Is the 370 "future proofed"?

BrianMSmith

May take a lot longer. Cars are not selling. No cash available to develop new cars, and credit is scarce. The auto industry is in big, big trouble. I think there will be many fewer and less frequent new cars in the future.

Xan

Even before the trouble, I believe they didn't plan to put DI in the Z until 2014..

blinkme323

FWIW, I think someone posted a few months back that they had "inside info" that the Z was getting DI for the 2011 model year. Judging from how Nissan handled the 350, I would expect at least a small bump in hp for the 2011 model year.

resdm50

I think that was me, lol. The salesman at the Nissan delarship I went to said he "had it on good authority" that the Z was getting DI for 2011. Take it for what it's worth though since it's coming from a salesman.

Xan

I don't think that's true and I don’t' think sales people get any real info on this.
(which is unfortunate as they are the customer interface)

For October 2010 the Z is set for a minor interior and exterior update.

And in the third quarter of 2013 a major update is scheduled, where it moves to the replacement platform and all items will be updated. (Engine (DI), transmission (currently not scheduled to have a DCT), suspension, interior and exterior)

These are the current plans, of course everything could change if Nissan headquarters decided to change their mind.

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Zsteve

well if they want the new Zs to keep up with the Jones's in HP/TQ then they will have to bump up the numbers and DI will help and DSG would help in the 0 60 and 1/4 miles times. Id love to see a stock SC Z that would be like the mustangs 427 SC, which is from what I read online is only .2 secs faster in the 0 60 than a stock GT, kinda sad for a SC.

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2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

Old Chuck

The new 5.0 looks to be a great step forward for Ford. However, it is not what everyone would want. Since it was built to a price as everything in the Mustang/370Z price range, the rods (powder I think) are seen as not strong enough for supercharging. That is one thing most builders are dissapointed about. I am sure some maker will make a charger at low boost that will run well with 11:1 compression and standard rods but the consensus is that the rods are the weak point of the engine. At 412 Hp it will be enough for some however, many are never safisfied and will want boost. Given that, they may have to redue some internals.

speed_BMW330i

I'm not much of a car guy, but when I read your comments on Ford, like any patriotic American (who was born in Mexico ) I was compelled to post an article I read on Jalopnik.com in regards to plasma-transferred wire arc (PTWA).

The Ford Engine Technology Good Enough For The Nissan GT-R - Shelby GT500 - Jalopnik

It basically involves blowing a fine mist of molten steel at high speed onto a rough surface and then honing that surface into a perfect cylinder bore.

Apparently, Nissan was impressed enough with this technology that they obtained license from Ford to incorporate on its GTR.

I guess Ford still can compete on some levels.

Martin

Xan

I wasn't saying anything against their ability, but it was directed against their priorities. Which is fine, but not my choice of product.

As for the real story behind your article, somebody knocked on their door and told them they could save more money:

Plasma Transferred Wire Arc Thermal Spray Apparatus and Method, also referred to as PTWA. Developed over a decade by Kowalsky, Daniel Marantz and David Cook, Ph.D. of Flame-Spray, and James Baughman, a Ford Motor Company retiree, it is a unique process that deposits a molten metal coating on the inside of a cylinder, such as a pipe. Flame-Spray collaborated with Ford to create the mechanism to be placed in automobile engines as a solution to the industry’s need to replace expensive cast-iron liners commonly used in engines. The process benefits both economic and environmental concerns, by removing the need for dense cast-iron engine liners.

When Flame-Spray introduced the concept of PTWA to Ford, they decided to experiment. “Ford at that time said, ‘We’ll give you an engine, why don’t you give it a shot?’” says Kowalsky. “We gave it a shot and they did some evaluation on it and said ‘Oh my God, this looks great.’”

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