I just got the latest copy of the 'Best Motoring International' DVD (vol.8) ... it's called "Rotary Reborn". Besides being a great watch and concentrating on the RX8 for about 1/2 the DVD, it has one section where they go through a few 'tunned' 350Zs. They cover what is changed in the car, have footage of a hot-lap as well have them in a race.

The 'tunned' Zeds all have between 300 and 350hp (ie. 225 - 260kW) all via N/A engine mods. Also they have some mild suspension mods, seats and other minor stuff (like body kits). The interesting part was not just the power figures, but also that all of them had the VDC system modified ... some claimed to have the VDC totally dissabled, some provided extra switched and some had it retuned. Generally speaking the VDC is very much disliked by the BMI crew (as they don't like the car having more control than they do).

Interesting was to watch the cars on 'hotlaps'. Some did not look too good (ie. like a stock 350Z) where the car looks like it does not want to go around corners too well, but couple of them looked awesome carving up the track. These looked like they just loved to be turned into corners, looked perfectly balanced as well as adjustable. I'll have to have a look again to see what they have done to these, but on the 1st viewing it looked like only the springs and tyres were changed. I'll report more when I watch it again.

Last of all there is one FI (Turbo I think) 350Z which is pushing 450hp (ie. 335kW) ... it is an automatic car, and is shown on one lap where it's sideways 90% of the time .... so much powe, it just looked crazy :-) They loved it though.

Oh, and I almost forgot - at the end they mention that Amuse (or was it Spoon?) have bought a 350Z to tune up and develop performance parts. What was of interest was their intention by manufacture a lot of carbon-fibre body parts (ie. bonnet, rear, hood, doors and fenders). Their target weight is 1280kg without removing any of the 'niceties' (like A/C)!!! Would be awesome to have 1280kg Zed, but I'm sure that the cost will be around $10 - 15k in body parts. Still, a Zed like that (with minor engine mods)would be eating M3s and 911s.

 

I read the other day that the new carbon fibre bonnets are available at 2lbs lighter than stock. Definately not worth the USD450 asking price. Another way to save a few of kilos of useless junk would be to throw the Bose out.

I really thought that some performance tuner would have come out with several sets of matched mods, all pre-tuned to an ECU.

Have maybe 4 or 5 levels of mods, all pre-tested and guaranted to work with increasing levels of performance and upgradable between levels. Everybody still seems to be "re-inventing the wheel" although forums like this are invaluable.

 

It was probably Amuse, Spoon has never shown interest in anything not wearing a Honda badge AFAIK.

You'll be looking at a lot more than $10 - $15k of body parts. Amuse has already released the prices. Doors alone are AUD$10k for example without even considering shipping and taxes. I think I added up the doors, bonnet and rear hatch once before and it came to AUD$19k again without shipping taxes.

 

yeah amuse rear spoiler is freaking US$900+ in Bulletproof. Put aside that Veilside V.1 rear spoiler is much bigger and more value than amuse Rear spoiler which is small (i.e BMW series-3 Coupe Sport Package). Also consider the FRP quality, i think Veilside have a high FRP quality as well.