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...
For the complete story on Nismo's RS Concept, pick up the August 2006 issue of Super Street Magazine, on newsstands now!.