2006 Nissan 350z Enthusiast Convertible 2-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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Bug-eyed next-gen Nissan Titan spied testing

It's no secret that the fullsize pickup truck market is dominated by offerings from Detroit's Big Three automakers, the Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra not able to outdo the Ford F-150, Ram 1500 or Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra twins. A great deal of that has to do with the fact that, while the American trucks have all undergone evolutionary updates that include a range of body styles, fuel-efficient engines and excellent technology, the Japanese offerings are, well, really old. Toyota is offering an updated Tundra for the 2014 model year, and while we haven't driven it yet, we're already betting that it's still behind the pack in terms of competitiveness - the 2013 model placed fifth out of sixth in a recent PickupTrucks.com comparison test.
At the bottom of the pack lies the Nissan Titan, a truck that hasn't received any sort of substantial update since its introduction nearly ten years ago. But that's going to change - a new truck is slated to debut for the 2015 model year, and these spy shots of a Titan mule clearly show that things are moving forward.
While this tester relies heavily on the current truck's bodywork for testing purposes, the new Titan will have a revised design, some of which is evidenced by the bug-eyed front fascia of this mule. No, the production model isn't going to look all weird (we hope), but the higher, more outboard headlight placement suggests that the new truck will be a bit wider than the current model.

2014 Nissan X-Trail is the Rogue's identical twin [w/video]

Up until now, the Rogue and X-Trail were two different compact crossovers that competed in the same segment for Nissan, except one was sold only in the US and the other Europe. So why, Nissan asked, aren't they exactly the same? Thus, with today's reveal of the redesigned 2014 Nissan Rogue, our team on the ground at the Frankfurt Motor Show also met its new identical twin, the 2014 Nissan X-Trail.
Unlike the Rogue, the former X-Trail was a boxy thing that put on the airs of an SUV, so this new look is likely a larger departure for Europeans than it is for us 'Yanks. From what we can tell comparing their press releases, these two crossovers are practically identical save for the badge on their rear liftgates, both now offering an optional third row of seating and a slew of infotainment and active and passive safety features.
The one thing that may differ between the two are the engines on offer. While we know the Rogue has a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, Nissan's remaining mum on what will motivate the X-Trail. The prior model offered both gas- and diesel-powered models, which we feel safe in assuming will continue (perhaps opening the door for a diesel-powered Rogue in the US some day). Nissan says we'll know more closer to the X-Trail's on-sale date, which is stated simply as being "next year," whereas the Tennessee-built Rogue will be going on sale in the US this fall.

Mazda Turnpike in Japan shut down for racing

The people behind Motorhead Magazine in Japan clearly have some friends in high places. Not only did they manage to shutdown eight kilometers of the Mazda Turnpike up the Hakone mountain, but they invited some of the country's premiere racers to take a drive up the hill. This wasn't just a Sunday cruise either. Featuring a BMW Z4 from the Super GT series, a classic Ford GT40, two flavors of Nissan GT-R and two takes on the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, these guys came ready to run. When an opportunity to let racecars challenge a curvy mountain road presents itself, you don't squander it. Thankfully, the folks at Motorhead knew that and outfitted the course with a plethora of cameras and high-quality sound equipment to capture the action. The result is nothing short of sublime. Take the video's urging to turn up your speakers for this one, and watch as these racers hit ludicrous speeds in a beautiful place never meant for them. News Source: japanmotorhead via YouTube, Jalopnik Aftermarket Motorsports BMW Ford Nissan Subaru Racing Vehicles Performance Videos ford gt40 super gt