Nissan Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V Debut

[YSSMAN]

BY STEVE SILER, November 2006

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.

...Its really strange, this car. On the one hand, I find it completely appealing. Hard-edged, yet strangely civilized looks, but I'm still not convinced. Maybe its because this new Sentra is such a HUGE disappointment as compared to it's rather fun predecessors. What happened to the lightweight car we all know and love?

Who knows, maybe Nissan can make something out of nothing. But the last "good" Sentra died in 2006. Thats too bad, as I quite like Sentras. Hell, even my brother has one ('91 XE), and it is a blast to drive.

 

[Kent]

Well, unlike clarkson, I'm not too split on the appeal of the new SE-Rs. These cars look great and I'm sure they feel great as well.
Although I don't know the weight of the cars, I doubt it is over 3000lb. and I seriously doubt they are really lacking compared to the previous models (in their stock se-r setup).
If anything, I'd bet on these cars feeling better and driving faster than any of the previous sentras. 👍

But then again, that's all speculation.

 

[YSSMAN]

The new Sentra 2.0S weighs in at 2915 lbs, so it wouldn't require much to make the SE-R a 3000 lb car. A new suspension will help the car here, as will the extra power. But to bring everything together? That I'm not so sure of...

 

[Jim Prower]

Will we see a Versa SE-R, then?

I noticed that this SE-R takes some cues from the upcoming (R35?) GT-R, like the last one copied the R34. I also noticed that the standard model uses the (gulp) CVT, eschewing the 6M (or even 5M) option, which you have to pony up to the Spec-V for. A little shaky on the logic, there, with no manual on a performance version of an automobile.

The major problem for the Sentra, though, might be little brother Versa taking sales away, and the SE-R might not be enough. Let's have a road test of the SE-R first, but things are still looking grim for the smallest U.S. Nissan sedan.

 

[Wolfe]

This car does not have the looks to match the performance. I don't know how, but with the new Sentra, Nissan has managed to build a car that looks at least twice as boring as all of its rivals, from every angle. It's like the Nissan Corolla.

The Cobalt SS, GTI, MPS3, Civic Si, etc. can all pull off a "pocket rocket" image, without looking too out of place being driven to the grocery store by a middle-aged person.

I know looks aren't everything, but this car just doesn't have any passion at all. Not that being disappointed in the Sentra is anything new to me -- as far as I'm concerned, the only Sentras that are worth owning are the ones that were built before the year 1994.

 

[JCE]

As usual the SE-R trim really makes the Sentra look better. It's not beautiful, but at least now its not ugly. The new normal Sentra looks like ass to me...

 

[YSSMAN]

...This is, and will always be THE Sentra SE-R that lived up to the origional:

I've always liked that car, no matter how "crude" it may have been. They were cheap, they certainly were fast, and by all means, they were good looking. Of course the Germans have ruined it for me (damn my love for VW!), otherwise there is a good chance I'd attempt to chase one down a year or so from now...

 

[harrytuttle]

This car does not have the looks to match the performance. I don't know how, but with the new Sentra, Nissan has managed to build a car that looks at least twice as boring as all of its rivals, from every angle. It's like the Nissan Corolla.

The Cobalt SS, GTI, MPS3, Civic Si, etc. can all pull off a "pocket rocket" image, without looking too out of place being driven to the grocery store by a middle-aged person.

I know looks aren't everything, but this car just doesn't have any passion at all.

Funny, "passion" is one of the things Ghosn said he was trying to infuse into Nissan. The attempt is clearly a failure here, though, since this car (as a non-SE-R) is clearly aimed at those wanting a cheap economy car. You can't expect to create anything visually "passionate" from an econobox, and you really have your work set out for you for it to perform as such.

It's the trunk that really kills it. The inclined, Beetle-esque trunk lid didn't work on the Maxima; why did they think it would work here? Oh, right: the target market doesn't know any better anyway.

 

[Azuremen]

First thing that i thought when I saw the front end.. Ford Fusion.

Its Bleh, and I like Corolla's... so thats saying something. Of course, it reminds me of the Maxima slug thing, and the minivan... Nissan's cars are looking blobish.

What YSSMAN posted there is a blast to drive. Nice cars for autocross too, though the early 90's Model SE-R, these ones..

are still my favorite though. And they are fun cars, plus the SR20DET drops into them. Which makes them scary fast.

 

[niky]

While the previous SE-R may have been a boisterous, macho, rough street-hooligan, it was still sort of a disappointment for us who loved its predecessor... too big, too heavy, too much engine, too little refinement, kinda opposite what the original SE-R was, before it got too big for the dear old SR20 to haul its fat ass around... grrrr... well... it was a fat-ass compared to the older car... c'mon, the SR20DE that made the "classic" SE-R such a joy was merely "adequate" in the previous generation SE.

I'm not the biggest fan of the new QR-series engine (are they using an upsized MR for this one? They ought to...), but 200 hp should hit the spot... as long as it doesn't mysteriously lose that power once in production trim... (the previous SE-R lost 10 hp from prototype to production).

As long as it doesn't get too heavy, and as long as the rear-end is better sorted than in the previous generation, then this should be a good car. I'm eagerly awaiting the first tests to come in.

I'll hold off on opinions as to the looks until they finalize it... I've found the new Sentra ugly ever since the first pictures turned up on FreshAlloy.com, but the body-kit isn't half bad... just needs a little more work.

 

[Omnis]

Boxxy Nissan designs with vertically-oriented lights are a huge no-no in my opinion. Those only work on round cars like the Z. This sentra looks like a really ugly small cadillac.

 

[Keef]

HOLY CRAP!!! I love the idea of a Sentra SE-R, but god damn that thing's ugly! And why are the side skirts lower than the front dam? My limited knowledge of aerodynamics says it looks terrible.[/sarcasm] Oh, it wouldn't work very well either. I'll have to see some numbers, but for now I hate this car. Pretty soon my buddy will be raping these with his stage 2 SS, so I don't even know why I care.

 

[L8 Apex]

This sentra looks like a really ugly small cadillac.

Yeah, slap a wreath-and-crest badge on the grille and 98% of the American public would never be the wiser...👎