnaround time of one week. Of course, the next question is: how will the stock clutches and transmission hold up to the additional power? Check out the images of the setup in the gallery below and hit the jump for the press release.

South Side Performance Nissan GT-R Turbo Upgrade

[Source: South Side Performance via TheRealJDM]

2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV unveiled

Nissan has officially unveiled its new 2009 GT-R SpecV edition which will make its first public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon later this week.

The new GT-R SpecV promises street-legal race car performance for the everyday enthusiast, a sentiment not to be taken lightly as the flagship of a car which has exceeded all expectations so far.

Continuing tradition, the SpecV is available in an exclusive deep purple hero colour - named ‘Ultimate Black Opal’, boasting a series of unique body, interior and performance equipment and modifications.

Exterior features comprise replacement carbon fibre components including the rear spoiler, grille and brake ducts.

Inside, the SpecV loses its rear seats in favour of two carbon fibre race buckets seats from Recaro for the driver and front passenger, while the carbon theme continues to rear centre storage box, instrument panel and other trim areas.

While official performance figures have not yet been released, the SpecV features a new high gear boost control device which momentarily provides greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed range for more powerful acceleration.

This same system also allows the engine to operate more efficiently at low speeds, resulting in improved fuel economy.

Further modifications include a titanium-coated exhaust system and carbon-ceramic brakes which were spied earlier this year on a prototype at the Nürburgring for ultimate stopping performance.

Rather than focussing on raw power, Nissan has instead concentrated on refining the handling of the new SpecV, equipping the car with Nismo-spec forged aluminium wheels as standard to reduce unsprung weight.

Together with these lighter wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes, the SpecV also boasts an exclusive new suspension setup and unique high-grip tyres.

The new Nissan GT-R SpecV will go on sale in Japan from next month attracting a price tag roughly double that of the standard GT-R. There are no current plans to sell the SpecV in Australia.