dominik331
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@ Leftlanenews
Looking to plug the gap below the 370Z in its sports car lineup, Nissan is reportedly developing a compact, front-wheel-drive sports car to do battle with the Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ.
Known internally as the Mini-Z, the small coupe will use the Juke crossover’s platform, a source close to the situation told Motor Trend. Power will come from the Juke’s 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, while all-wheel-drive (based on the Juke’s system) with torque-vectoring could be an option to help the car better match up against the rear-drive FR-S/BRZ twins.
For better or for worse, the Mini-Z will reportedly thumb its nose at traditional stylistic conventions in the same manner as the Juke. Expect a radical look outside of the sports car norm (although perhaps not as wild as the Urge concept, pictured above).
Notably, the project is a joint Japan-China effort, with Japan doing the heavy lifting in terms of development and China handling design and data assembly. China will be the car’s main market, and it will also be offered in Japan and Europe. A decision on U.S. availability has not yet been made.
Development on the Mini-Z is well under way, with a launch possible as soon as late 2013. Look for a base price of under $22,000.
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DCR
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Pray that we don't get another Veloster-looking thing.
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notyper
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Obviously the info is very preliminary, but based upon what I'm hearing, I'm going to call Epic Fail on this one from the start.
A $22k-$25k FWD based car with a mini turbo engine is not going to be a FRS/BRZ competitor. It's going to be a Civic Si, MS3, GTI, Focus ST competitor - and unless the AWD implementation both inexpensive and good, it'll probably get spanked. Calling it a mini-Z just pisses off anyone who knows anything about sports car heritage.
Now, put a 2.0 liter turbo into a $25-$27k base coupe and let the Z move up to the $38-$45k range with the Infiniti V8 and now you're talking. Do what Hyundai failed to do with the Genesis Coupe (actually create a fun to drive car with RWD and a hot turbo engine).
SC
P.S. - and yes, I'd take a $40k mildly optioned Z with the Infiniti 5.6 V8 over a $35k similarly equipped Mustang GT or Camaro SS. That's the price point Nissan needs to be looking at.
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rev2damoon
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Thought they would go with RWD for sure competing against the FR-S/BR-Z twins. I don't know about this one. Needs to be RWD and have a bigger engine IMO.
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Grace141
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DCR wrote:
Pray that we don't get another Veloster-looking thing.
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Having had no choice but to look at Jukes in traffic and having seen the Micra sold elsewhere I'd say a Veloster-looking car from Nissan would be okay.
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Chocs
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China's handling design..... considering how wild the Concept C was, this car will be flashy to say the least.
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Nick GravesX
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notyper wrote:
Obviously the info is very preliminary, but based upon what I'm hearing, I'm going to call Epic Fail on this one from the start.
A $22k-$25k FWD based car with a mini turbo engine is not going to be a FRS/BRZ competitor. It's going to be a Civic Si, MS3, GTI, Focus ST competitor - and unless the AWD implementation both inexpensive and good, it'll probably get spanked. Calling it a mini-Z just pisses off anyone who knows anything about sports car heritage.
Now, put a 2.0 liter turbo into a $25-$27k base coupe and let the Z move up to the $38-$45k range with the Infiniti V8 and now you're talking. Do what Hyundai failed to do with the Genesis Coupe (actually create a fun to drive car with RWD and a hot turbo engine).
SC
P.S. - and yes, I'd take a $40k mildly optioned Z with the Infiniti 5.6 V8 over a $35k similarly equipped Mustang GT or Camaro SS. That's the price point Nissan needs to be looking at.
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It's gonna be more of a poor man's Audi Tittie, or somesuch.
I can sort of see the appeal of another Nissan Figaro, in a girly coupe sort of way. Maybe that might work for some.
Interesting that China is considered a potential market for it; how rapidly the market is maturing.
It's not even in the same car park as the MX-5 or Toyobaru, whatever it is.
Much as I can personally see the appeal of a V8 Z-car, it'd probably only work on the US & Aus markets. I cannot see it selling in EU (badge snobbery) or China (income levels) just yet.
The same is probably true with the Honda....
Oh, that's right; there isn't a Honda... is there?
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CVCC1974
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The overall design of the concept looks great, and makes more sense than the hideous, over-styled Hyundai Veloster. Honda should consider to do something with the hot version of CR-Z or the next-gen Fit if they're interested to jump into this 'small sports car' segment.
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notyper
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Excuse my yelling but....
THAT'S NOT A SPORTS CAR!!
It's a FWD hatch. Call it a hot hatch if you like, but taxonomically, it's about as far from a BRZ/FRS as a gecko is from a housecat.
SC
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DCR
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Too cutesy for me. Looks like a Fiat that J-Lo is pushing these days.
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rev2damoon
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That's supposed to compete with the FR-S/BR-Z? LOL...Nissan please.
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DrWhiner
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notyper wrote:
Now, put a 2.0 liter turbo into a $25-$27k base coupe and let the Z move up to the $38-$45k range with the Infiniti V8 and now you're talking. Do what Hyundai failed to do with the Genesis Coupe (actually create a fun to drive car with RWD and a hot turbo engine).
SC
P.S. - and yes, I'd take a $40k mildly optioned Z with the Infiniti 5.6 V8 over a $35k similarly equipped Mustang GT or Camaro SS. That's the price point Nissan needs to be looking at.
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Apparently no one listened.
Infiniti's next G will prob. come with a turbocharged V6 as a high output model, and a price close to if not above GT-R.
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ClementZ
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DrWhiner wrote:
notyper wrote:
Now, put a 2.0 liter turbo into a $25-$27k base coupe and let the Z move up to the $38-$45k range with the Infiniti V8 and now you're talking. Do what Hyundai failed to do with the Genesis Coupe (actually create a fun to drive car with RWD and a hot turbo engine).
SC
P.S. - and yes, I'd take a $40k mildly optioned Z with the Infiniti 5.6 V8 over a $35k similarly equipped Mustang GT or Camaro SS. That's the price point Nissan needs to be looking at.
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Apparently no one listened.
Infiniti's next G will prob. come with a turbocharged V6 as a high output model, and a price close to if not above GT-R.
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>Infiniti G
>Priced over the GT-R.
What the hell man
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Nick GravesX
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CVCC1974 wrote:
The overall design of the concept looks great, and makes more sense than the hideous, over-styled Hyundai Veloster. Honda should consider to do something with the hot version of CR-Z or the next-gen Fit if they're interested to jump into this 'small sports car' segment.
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ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Another pukey-cutesy Renualt Clitoris/Dingo re-skin.
Next!
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