Yeo Zorce Jedi Master
Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 1936 Location: Far Rockaway, NY
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:58 am Post subject: Nissan Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V Debut |
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Originally Posted by CarandDriver.com
BY STEVE SILER
Los Angeles may no longer be home to Nissan North America, but Los Angeles will always be home to sport compact culture. It was only fitting, then, that Nissan returned to Los Angeles to unveil its newest pair of pocket rockets, the 2007 Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V, which are scheduled to go on sale in March 2007.
As with each generation of SE-R before them, the all-new versions present only subtle clues to their performance bent, including unique front and rear fascias, clear taillights, fog lights, and cool 10-spoke wheels. The SE-R mods take to the new-generation Sentra�s simple, geometric surfaces quite naturally, though unless it is ordered in an obnoxiously bright paint color, the overall look is, shall we say, �street-cred-challenged.� Then again, we expect few new SE-Rs to remain stock once they�re in the hands of the enthusiasts that have helped the SE-R achieve iconic status since its humble beginnings in 1991.
The new models also follow a longstanding SE-R tradition of high-revving four-cylinder engines. In this case, the specifically tuned 2.5-liter engines in both the SE-R and SE-R Spec V are variants of the same engine found under the hood of the Altima 2.5 instead of the 2.0-liter 140-hp four from the base Sentra. The SE-R is rated at 180 horsepower with the Spec V coming in at an even 200, rendering them the most powerful SE-Rs ever. That said, the SE-R claims no horsepower advantage whatsoever next to its stiffest competitors, namely the Honda Civic Si, VW GTI, and Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged.
The SE-R model comes with a �specially modified version� of Nissan�s Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with a set ratio mode controlled by standard paddle shifters. Likely, hard-core enthusiasts will pony up for the pricier SE-R Spec V, if only on account of its standard six-speed stick. The Spec V also adds Brembo brakes, an available helical limited-slip differential, larger front disc brakes, sportier suspension tuning, and a chassis-stiffening front strut tower brace. |
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