Nissan teased its New York auto show wares in a dark photograph this week showing classic and current versions of its two best cars: the 370Z and the GT-R. On top, we can see a 240Z, an R32 GT-R, a second-gen GT-R and an R34. In the lower portion, which we've lightened for clarity, there's a current 370Z, current GT-R, the GT-R50 concept and GT-R Nismo. We really, really hope this means we'll see new versions of both at the show. Both are getting long in the tooth, with the current-gen 370Z landing in 2009 and the current GT-R in 2008.
Nissan has previously confirmed that we will definitely see new versions of both at some point, possibly with hybrid powertrains. We're just left guessing when. Hopefully, it won't just be two 50th anniversary cars at the big show.
When the GT-R finally came to the U.S. in 2008, it was the deal of the century both in power and price. It made 478 hp from its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, which was a lot at the time. It was also one of the early cars to get a launch-control function, something that was not lost on its buyers, who used it so much they were blowing up transmissions. But that was then. Even though the current Nismo version puts out 600 ponies, we'd love to see Nissan take a crack at today's supercars, like it did a decade ago. 700 hp should not be off the table.
As for the Nissan 370Z, the last one I drove was the stripped down Heritage Edition, which featured the engine, the six-speed manual and not much else. I think I called it the enthusiast special because it was priced right too (about $31,000). It's what a Heritage Edition should be. It has sort of languished, though.
Either way, we'll be glued to our crappy, portable, press conference seats on April 17 at 1:25 p.m. Stay tuned.
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