RE: Nissan previews 370Z Project Clubsport 23

RE: Nissan previews 370Z Project Clubsport 23

Monday 29th October 2018

Nissan previews 370Z Project Clubsport 23

There's life in the old dog yet, as Nissan shows off twin-turbo, 400hp Zed for SEMA



Yep, it's that time of year again - the Speciality Equipment Market Association Show is heading to Las Vegas this week. And while SEMA might be best known for some of its more ludicrous exhibits - see the 1,000hp Hyundai Genesis - one of this year's highlights looks to be something a little more down to earth.

The Nissan Motorsports Project Clubsport 23 is, as you can see, ostensibly a 370Z. However, there's much more to it than that, Nissan describing the PC 23 as a "rolling parts development platform," one that "combines the latest technology with Z heritage aesthetics". Essentially the plan is to sell all the parts fitted to this car through Nissan dealerships, giving the old Zed a fresh lease of manufacturer-backed life.


There are some significant changes to this 370 as well, much more than meets the eye. The standard NISMO 3.7-litre V6 has been swapped out for a VR30DDTT twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, as found in the Infiniti Q60. It's a much newer engine, with production having begun at the start of 2016, and boosts power for the Project Clubsport to 400hp - no doubt bigger numbers are possible given the engine's forced induction.

Moreover, this car represents the first time that this engine has been paired with a manual gearbox; Nissan and MA Motorsports kept the NISMO's standard six-speed, but developed a new clutch disc, cover and flywheel assembly. That's hooked up to a NISMO GT Pro-Carbon two-way limited-slip diff, with the LSD cooled by an MA Motorsports Differential Cooler.


Additional mods include Rays 18-inch wheels with Hankook RS4 tyres, slotted discs with NISMO pads and stainless steel lines, KW V3 coilovers, NISMO body braces, Eibach springs and a new MA Motorsports exhaust. The interior features some very snazzy Sparco seats (with six-point harnesses) plus a wheel from the same manufacturer, a roll cage and bespoke upholstery aimed at evoking the 240Z.

Combine all that with the Gloss Burnt Orange paint and a few carbon body trinkets and the end result is a very enticing 370Z. As for the project's future, Nissan is non-committal but seemingly keen: "The ultimate goal was to create a vehicle that owners could duplicate themselves using Nissan Motorsports or aftermarket parts", is the official line, with the SEMA show serving to gauge interest in buyer demand. Apparently it "may offer a 'builder's kit' that consists of hard parts and electrical componentry to assist customers with building their own ultimate track Z car", so if you're in Nevada this week and keen on the idea, you know where to go...






 

Author
Discussion

sidesauce

Original Poster:

2,476 posts

218 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
As much s I like the 370Z, this one (possibly due to the body kit) looks a little 'dumpy'.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

190 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
I wonder if the pics have been re-scaled incorrectly. Unless the 370z really is taller than it is long.

redroadster

1,739 posts

232 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
Old school car which it's type will be missed soon.

Alias218

1,496 posts

162 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
A shame they swapped the engine - a twin-turbo VQ37VHR would have been nicer although a lot of development work on NISMOs part.

All the more so, as the VQ37 is more or less a larger capacity VQ35HR, such as is found in my 350.

Booooooo.

Looks good though.

Kenny Powers

2,618 posts

127 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
I wonder if the pics have been re-scaled incorrectly. Unless the 370z really is taller than it is long.
I’ve been griping about this for months. All article images appear the same -squashed - but I recently discovered that it’s only via the forum. If you view them from the main page, the aspect ratio is correct.

On topic, I have a massive soft spot for the 370z thumbup

unsprung

5,467 posts

124 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
a strong community round this car, if not in one's own neighbourhood, then certainly online

the PH team have chosen all the best photos, IMO, and they've done more than most to craft some intelligent, expository editorial

mostly the same shots here, just different crops:
https://www.motor1.com/news/273840/nissan-370z-pro...

also... Nissan apparently have a couple of projects at SEMA 2018; eg: this wasp-shaped severe duty diesel Titan
.



pirategaz

51 posts

174 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
I loved my 370 when i had it... and I love the look of this... But i def think its about time for its replacement and a twin turbo sounds perfect for the job.
I just think a bit more displacement would be better... (just to stick it to the new Supra) smile

morgs_

1,663 posts

187 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
I must admit to a bit of trouser movement at that, looks excellent.

skylarking808

799 posts

86 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
Surprisingly Groovy.

Reciprocating mass

6,030 posts

241 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
Oh err misses I likey that !

High Roller

110 posts

173 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
Big thumbs up from me. I wonder how much the full package would cost. Please price it sensibly Nissan. If it includes an engine swap its not going to be cheap and there”s lots of competition in that segment.

XJSJohn

15,966 posts

219 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
Alias218 said:
A shame they swapped the engine - a twin-turbo VQ37VHR would have been nicer although a lot of development work on NISMOs part.

All the more so, as the VQ37 is more or less a larger capacity VQ35HR, such as is found in my 350.

Booooooo.

Looks good though.
There are plenty of VQ37 twin turbo modifications knocking about that are very successful.

we got 400BHP out of mine in NA trim with induction, exhaust, after market ECU and some other gubbins

aka_kerrly

12,418 posts

210 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
Go Nissan!!!!!!

I like that, a lot!


up_shift

378 posts

107 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
this is a 370z I wouldn't mind owning!

liner33

10,690 posts

202 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
There are plenty of VQ37 twin turbo modifications knocking about that are very successful.

we got 400BHP out of mine in NA trim with induction, exhaust, after market ECU and some other gubbins
What ECU did you go for ? Typically induction, exhaust and remap get them to about 350hp

This was my own car with the above a stock and then modified run



Be great if they do make this a 370 with that kind of power would be excellent and no doubt a decent seller



C7 JFW

1,205 posts

219 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
Bravo Nissan.

ZX10R NIN

27,607 posts

125 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
quotequote all
Great work Nissan.

Alias218

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
Alias218 said:
A shame they swapped the engine - a twin-turbo VQ37VHR would have been nicer although a lot of development work on NISMOs part.

All the more so, as the VQ37 is more or less a larger capacity VQ35HR, such as is found in my 350.

Booooooo.

Looks good though.
There are plenty of VQ37 twin turbo modifications knocking about that are very successful.

we got 400BHP out of mine in NA trim with induction, exhaust, after market ECU and some other gubbins
Very true, however they don't come with OE manufacturer warranties.

A VQ35/37 in high output N/A trim is the dream, but my word is it expensive.