GTcarz - Automotive forums for cars & trucks. - Nismo Nissan Fairlady Z RS Concept ***Pic's & Info***

Owner - Nismo Japan

Hometown - Tokyo, Japan

Under The Hood - Nismo high-compression Spec-One cylinder head, S1 engine VTC pulley,forged pistons, billet crankshaft, big-bore throttle body, sport radiator, titanium exhaust

Stiff Stuff - Nismo R-tune coilovers, sway bars, bushing kit upgrade

Rollers - Nismo LM GT4 wheels 17x9.5 (front) and 18x10.5 (rear); Advan A048 tires 255/40R17 (front) and 265/35R18 (rear)

Stoppers - Brembo calipers with slotted rotors

Outside - Nismo Version 2 front bumper, carbon fiber canard set, carbon fiber hood, side skirts, rear under-spoiler, rear wing

Inside - Nismo seats, steering wheel, shift knob,dash gauges, harnesses, roll cage, padding

Ice - Pioneer DVD, CD, navigation

Usually, when we hear "concept car" we think of a contraption that an automotive designer high on magic mushrooms envisioned the car of the future would look like. Think flashy metallic paint so bright and yet so ugly at the same time. Then big ugly chrome rims with designs that even a rapper wouldn't want. We can't forget about all the useless functions they add when the main one should be a "how to not drive like a jackass" button. OK. We're going to stop before we go too far on this. Now take everything we just said and forget it. That's right, erase it from your memory, like those times you had a nocturnal emission dream about Jonny dressed in drag. The Nismo Fairlady Z RS Concept is exactly the kind of car we enthusiasts would like to see roll off a production line in both the near and distant future.

Despite parting ways with my beloved 240SX and buying (gasp) an Acura, I'm still a Nissan fanatic at heart. Just because my Honda and Acura outnumber my Infiniti doesn't mean I've switched to the "other" side. With that being said, I am still waiting patiently (along with the rest of the free world) for the new Skyline to be unveiled from Nissan. However, in the meantime we still get to enjoy the robust 350Z sports car. An awesome car, without a doubt, but one that could use a little help. You can count on those crazy cats over at Nismo Japan to give the Fairlady (Z) a complete revamp job with the company's high-end components top to bottom, front to back, and inside-out.

The first step was to crack the engine open and stuff the bottom end with stronger forged pistons and a billet crank. Then seal off the top end with a high-comp head and S1 VTC pulley. This combo, matched with the bored-out throttle body and titanium exhaust, was enough for 350 ps (345 hp) and 37.0 kg/m (267 lb-ft of torque) at the wheels. A decent jump from the factory-rated 300 crank horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

When you're dealing with the greatnessbehind the Nismo name, no stone will be left unturned. For maximum track handling, the stock suspension was beefed up with R-tune coilovers, thicker sway bars, and urethane bushings. The wider LM GT4 wheels areengulfed by Advan A048 tires, AKA the stickiest of the icky. And, of course, the factory Brembos were complemented with slottedrotors to prevent brake fade by expediting the cooling process.

Remember, the car has to look the part too. Just like people with "good personalities." Nobody bothers to find out about what's on the inside before being attracted to what's on the outside. Don't deny it. A hot, not-so-smart blonde will get way more attention than a brilliant homely-looking girl with a great sense of humor and exquisite math skills. Fortunately, the Nismo RS Concept has both. Starting from the full aero kit and host ofcarbon fiber pieces, this Z forces rubberneckers to cause traffic jams. With the racingbuckets, steering wheel, and roll bar, the interior borderline resembles a full racecar, but it's more than streetable. The fancy-smancy audio system proves it.

OK. Don't kill us or send us hate mail because what we're going to tell you next is really going to make you mad. We know we got you all hot and bothered thinking you could build the same Z by simply browsing through the Nismo catalog. Though some of the parts are off-the-shelf Nismo items, a lot of them are prototype pieces that aren't available to the consumer yet. And since those parts aren't available, there is no MSRP on them either. Wait, it gets worse.

For those who want to skip the building process and are about to call up the dealer and put one on reserve, there are no plans as of yet to send the RS Concept into the production stages. Lastly, most of the parts that are available for purchase can only be bought through Nismo Japan. Sorry to burst your bubble. On a brighter note, we're told that Nissan North America will be making a stronger Nismo presence. But that, much like trying to get a date with Rachel Nichols, seems like nothing more than a far-fetched fantasy that should be kept between you and your nightlight.

Super Street Magazine