Nissan Reminds Us That the Sentra Has Still Got it with SEMA Concept

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is a magnet for the over-the-top one-offs and modified vehicles so, naturally, Nissan has shown up three high-performance concepts to show off exactly what people can do with its vehicles.

The first is catnip for every millennial with fond memories of the sport compact car scene. Nissan calls the Sentra Spec-V Concept a tribute to the 1991 Sentra SE-R and to the community of modders who made the car a classic — and would eventually inspire franchises like The Fast and the Furious.

The Spec-V Concept elicits those days, dressing the latets Sentra in an impressive body kit, complete with a racy front splitter, fender flares, and a spoiler borrowed from the GT-R NISMO. And that’s not the only element borrowed from Nissan’s most famous car. Inside, the Sentra Spec-V is equipped with Recaro front seats that were borrowed from the GT-R.

And the parts bin surprises don’t stop there. Under the hood, the car gets a 300-hp, 2.0L engine that’s paired to a six-speed manual that was borrowed from the Juke NISMO RS. The Brembo brakes, meanwhile, come from the GT-R, while NISMO coilovers help keeo the concept stable through corners.

Most importantly of all, though, it just looks cool, and that’s something that can equally be said of Nissan’s second SEMA concept, the Project NAT2 SCCA Touring 2. Of course, it’s not hard to make the Z look cool, but adding go-fast racing parts certainly helps.

Project NAT2 SCCA Touring 2 was developed by Nissan engineers who donated their time to create a race car that meets SCCA Touring 2 specifications thanks to some engine upgrades, suspension and braking system improvements, plus a roll cage and safety equipment suite that will make doubtless make it a fierce competitor on track. A historically-inspired livery will ensure it looks good doing it, too.

Finally, the Datsun S30 Concept looks at the history of the Z moniker. This one combines a vintage S30 body with the V6 engine from the current Z. Despite the old-timey look, the S30 Concept’s body panels are made of carbon fibre, and it gets a custom suspension to help it drift better. That’s important because the car was built by frequen Nissan collaborator and Formula Drift champion, Chris Forsberg.

These three concepts and more will be on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which runs from November 3-6.