To Build a Spec V

The Nissan Sentra has come a long, long way since it's 1981 introduction, from errand-eating grocery getter to Nissan's compact hot ticket favored at tracks and street fights across the country. The SE-R Spec V is the latest iteration of a factory hot rod, featuring a racier front end treatment, interior detailing, wheel and tire combo, and the hot 175 horsepower 2.5-Liter four linked to a 6-speed manual. Needless to say, the little car has come a long, long way.

STILLEN, long in the business of making hot Nissans tire-melting, corner-taming, white-knuckle inspiring razor sharp road boilers released their version of the 2003 Spec V at the SEMA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

STILLEN took their time with their Spec V interpretation, making certain that everything from the overall aesthetics to the absolute best in performance-building equipment was created. This entailed the development of an all-new urethane body kit featuring an aggressive front touring spoiler, height-dropping side rocker mouldings, and rear valance. A Street Scene Equipment Speed Grille was added for extra flair and a slightly one-off European look.

To make the car move as quickly as it looked, STILLEN tested the stock Spec V on the dyno, and found 143.8 horses at the wheels; not too bad, but they knew it could be better. A true Cold Air Intake and a Hi-Flow Intake were designed to let the 2.5-Liter inhale with ease, while a STILLEN Header and Down Pipe, and rear section exhaust helped it exhale more efficiently. These units also helped the car create excellent racy sounds, while not being terribly intrusive. For the finishing touch under the hood, STILLEN added a billet aluminum battery holder to replace the cheap-looking factory pot metal one. The end result proved 161.5 horsepower at the wheels on the dyno. Very respectable for a car weighing in at just 2,708 pounds.

To make certain the little car could handle the extra power, STILLEN installed a Strut Tower Brace to eliminate chassis flex, Eibach Pro-Series Lowering Springs, and STILLEN Big Brakes. Featuring 13-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors with lightweight rigid 2-piston calipers in the front, and STILLEN Sport Rotors and Metal-Matrix Pads at the rear, the kit is as impressive to look at as it is to drive. Low-pro Yokohama Parada Spec 2 Tires wrapped up silver finish 18" x 7.5" Konig Traffic wheels, furthering the image and handling prowess of the car.

Inside, Classic Soft Trim was commissioned to apply their leather magic, covering the front and rear seats, and door panels with STILLEN embroidered, two-tone red and black leather. The interior was further enhanced with red paint applied to the shift boot and instrument cluster housings. The final touch was a black sport stripe placed along the side of the car, advertising the Spec V's competitive nature, and super bright driving lights by PIAA were installed in the Touring Spoiler, adding to the look, and functionality of the Spec V.

The result was popular, SEMA goers were impressed by what they saw, as were members of the media. The STILLEN Spec V is proof-positive that the good can be made better, and the better can become the best.

After SEMA:

STILLEN - The 2002 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada was incredible. STILLEN enjoyed every minute of it, and their 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V proved to be one of the most popular entries. Sporting a host of new products from urethane to performance developments from STILLEN, it's no wonder why. The front Touring Spoiler, height-dropping side skirts, and rear valance were only the tip of the iceberg looking closer at the package. Under the hood the hot 2.5-Liter was equipped with a STILLEN Header and Down Pipe, Cold Air Intake System, and Rear Section Exhaust System, boosting the front-wheel dyno-tested horsepower by 18 ponies. Eibach Pro-Lowering Springs were used to bring the car closer to the ground by about an inch and a half, while a STILLEN Strut Tower Brace helped stiffen and eliminate chassis flex.

STILLEN's new 2-Piston Brake Calipers were poised on a 12-inch Cross-Drilled and Slotted Rotor in the front, while the rear system was comprised of STILLEN Sport Rotors and Metal Matrix Pads. While the new brakes did wonders for the stopping and handling abilities of the car, they also looked great behind the 18" x 7.5" Konig Traffic rims wrapped with Yokohama Parada Spec 2 tires. Inside the two-tone red and black leather by Classic Soft Trim adorned the seats and door panels, while red paint set off the shift boot and gauge housings. To further endorse the racy nature of the STILLEN Spec V, a bold silver sport stripe was designed along the side of the car. All told, the STILLEN Spec V lent many ideas to many people about what can be done to these great sport compacts.