04 Nissan Sentra S 1 Owner Clean Carfax Abs Brakes Dual Airbags No Reserve on 2040-cars

Auto blog

MotorWeek proves '90s were awesome with Supra, Stealth, RX-7, Corvette, 968, 300ZX comparo

Oh, the heady days of 1993, back when the Clinton Presidency was just getting underway, and it seemed like every hot new rock band was coming out of Seattle. Sports cars in the US had finally shaken off the shackles that slowed them during the '70s and '80s, and you could buy any number of legitimately quick vehicles again. MotorWeek recently went digging into its archives to find this six-model test from 1993 showing off some of the best semi-affordable performance coupes that money could buy at the time, and it's priceless.
Featuring the 1994 model year Toyota Supra in twin-turbo guise and MY 1993 versions of the Porsche 968, Nissan 300ZX TT, Mazda RX-7, Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette LT-1, MotorWeek definitely covered all of the bases. One thing that might surprise younger readers is these cars' performance. The video only provides 0-60 acceleration times, but several of these vehicles would still be considered pretty potent today - over 20 years since going on sale. The Supra is especially impressive, hitting 60 miles per hour in just 5 seconds. Even today, that's nothing to sneeze at.
Given their performance potential and still-attractive looks, it's amazing that some of these coupes are old enough to drink now. The progress of interior design and safety equipment in the intervening years is pretty shocking, though. In most of these models, having two airbags is touted as a big deal. Scroll down to watch a Throwback Thursday blast from the past about some of the '90s best sports cars.

Nissan Skyline Nismo gets a more powerful Z engine

Recent rumors claim the Nissan Skyline will morph into an electric crossover in the coming years. Regardless of whether or not they're true, the company isn't done with the current, gasoline-powered Skyline yet and it launched a limited-edition, Nismo-branded model in Japan. If you're experiencing deja vu, it's likely because the Nissan Skyline is sold as the Infiniti Q50 in the United States. We even get a range-topping, performance-oriented trim level, the 400-horsepower Red Sport 400. The Skyline Nismo goes further, though, by adopting an evolution of the twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 that powers the Red Sport 400 and the Z coupe. It's rated at 414 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. For context, the Q50 and Z pack 400-horsepower and just 350 pound-feet of torque. The Nismo's engine spins just the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission, whereas America's Red Sport 400 is available with all-wheel drive. Nissan didn't settle for adding a few horses to the cavalry, slapping a couple of "Nismo" emblems to the body, and calling it a job well done. Its engineers redesigned the Skyline's suspension system, installed fade-resistant brake pads and recalibrated the various vehicle control systems, including the ABS, to deliver a sportier driving experience on and off the track. The brand even went as far as securing the windshield and the rear window with a type of adhesive normally reserved for the GT-R Nismo to improve rigidity without adding weight.  Visual updates are part of the Nismo package as well, including 19-inch Enkei wheels wrapped by tires that are wider than the ones worn by the regular-production model, an old-school "GT" emblem on each fender, and a body kit that includes a front splitter and side skirts. These updates aren't just for show: Nissan notes the redesigned grille opening helps channel additional cooling air to the radiator and the oil cooler. The Nismo treatment also permeates the cabin. The front passengers sit on Recaro sport seats with red inserts, while the driver faces a steering wheel with a red 12-o'clock mark as well as a new-look tachometer with a red ring and a small "Nismo" logo below the needle. Enthusiasts who want an even rarer version of the current-generation Skyline can try their luck at scoring the Nismo Limited.

10 automakers shack up in Detroit hotel to talk Takata airbags

Since Takata has decided not to take the lead concerning potential issues with its airbag inflators, the automakers have. Perhaps that's unsurprising, since it's the automakers, not Takata, that will take a beating on the dealership floor if consumers decide its models are a health hazards. The Detroit News reports that Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru met in a hotel conference room near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport last week to sort out a way to understand the technical issues involved. So far, faulty airbag inflators have been ruled the cause of five deaths and 50 injuries around the world, but neither Takata nor investigators understands exactly why the inflators are malfunctioning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently asked Takata to issue a national recall, Takata declined, citing a minuscule failure rate and the fact that it's still investigating the issue. Toyota and Honda then made an industry-wide appeal for "a coordinated, comprehensive testing program" that would pinpoint the problem inflators and get them replaced, and that's what the Detroit meeting was about. Numerous issues, however, will make this a long row to hoe: simply getting the parts to replace the nearly 20 million inflators in cars recalled around the world so far - even working with other suppliers - will take a years, but more importantly, no one knows if the replacement inflators currently being installed will suffer the same issue. Answers will hopefully come quickly with Takata, the ten automakers and NHTSA all independently investigating the problem.