Nissan’s VP Says GT86/FR-S/BRZ Are "Midlife Crisis" Cars, Confirms New Coupe for Tokyo Show

Nissan is preparing a rival for the Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ trio of rear-wheel drive sports cars which could be revealed as early as next month at the Tokyo Motor Show (November 22 – December 1), according to Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer who spoke to MotorTrend magazine.

Nissan’s answer to the Toyota-baru triplets is code-named Z35 and is rumored to be powered by the same engine in the 370Z, a 3.7-liter V6, albeit in a lower state of tune (the unit produces 330hp in the 370Z). The Z35 is also said to be available with an all-new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and turbocharging that is expected to be more powerful than the V6.

Nissan currently offers a 2.5-liter engine in the Pathfinder Hybrid, where it develops 250 hp together with a 15 kW (20 hp) electric motor. The automaker could use the same engine on the Z35 but in a more potent version. Later on, Nissan’s performance division Nismo may develop range-topping model.

Although Andy Palmer didn’t talk too much about the Z35, he had a lot to say about the GT86/FR-S/BRZ, labeling it as a car “designed for a 50-year-old”.

“Do we have any competitors?” Palmer replied when the publication asked him about a small sports car. “Are you talking about the Subaru? It was a car designed for a 50-year-old. It’s for a midlife crisis. That’s not what we do,” Palmer said.

“Are you coming to the Tokyo Motor Show? You’ll see the answer to the midlife crisis. Except it won’t be for the midlife crisis,” the exec said, adding that the Z35 will be aimed at male car enthusiasts in their mid-to-late twenties.

By Dan Mihalascu

Pictured below is the Nissan Esflow Coupe Concept from 2011

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Ford Stages Fratricidal Race Between 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet and Fiesta ST Rallycross

Ford builds a variety of racing cars, but it’s hard to find two models that are more far apart from each other than the Mustang Cobra Jet and the Fiesta ST global rallycross car (GRC).

While the former is designed to run the quarter-mile as quickly as possible on the drag strip, the other is a nimble little car made for crazy rallycross stages that combine dirt roads with asphalt and various obstacles.

There are more differences: the Cobra Jet is a rear-wheel drive monster powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine fitted with a Ford Racing-built Whipple 2.9L Supercharger, while the Fiesta ST GRC is an all-wheel drive supermini with a 550hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to an OMSE gearbox with custom ratios.

The two cars were driven at the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway by drag racing legend Roy Hill and rallycross driver/Top Gear USA presenter Tanner Foust. We won’t disclose the outcome of the race, but we'll tell you that the race wasn't as one-sided as one would have expected.

By Dan Mihalascu

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New Porsche Macan Photos Leaked or Photoshop Enhanced?

Not that we don’t know what the new Porsche Macan will look like 95 percent or minus the headlamps and taillights, which are the only pieces of the exterior puzzle missing from the prototypes, but scans purportedly sourced from an upcoming issue of Auto Motor und Sport in which the SUV is compared to its Audi Q5 cousin, are said to show the final product.

But, we're also no strangers to photoshops (minor touch ups or not) being passed on as leaked images (Car&Driver's "We Leak the 2015 Mustang" is the most recent example that comes to mind…), so we're not ready to pop the debut champagne on the Macan just yet.

Until we find more information regarding these scans, feel free to give them a good look in the gallery after the break after we remind you that the Macan's debut is scheduled to take place at next month's LA Auto Show.

Story References: AMS via ClubMulholland and Worldcarfans

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