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Nissan investigating use of turbos in mainstream models

 
4 1,943 views Aug 3, 2009

Nissan’s next-generation Z car could see a return to turbocharging

Nissan’s next-generation Z car could see a return to turbocharging

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Back in the glory days of affordable Japanese sports cars, such as the Toyota Supra, the Mazda RX-7 and the Nissan 300ZX, turbocharging was the norm for achieving high horsepower figures while keeping prices low - and while Toyota and Mazda may not be considering bringing back turbocharged sports cars for the time being, Nissan is toying with the idea of bringing back the infamous turbo Z car.

While the mighty Nissan 300ZX was given not just one, but twin-turbos, the much more recent 350Z and 370Z models have had to make do with natural aspiration in Nissan's VQ line of engines to provide their grunt. The current GT-R uses twin-turbo technology, but making a high-volume turbo Z may be the next step in Nissan's future sports cars, Nissan powertrain manager Tetsuya Takahashi revealed to MotorTrend.

Currently, Takahashi and his department are researching the idea of turbocharging engines for Nissan’s next-generation of vehicles in order to reduce fuel consumption but maintain power. Automakers have embraced forced induction technology recently as the quest to make cars more efficient, and less fuel-thirsty, drags on. The advantages are obvious - small displacement engines with forced induction systems often maintain the same power as their larger displacement siblings without the associated gains in fuel consumption, a practice that we've seen companies such as BMW embrace recently with its twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, V8 and V12 gasoline engines.

According to Takahashi, the plan also has approval from Nissan's partner Renault but could face snags in the emissions department. Emissions are part of the reason why other automakers are avoiding the turbocharging route, but Nissan will keep studying the possibility of bringing more turbo engines into its lineup



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Comments (4)

  1. ma_bepsf avatar bepsf Posted: 8/3/2009 11:46am PDT

    Um - Turbos have been in use for mainstream JDM models for decades in order to extract more power out of small engines due to higher taxes on larger displacement engines.
     
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  2. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 8/3/2009 3:16pm PDT

    Should be interesting
     
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  3. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 8/4/2009 4:29am PDT

    companys always worry about making a car faster jst in case it gets as quick as there fastest car in this case the gtr...nissan should use the turbos or something and make the car more fun! the gtr is crazy fast but driving it seems like ur playing a play station its jst too precise, and thats great in a race situation but i want a car i can have real fun in. i think a 370 with turbos culd offer that =]
     
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  4. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 8/4/2009 4:29am PDT

    companys always worry about making a car faster jst in case it gets as quick as there fastest car in this case the gtr...nissan should use the turbos or something and make the car more fun! the gtr is crazy fast but driving it seems like ur playing a play station its jst too precise, and thats great in a race situation but i want a car i can have real fun in. i think a 370 with turbos culd offer that =]
     
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