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2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo

If you blinked, you missed the opportunity to pick up the last iteration of the 370Z Nismo, because after just a touch over a year of availability, Nissan is replacing it with this updated 2015 model - the third 370-based iteration from the brand's in-house tuner. Consider this version to be the 370Z's swan song. An all-new version is expected soon with a downsized turbo mill (something in the vein of a 240Z would not be impossible). That reality aside, the latest 370Z Nismo is a compelling package. It looks like a million bucks, takes a corner with verve, and gets belated tech goodies. Here are our impressions from a drive we took last week near Nissan's US headquarters in Tennessee.
Driving Notes
The Recaro seats are wonderful (shocker!). In fact, the interior in general has a much more strapped-down feel about it. A run-of-the-mill 370Z feels pretty great, although it's not a place for the big-boned. As with past Nismos, upgrades include contrasting colors on the faux-suede seat inserts, the gauge hood, the ten and two positions on the steering wheel, and a red centering stripe on the wheel. The upgraded materials are all nicely chosen and the cabin is a very sexy place to live - weirdly practical, too, considering the huge cargo area. Checking the "Tech" model option box brings a 7.0-inch nav screen in place of the upward swinging door over a storage cubby, a much-needed backup camera, an impressively good Bose stereo, and de riguer Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming. Everything seems to work as advertised.

Nissan recalls 640k crossovers for wiring issue, hood release

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced two separate recalls affecting hundreds of thousands of Nissan crossovers. The larger of the two involves the electrical system in 2008-2013 model year Rogue CUVs. In affected vehicles, a mixture of moisture and salt seeping in through the carpet on the driver's side could cause the harness connector to short, potentially causing a fire. The issue involves Nissan Rogues manufactured between March 7, 2007, and November 26, 2013, as well as examples of the 2014 Rogue Select manufactured between September 23, 2013, and July 2, 2014. All told, that comes to an estimated 468,815 units in the United States alone. The second recall affects the relatively smaller quantity of 170,665 vehicles, made up of 2013-14 Nissan Pathfinder, 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid, 2013 Infiniti JX35, 2014 QX60 and 2014 QX60 Hybrid models. (The JX35 was recently relabeled as the QX60 under Infiniti's new nomenclature.) The issue affecting some of those vehicles revolves around a hood release cable that may not properly latch. Nissan is notifying owners of the affected units to bring their vehicles in to have the wiring checked and to replace the harness connector and seal in the former case, and to have the hood release mechanism modified in the latter. All told, an estimated 639,480 vehicles are being recalled as part of the two campaigns. RECALL Subject : Electrical Short Due to Water Seepage Report Receipt Date: JAN 26, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V032000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured March 7, 2007, to November 26, 2013, and 2014 Nissan Rogue Select vehicles manufactured September 23, 2013, to July 2, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience an electrical short in the harness connector due to a mixture of snow/water and salt seeping through the carpet on the driver side floor near the harness connector. CONSEQUENCE: An electrical short can cause a vehicle fire. REMEDY: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the kick panel wiring harness connector and will if necessary install a new harness connector and waterproof seal, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan recalls over 120,000 Altimas due to... spare tire inflation?!

A pressure regulator that over- or underinflated spare tires for five days earlier this year has led to a recall of 123,308 units of the 2013 Nissan Altima. Sedans that were manufactured from March 21-26 are those possibly affected by the temporary tire snafu, the recall for which will begin on May 3.
Those notified of the issue can take their sedans to their local Nissan dealer, who will check the tire pressure and correct it if necessary, but we imagine owners can probably just whip out a tire gauge to check and adjust the inflation for themselves. Should you need it, there's an official notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below with a few more details.