Nissan working on Nurburgring edition of the 370Z

According to reports by European media, Nissan is working on a special limited-edition Nurburgring version of the Nissan 370Z to pay tribute to the race-prepped 370Z that raced during the 24-Hour Race. No power upgrades are reported for the Nurburgring edition, meaning the limited-edition 370Z continues to run on its 332-hp 3.7L V6.

So what’s all the Nurbugring-ness about? Nissan will throw on a set of 19-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels and you can expect some Nurburgring track logos on the seats and the floor-mats.

Nissan will build on 80 units of the yellow 370Z Nurburgring edition. Pricing starts at the U.S. dollar equivalent of $71,275. All 80 buyers will receive a bonus card worth $212 of public track days at the famous Nordschleife.

Nissan reportedly preparing Nürburgring edition 370Z for the European market

While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down 370Z which the Japanese automaker fielded at the track's 24-hour race last month. To commemorate the occasion, Nissan is reportedly preparing to drop a special commemorative edition of its 370Z on the European market.
Although photos are still unavailable at this time, the Nissan 370Z Nürburgring edition is apparently set to be differentiated by a set of 19-inch OZ Racing alloys wrapped in Dunlop rubber, a sport exhaust system and the requisite batch of special badges. Only 80 examples will be made, each individually numbered, and the model will apparently only be available in yellow. And just to sweeten the deal, Nissan is throwing in a gift card good for over $200 of track time on the Nordschleife.

Nissan GT-R most expensive to insure, Hyundai Santa-Fe least expensive

Insure.com has just announced the Top 20 Least Expensive Vehicles to Insure; however, the enthusiast in us is focused on the most expensive vehicle to insure. The most expensive vehicle to insure, which comes as no surprise to us, is the Nissan GT-R.

Nissans “multi-performance supercar” comes in at an average annual premium of $2,533.

“Owners of the GT-R buy it for power and speed, and their driving habits are often reflected in frequent and expensive insurance claims,” says Insure.com. “GT-R owners who are young with less-than-spotless driving records could easily see their annual car insurance premiums zoom to several thousand dollars.”

The least expensive vehicle to insure is the Hyundai Santa Fe coming in at $832.

Nissan will steer clear of hybrid look for first EV

TOKYO--Nissan Motors wants a bold design for its upcoming electric vehicle--one that doesn't make it look like a hybrid.

The goal is a look that screams green but stands apart from the wedge-shaped silhouette that has come to signify environmentally friendly driving in the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids.

"We need some kind of difference so that when people see our car, they will realize this is an EV, not a hybrid," Nissan chief designer Shiro Nakamura told Automotive News.

Nissan has not released pictures of the car, which is scheduled to go on sale next year. But its new styling cues include:

• No grille, to underscore the electric drivetrain
• A low hood enabled by the lack of an engine
• A visible recharging plug at the nose of the car
• A profile that is flowing, instead of triangular

2009 Infiniti EX35 pricing starts at $33,800, gets new standard options

Infiniti today announced the pricing on the 2009 Infiniti EX35 luxury crossover, which will hit dealerships on May 29 nationwide. Among the highlights of the 2009 EX35 are new standard content and new or revised option packages. Buyers can now get the Around View Monitor Package at no additional charge when purchased with a Bose Navigation Package, which goes for $2,000 on the EX35 Journey models.

The 2009 Infiniti EX35 RWD will start at $33,800 while the 2009 EX35 RWD Journey will start at $35,200. If you prefer all-wheel-drive, the 2009 EX35 AWD base-model starts at $36,000 while the EX35 AWD Journey starts at $37,400.

All 2009 Infiniti EX35 models are powered by a 3.5L V6 engine that makes 297-hp mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

For 2009, the base EX35 model adds standard leather-appointed seating, RearView Monitor, rear HVAC vents and roof rails. The EX35 Journey model adds a standard 6-disc CD autochanger, power tilt/telescoping steering column, coat hanger on the driver’s headrest and dual-zone automatic temperature control.