2010 LA Auto Show: Godzilla 2012: The new GT-R

When Nissan unleashed its latest version of the GT-R in 2007, it seemed there was no room for improvement. Engineered to extreme levels, this GT-R used a high-power twin turbo V-6, essentially a racing engine, a dual-clutch six-speed automated manual transmission, and a very advanced all-wheel-drive system.

But Nissan demonstrates with the 2012 model that technology can always be improved, increasing engine output by 45 horsepower. And what looks like a minor bodywork update also increases downforce by 10 percent. For a cosmetic update, Nissan added LED running lights.

We also found a slight mystery on the all-wheel-drive control switch. In the most recent version of the GT-R we've driven, a 2010 model, the all-wheel-drive switch offered racing, normal, and snow modes. In the cabin of the 2012 model, we noticed the Snow label has been replaced by Save.

2009 New York auto show Preview: Nissan 370Z Roadster and NISMO version coming to NY

issan officially drop the top on the new 370Z Roadster, but before then, a teaser site is up with a singular image of the convertible Z for the world to see. A webcast of the event will take place tomorrow at 7 PM EST, where the 370Z Roadster will be shown alongside the NISMO variant of the new Z car.The convertible Z will be fitted with a power-retractable soft-top rather than the all-too-fashionable folding hard-top, which should keep both weight and complexity in check. The NISMO version is expected to be equipped with a new aero package, along with upgraded suspension, braking and rolling stock and possibly a few tweaks underhood.

2009 Nissan Maxima..... the four-door sports car?

Once upon a time, labeling anything other than a two-door, two-seater a "sports car" would have been anathema to enthusiasts. And calling a mid-size sedan by the same name would have been utterly absurd. But when Nissan originally slapped the 4DSC ("four-door sports car") label on the Maxima 20 years ago, the automotive landscape was a very different place. Today, the sports sedan has been embraced by the masses, and with a series of "four-door coupes" hitting the market, consumers looking for an entertaining ride with seating for four have a host of options to choose from.So when Nissan trotted out the all-new 2009 Maxima in New York last year and revived the 4DSC label, the automaker's past successes weighed heavily on the redesigned sedan. Would it still deliver the power and handling of its predecessors or would it be just another poseur in a see of wannabe sports sedans? More to the point: is this really a sports car?

Nissan Skyline Crossover

Nissan rebadges Infiniti EX as Skyline Crossover for JDM

Enthusiasts couldn't help but be disappointed when Nissan let slip that plans for a new Infiniti flagship sedan based on the all-conquering GT-R wouldn't see the light of day. What you see here is just the opposite: an Infiniti re-labeled as a Skyline.Truth be told, although the previous Skyline GT-R was one model, the two nameplates have been separated for years now in the Japanese domestic market: The Japanese domestic market Skyline is what we know as the Infiniti G37 coupe and sedan (like the G35 before it). What you see here, then, is just more of the same: the Nissan Skyline Crossover, an exercise in badge engineering to bring the niche model Infiniti EX crossover back home. Nissan has released little in the way of details, but don't expect any big changes over the Euro-spec EX37, with the latest VQ37VHR version of the company's highly-rated V6 offering up 310 horsepower. So if you've ever woken up in a cold sweat wondering what an Infiniti EX would look like with a Nissan badge on its grille, check out the pair of images below, along with the press release after the jump.

New York Auto Show 2009:Nissan NISMO 370Z

We got our first sneak peak of the new NISMO 370Z yesterday afternoon, and we decided the car was worth a second look when we spotted it on the floor of the New York Auto Show today. The jury is still out on whether the fast and furiously styled body kit is simply boy racer or just way overdone, but we all seem to like that Nissan decided to pull some teeth and deleted the fangs from the Z's front grille. The NISMO 370Z isn't all about looks, though, and benefits from 19-inch lightweight wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport tires, a stiffer suspension and a bump in horsepower to 350 thanks to optimized air intake into the cylinders.

Nissan NISMO 370Z

We got our first sneak peak of the new NISMO 370Z yesterday afternoon, and we decided the car was worth a second look when we spotted it on the floor of the New York Auto Show today. The jury is still out on whether the fast and furiously styled body kit is simply boy racer or just way overdone, but we all seem to like that Nissan decided to pull some teeth and deleted the fangs from the Z's front grille. The NISMO 370Z isn't all about looks, though, and benefits from 19-inch lightweight wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport tires, a stiffer suspension and a bump in horsepower to 350 thanks to optimized air intake into the cylinders. Full details on the NISMO 370Z are after the jump, and high-res live shots can be found in the gallery below.

Review: 2009 Nissan Cube S

One of our favorite cars last year was a cream-colored, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), second-generation Nissan Cube that the Japanese automaker loaned us for a few days of commuting and assorted daily driving duties. It was a fantastic car, with excellent styling, the ingenious e-4WD system, a practical interior, and – bless its heart – a front bench seat. Nissan was passing around the keys because it wanted to build up buzz for the arrival of the third-generation Cube, which would break free of the right-hand-drive market prison to which its predecessors were restricted. The JDM Cube was indeed a tasty appetizer, but now the main course has arrived. Once again, we were given the keys to a Nissan Cube for a few days. Only this time it was brown and, more importantly, you can actually buy it in the U.S.

FIA GT1 Nissan GT-R revealed

After announcing its intention to run in the FIA Championship with a GT-R, Nissan has finally released a host of technical details and race-dates for its GT1-spec R35. The GT-R will make its debut at Silverstone on May 3rd and will campaign in three more races in 2009 before its all-out assault on the field in 2010.The GT1 GT-R was testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in France earlier this week, and with the help of NISMO and Gigawave Motorsports, the racer is well on its way. As expected, Nissan has dropped the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 in favor of a naturally aspirated VK56DE 5.6-liter V8 engine putting out 600 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. A Ricardo six-speed transmission and a 5.5-inch carbon triple plate clutch is fitted to channel power to the rear wheels. Six-piston calipers, carbon ceramic discs and 18x13-inch RAYS forged wheels are fitted at all four corners.A new site has been launched to follow the team's progress, and the first video from GTRLive.tv can be viewed after the jump.