The new 2005 Nissan Pathfinder

[NFS4]

Here's a TINY pick of the grill/headlights:

'05 Pathfinder

Given that pic, the '05 Pathfinder should look like a 95% copy of this. More Dunehawk pics here and here.

**Beware of pop-ups in the last link**

 

[Ryan]

Yep, this is exactly what I speculated Nissan would do when the Dunehawk pictures were posted here

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I like that Dunehawk alot. Looks very functional.

 

[BigSmooth]

The thing that bothers me about the Dunehawk is that the rear end is quite similar to the VW Magellan concept from the '02 NAIAS. Someone on VWV pointed that out when the Dunehawk was unveiled, and it does look like Nissan "borrowed" heavily from that design.

 

[arcas]

Doors are electrically controlled by a push pad on the vehicle's fenders

That would make getting into the vehicle a b!tch if the battery goes dead.

That said, the Dunehawk looks like a nice design though the idea of cameras instead of sideview mirrors would take some getting used to.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: arcas
Doors are electrically controlled by a push pad on the vehicle's fenders

That would make getting into the vehicle a b!tch if the battery goes dead.

That said, the Dunehawk looks like a nice design though the idea of cameras instead of sideview mirrors would take some getting used to.

Every concept car for the past 10 years has had cameras instead of mirrors. None has gone into production.

 

[CraigRT]

the DuneHawk is seriously sweet.....

 

[opticalmace]

lookin' good

 

[fs5]

so they're putting the VQ engine in there?
by the time nissan is done every damn car of theirs will have a VQ (including infiniti)

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
so they're putting the VQ engine in there?
by the time nissan is done every damn car of theirs will have a VQ (including infiniti)

And that's a bad thing?????

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
so they're putting the VQ engine in there?
by the time nissan is done every damn car of theirs will have a VQ (including infiniti)

And that's a bad thing?????

it is to me because if I bought a 350z or a G35 I wouldn't want my car to have the same engine as a maxima, altima, murano, quest, fx35, and a pathfinder... I'm sure I'm missing some.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
so they're putting the VQ engine in there?
by the time nissan is done every damn car of theirs will have a VQ (including infiniti)

And that's a bad thing?????

it is to me because if I bought a 350z or a G35 I wouldn't want my car to have the same engine as a maxima, altima, murano, quest, fx35, and a pathfinder... I'm sure I'm missing some.

Why not? If you have a Z you have the lightest car of any of those and the engine is also tuned to produce the most horsepower and torque.
It's not like the Quest is going to speed by a G35 on the dragstrip.

The VQ is reliable and extremely smooth. It's also versatile and can take on a different character depending on the application. I sure as hell don't fault Nissan for using perhaps its most valuable asset as much as possible.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
so they're putting the VQ engine in there?
by the time nissan is done every damn car of theirs will have a VQ (including infiniti)

And that's a bad thing?????

it is to me because if I bought a 350z or a G35 I wouldn't want my car to have the same engine as a maxima, altima, murano, quest, fx35, and a pathfinder... I'm sure I'm missing some.

WTF?? Who cares!! The VQ is an awesome engine and it puts out 240HP - 287HP in various states of tune. It is cost effective and it gets the job done. Who gives a crap if it power a minivan and the Z. It OWNZ and it allows Nissan to shed developmental costs.

Why build 8 different engines when one will do just fine?

 

[geno]

Yeah man, the motor in my car powered everything from station wagons, to sporty coupes, to freakin minivans. I'm all for keeping costs down by spreading a great, dependable engine over separate platforms. It's great for down the road too when you need to find parts. Who wants to find parts for a motor that was only installed in say, a Pathfinder and no other cars? There's fewer things that dealership mechanics need to learn, fewer production costs... man the list of positives goes on and on

 

[vi edit]

What I don't get is why they even monkeyfscked around and slapped an expensive supercharger on the othewise anemic V6 in the Frontier and didn't just toss the 3.5VQ in there in the first place.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: NFS4

WTF?? Who cares!! The VQ is an awesome engine and it puts out 240HP - 287HP in various states of tune. It is cost effective and it gets the job done. Who gives a crap if it power a minivan and the Z. It OWNZ and it allows Nissan to shed developmental costs.

Why build 8 different engines when one will do just fine?

Exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity. Is it so wrong to say that their flagship car (in the US at least) should have a unique engine?

That's all fine and dandy that it saves Nissan money but it waters down the image of the Z.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: NFS4

WTF?? Who cares!! The VQ is an awesome engine and it puts out 240HP - 287HP in various states of tune. It is cost effective and it gets the job done. Who gives a crap if it power a minivan and the Z. It OWNZ and it allows Nissan to shed developmental costs.

Why build 8 different engines when one will do just fine?

Exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity. Is it so wrong to say that their flagship car (in the US at least) should have a unique engine?

That's all fine and dandy that it saves Nissan money but it waters down the image of the Z.

Umm, the VQ is the centerpiece of the 350Z so what's your point? The chassis that underpins the 350Z is also use on the G3 Couple/Sedan and the FX35/45 SUV. Do you gripe about that as well??

If you want an "exclusive" engine for the 350Z, be prepared to pay $40,000 for one!! That's one of the reasons why the last Z got the axe. It was too damned expensive with an expensive engine. Nissan smartened up this time and and consolidated the platforms and engines and a made a kickass car that starts at $27,000

 

[geno]

That's all fine and dandy that it saves Nissan money but it waters down the image of the Z.

Why take an oversophisticated motor that will do nothing more than increase repair costs and initial pricetag of the car? Makes NO sense! That's why the 300ZX was so damn much money, if they could have made that power without twin turbos like they can now, it would've brought the price of the car down considerably. Bottom line is 287HP, no matter how it's made, I don't see how that's "watered down"

 

[vi edit]

Exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity exclusivity. Is it so wrong to say that their flagship car (in the US at least) should have a unique engine?

That's all fine and dandy that it saves Nissan money but it waters down the image of the Z.

It seems to me that Nissan wanted just the opposite with the Z - anti exclusiveness. They wanted to bring a sports coupe to the table that you didn't have to take out a second mortgage to afford.

And they succeeded quite well.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Umm, the VQ is the centerpiece of the 350Z so what's your point? The chassis that underpins the 350Z is also use on the G3 Couple/Sedan and the FX35/45 SUV. Do you gripe about that as well??

If you want an "exclusive" engine for the 350Z, be prepared to pay $40,000 for one!! That's one of the reasons why the last Z got the axe. It was too damned expensive with an expensive engine. Nissan smartened up this time and and consolidated the platforms and engines and a made a kickass car that starts at $27,000

That is my point.

 

[geno]

That is my point.

There is no spoon...er, point.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: NFS4

Umm, the VQ is the centerpiece of the 350Z so what's your point? The chassis that underpins the 350Z is also use on the G3 Couple/Sedan and the FX35/45 SUV. Do you gripe about that as well??

If you want an "exclusive" engine for the 350Z, be prepared to pay $40,000 for one!! That's one of the reasons why the last Z got the axe. It was too damned expensive with an expensive engine. Nissan smartened up this time and and consolidated the platforms and engines and a made a kickass car that starts at $27,000

That is my point.

You have no point!!!!!!!!

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: NFS4

You have no point!!!!!!!!

Let me make it easy for you:

My point is the 350z's image is watered down by the fact that it's engine is in every other nissan car. I don't care that it reduced the price of the car (I'm not arguing that point). Wouldn't it be nice if Nissan made a 350z and a 350z TT? If you say no you'd be lying.

You said it yourself, the VQ is the centerpiece of the 350z, as in the ENGINE is the centerpiece of the 350z. That is the point I am arguing, not the platform like you said before.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: NFS4

You have no point!!!!!!!!

Let me make it easy for you:

My point is the 350z's image is watered down by the fact that it's engine is in every other nissan car. I don't care that it reduced the price of the car (I'm not arguing that point). Wouldn't it be nice if Nissan made a 350z and a 350z TT? If you say no you'd be lying.

You said it yourself, the VQ is the centerpiece of the 350z, as in the ENGINE is the centerpiece of the 350z. That is the point I am arguing, not the platform like you said before.

I still don't understand what your point is?? The car is fast, it handles well, it stops well, it looks good...about the only thing you could really knock is the chintzy interior.

So again, what's the problem with the engine? The new Ford GT uses an engine that started life out in a F-150 pickup truck. The Viper uses an engine that is based on the cast iron Dodge Ram V-10. Does that make them any less of performance machines? I think not.

 

[vi edit]

Hell, the Vette uses a 5.7L V8 that used to do double duty detuned to half the power in the Caprices.
The STI engine from the WRX makes a detuned appearance in the turbo'd forester.