We just spent a week in a stock 2006 Nissan 350Z "Grand Touring" edition; 300 horsepower, short-throw six-speed stick shift, Continuously Variable Valve Timing, carbon-fiber composite driveshaft (interesting!), ABS, EBD and BA (with a PhD to come, we assume), 18" rubber in front, 19" in the rear, rear-wheel drive (as the driving gods intended!), and all the other bells and goodies. Small-ish inside, this is the epitome of a late 1980's-era Japanese sports car masquerading as a 21st century tuner machine. Priced too high at $39,115, the Z-car still represents Nissan at their best, starting with a super-smooth 3.5 liter V6 that winds up like a sewing machine all the way to the 7K redline and has a tight, straight torque band which allows start-up even in third gear (if you make a shifting mistake). But the Z, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota's Supra all went the way of the too-high-priced two-seater dinosaurs which they had become. There were just only so many people with $40K who were in the market for a powerful two-seater. Great, fun cars from a time when the Japanese were building what were unquestionably the best cars in the world at the time, for the price. Times have changed, but the Z-car hasn't changed as much as needed --- That's what we thought until we saw the news about a 350Z GT-S from, of all places, Nissan engineers in Europe!
Nissan's GT-S, a performance-focused supercharged super coupé version of Nissan's 'Z-'car', had its first public outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 7-9) where it appeared in the Supercar Paddock and on the famous hillclimb course.
The principal changes made to turn the 350Z into the GT-S centre on its engine and chassis. Using a 
And it sounds better, too, thanks to an electronically controlled by-pass valve that enriches the exhaust note at a pre-determined engine speed. A butterfly valve on the exhaust opens up at high revs, which allows the engine to breathe better and makes for that soul shaking soundtrack at WOT (Wide Open Throttle).
The editors of CAR magazine recently took the 350Z GT-S out for a spin and revealed a few things about the concept of which we were unaware. For instance, a switch next to the gear lever can disengage the supercharger used on the Z's 3.5-liter V6. This means that at the flick of a switch, the car transforms from a snarling 376 bhp beast into the same mild-mannered 295 bhp Z coupe everyone else is driving. Very trick.
Engineers from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) have undertaken the suspension changes. Working closely with specialists from Bilstein, the changes concentrate on optimising road performance, with improvements in both handling ability and ride comfort& particularly on British 'B' roads. Wider wheels and tyres complete the chassis alterations.
A wind tunnel developed body/aero kit from German firm Strosek has been designed to improve the 350Z's aerodynamic performance with increased front and rear downforce at speed.
Nissan hasn't confirmed whether the GT-S will be launched officially, although insiders point to its appearance at Goodwood as a sign the company is giving the concept serious consideration.
At minimum, keep your eyes on the NISMO website and Nissan enthusiast sites to find out if and when (and for how much) some of these "packs" might be available.
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