AtlZ.... sure thing. I know some people that work for Nissan. One in Japan and now three in NNA. It was two, but that's changed up to three. When I hear something from any of them, I pass it on to the others to try and verify or quiz them to see what they've heard. Thus far, they've been pretty much right with their claims.

I had posted images of what the 350Z looked like before it was shown in Detroit in Janaury 2001 because of Tak, my Japan contact. He is my best lead, far and away. The people in North America with Nissan seem to get their info slower, but that doesn't surprise me. NNA does what Nissan Japan tells them to do, so it makes sense that Japan sets the standards, NNA then follows them. Not trying to offend anyone if you're reading this and you work for NNA.

With Nissan being so secretive over stats because they haven't finalized them yet, I was asking Tak what was up and he told me that they had tested the car and had it set up to 300hp. He then told me they'd tested it in the 0-60 category and it scored an impressive 5.2 seconds. I thought... riiiiight. Sure thing. I was stunned but I didn't want to get ahead of myself. So then I asked my two contacts (at the time, I only had two) at NNA if they'd heard anything regarding stats. They told me the exact same 0-60 time. Not 5.3 or 5.5, but 5.2. I thought that was kind of odd that they all nailed it, so I had to assume they were right.

I have since asked Tak some other interesting questions regarding future Z's and he has told me flat out he has seen a 350Z with a V8 engine testing on the track where he works. Not sure if that means anything, but it sure is easy to jump to conclusions. Before when we talked about it, he said he was pretty sure it was a v8 powered Z, but now he has been up close and he told me it was definately a V8.

I asked him if this will be the much talked about "ZR" model that has been rumored. He told me that he'd heard from co-workers that whether the ZR model ever sees North American soil all comes down to auto sales and production numbers. If the first series does well, there will be a second series etc. If the people want the faster Z and will pay for it, even though a V8 GT-R is supposed to be coming here, then they will most likely build it. Obviousy there are a lot of what if's and circumstances that have to be met for this to happen, so I am not holding my breathe.

I myself tend to think they might have been testing the Z with a V8 because the GT-R and the 350Z share the same frame and I'd think it's easier to do testing with a car the press already knows about, then one that hasn't yet been photographed. Yes, the CONCEPT (concept being the operative word here) has been shown, but that's not the final version. I was told that concept version will not ever see the light of day as far as production goes.

I attached what I was told the new car (GT-R) will look more like. THIS IS NOT A PHOTO (to the best of my knowledge). I don't know where it came from, but from what I have been told, this is really close to the actual model. I kind of liked the crazy aggresive GT-R concept they put out there myself, but hey, that's me.

Sorry for the book answer... I guess I could have just said, I know some people that know some things.

-j