A small team of Nissan development engineers working in their spare time have transformed a 350Z into a highly tuned ‘Saturday Special.’ Called the GT-S, the supercharged super coupé is a performance-focused version of Nissan’s acclaimed ‘Z-’car’ and is designed to appeal to enthusiastic 350Z owners who simply want more. Although boasting a power hike and a substantially modified chassis, the GT-S is far from being a stripped out racing car with a rock hard ride and a peaky power delivery. “The GT-S has been created as a real car not an ornament,” says Communications Director Wayne Bruce. “We wanted to build a ‘Club Special’ that could still be used to commute to work during the week but would provide added thrills at the weekend: a weekday workhorse and a weekend warrior in one distinctive package.” More info and gallery after the jump…
The project’s technical leader Steve Robbins — who during the week is a senior engineer in the new vehicle evaluation team at NTCE — gathered together half a dozen like-minded enthusiasts to work on the project.
Working after hours and at the weekend, the team members came from within NTCE and also from outside suppliers and was known internally as the S-Club Seven…
Most of the changes center on the car’s engine and chassis. Using a supercharger installation from Swiss manufacturers Novidem, power has increased by more than 25 per cent from 300 hp to 382 hp, while torque rises from 353 Nm to a heady 425Nm.
Performance gains are expected to include a one second cut in the benchmark 0-60mph time (5.8 seconds for the standard 350Z) with 2.5 seconds slashed from the 0-100 mph time.
And it sounds better, too, thanks to an electronically controlled by-pass valve that enriches the exhaust note at a pre-determined engine speed.
NTCE engineers — the very men who tuned the original 350Z to suit European roads and our higher speeds — have undertaken the suspension changes. Working closely with specialists from Bilstein, the changes concentrate on optimising road performance, with improvements in both handling ability and ride comfort. Wider wheels and tyres complete the chassis alterations.
A wind tunnel developed body/aero kit from German firm Strosek not only gives the all-black GT-S a distinctive look, but also improves the 350Z’s aerodynamic performance with increased front and rear downforce at speed. The package is completed by a NVH pack which makes the GT-S even more civilised than the standard 350Z.
Steve Robbins said: “We could have produced a balls-out racer with huge power outputs and very little suspension movement. But while this would have created a superb racer, it would have been virtually unusable on the road. Instead we approached the GT-S from an engineering stand-point with a view to creating a 350Z that provides more of everything… performance, handling, looks, comfort and excitement.
“We also looked at the possible marketing potential of such a project and have designed the improvements as individual ‘packs’ — an engine pack, a suspension pack, aero pack and so on — and kept a close eye on costs.”
So will the GT-S ultimately become more than a weekend project by a group of mavericks? Nissan is saying nothing officially, though insiders point to its appearance at Goodwood as a sign the company is giving the GT-S concept serious consideration.
06/29, 6:47 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
a turbo charger would have been better
06/29, 6:48 PM
posted by:
Cleet Oriss
Modern Day Firebird Trans AM Wheres the hood decal, the chest wig and the medallion. Grow the mustache though they are back and soooo hot
06/29, 6:54 PM
posted by:
Asher
I’m not a big 350Z fan but this is a VERY clean execution and I dont think chestwig-like at all. The flush mounted air intake in the front bumper/hood is sick and all the other mods as well as that clean engine bay only enhance its looks to me.
I’m sure people will still be able to boost the output of the supercharger and add other mods etc. for more power but this was built to be balanced and production-worthy…
06/29, 7:09 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
its too clean
needs more rice!!!
06/29, 7:17 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
clean = good, rice=stupid
06/29, 7:20 PM
posted by:
Kmoney
#4 Wrong, rice=kids car that all show-no-go.
This is a very nice example of what you can do with an import and not look like a dumbass. Very subtle bodykit and everything. Great car. Should go into production.
06/29, 7:27 PM
posted by:
j_way
whatsup with the round intake in the bumper
thats ugly
06/29, 8:15 PM
posted by:
BAMF
I think the communications director might be Batman!!!
06/29, 8:19 PM
posted by:
Taylor
Looks like a modded Fairlady to me…nothing special
06/29, 8:55 PM
posted by:
sh.yoon
Lose the bodykit, and then it’d be sweet.
06/29, 9:10 PM
posted by:
j_way
3-way…..
oh so thats what its for…..haha
just kidding
06/29, 9:27 PM
posted by:
luke
meh, looks like any other 350z just with a different kit… nothing special.
06/29, 9:37 PM
posted by:
BAMF
nobody? come on, its batman!
06/29, 11:09 PM
posted by:
Trevor
Having a bodykit on your car is like being stuck in 1986.
It’s over……. done…….no more !
06/29, 11:36 PM
posted by:
digitalzombie
dude… i just jizzed my pant looking at that god damn sexy 350z.
06/30, 2:17 AM
posted by:
E M
Quick, someone grab the steamer!…there is rice on this here page.
Would be cool without the boy-racer “does it fly” wing and stupid, stupid, gold wheels. WTF is up with gold wheels…cool, like Smokey and the Bandit? thought so.
06/30, 2:24 AM
posted by:
Craig
Turbocharger please…
06/30, 3:26 AM
posted by:
Jonas
I really really like the idea of having it in pacakages like they mentioned… I would just get the package that has the supercharger not worry about the body kit package… They definately need to put a supercharged version into production, i’m just not too fond of the front bumper, the wheels or the wing…
06/30, 7:27 AM
posted by:
canut4ever
The front end design looks amateurish with the gaping hole and the mesh air intakes. Needs the help of a stylist to make it better looking. Supercharger is ok because it might be too close to the feel of the next GTR with the same V-6 if it is turbocharged.
06/30, 7:28 AM
posted by:
?
if performance is what they say it is then it should be great. i agree on the turbocharger idea, sounds much better…i seen this bodykit before, its strosek’s 350z, check the link below. i think this one looks great!
http://www.movit.de/htm/ess04.htm
06/30, 7:34 AM
posted by:
Jonas’s whale
Why is it on British license plates?
06/30, 7:49 AM
posted by:
Left Lane News
Jonas’s whale: i think because it’s being shown in the U.K. at the auto show there in the next couple weeks.
06/30, 8:43 AM
posted by:
Edward
Lose that dumbass whole in the front. Take that metal off of the spoiler… think of something a little more 911 GT3ish. Throw all of that in a G35, and I’d buy 2!
06/30, 8:44 AM
posted by:
ss
the body kit looks really good. i dont like the chicken wire mess grill, looks cheep. I think they shoudl build it. Since the Skyline is gonna be around what 60k? the standard Z is around 30k…this would be perfect in the 45k-55k range.
06/30, 8:54 AM
posted by:
Soopah
Edward where you gonna steal the money from?
06/30, 9:46 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
This car has nothing on the new Camaro. If anyone was smart they would just head over to their local Pontiac dealer and buy a leftover GTO. That way you get style, performance and a superior American nameplate, not some japcrap Nissan.
06/30, 12:11 PM
posted by:
WaiZZZ
Gents this car is from NTCE Nissan Technical Center Europe. The Wheels are Nismo (Nissan Motorsport).
The intake kit is a new mod that most of us 350Z owners are adopting.
This Z is available only in Europe, since it is a right-hand drive and would never pass emissions.
This is definitely not rice, this car is worth more than $50K.
06/30, 12:33 PM
posted by:
Saabaru
GTO is Australian built you dumbass! What’s this BS you’ve been preaching about buying American? What’s the matter? Your head is stuck in the opposite end today?
06/30, 12:38 PM
posted by:
digitalzombie
How can you compare a camaro with a Z? Camaro have four seat and a v8. Maybe you’re just jealous the vq35de can put out more torque and hp than your puny ass american crap.
06/30, 5:45 PM
posted by:
cool
Buy me one please, I like
06/30, 11:51 PM
posted by:
Craig
Not worth $50k. For that money, I’ll deposit on a GT-R.
For $35k, I’ll consider that a good price. I can get other cars similar in performance for that or less.
07/01, 2:35 AM
posted by:
b
what if nissan is just doing this to kinda test how the gt-r will sell with the interior and the more of everything mind set. really with the 382hp thats close to what the gt-r. good things is if they do make this in production they will be collectors type car cause when the gt-r enter the line up the won’t need it
07/01, 3:54 AM
posted by:
ecm
If this goes into production it will actually give me a reason to actually maybe want a 350. As for me I’ll take a supercharger over turbo any day of the week. I hope it gets built that might be my next car once I get out of grad school and get a job (fingers crossed).
07/05, 10:35 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
its ****
07/13, 8:19 PM
posted by:
L33TZOR
I still like my Veilside V3 better. If Im spending 50k., its not gonna be this car. GT-R, yes, just aftermarket supercharge/aftermarket turbo and bodykit a 2003-2006 350Z and you will still be in the fast lane over this baby. I dont think its all that. Well see next year perhaps.
Wheres the list of all the improvements for this bad boy so I can read on?
08/08, 12:37 PM
posted by:
A Z FREAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!
DUDE NICE CAR.