Nissan releases the successor to the acclaimed 350Z coupe, a muscular two-door that has to live up to the high standards of performance and styling set by its chunky predecessor. Can the latest incarnation of the Z-car surpass the 350?
Zlatko Mulabegovic
 

The newly released (in our region) Nissan 370Z coupe marks no less than forty years of Nissan’s sporty Z-cars. Back in a distant 1969, the company released the Nissan Fairlady Z in Japan, a model that has also been exported around the globe and better known as the Datsun 240Z in overseas markets. Over four decades, the company built and sold close to 1.7 million units and five generations of their Z cars, which makes them the best selling sports car series in the world ever.

In August 2001, Nissan debuted the Z Concept car at the North American Motor Show in Detroit, painted bright orange and sporting a fresh new design presented by the California-based Nissan US design studio. When sales of the production version started in the summer of 2002, the 350Z was an instant success with the performance crowd due to an alluring combo of affordable price, great performance, stylish looks and traditional Nissan reliability. The new platform, being an aftermarket friendly platform, has also become the tuner’s darling, and has spurned out a number of successful street, race and show cars. The infatuation with the Z is still very strong and the latest member of the sport coupe family has a daunting task ahead of it to reach the levels of popularity achieved by the 350Z.

At first glance
My first encounter with the 370Z was back in January 2009 at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The new coupe immediately appealed to me thanks to its compact body, aggressive stance and a more accomplished design. The new shape is a genuine evolution of the original 350Z concept, taking the whole game to a higher level with exciting looking head and tail lamps, a deeper front bumper, and a more curvaceous bonnet and roof line, complemented by a super sporty rear end, twin tail pipes and a flat wing. The new forged 19” alloy wheels by RAYS are 20 percent lighter than the previous design and they look the part too, wrapped in meaty Bridgestone Potenzas, adding even more aggressiveness to the new 370Z.

Nissan claims a lower centre of gravity and shorter wheelbase, and that is exactly how the car feels at first glance – lower and more compact, much to the delight of true performance fans.

Under the hood
The new Nissan 370Z is the most powerful Z car to date, powered by the 4th generation VQ engine boasting 3.7 liters of displacement and 328 horsepower. The VVEL technology - in essence, another version of variable valvetrain timing - continuously adjusts the valve lift and timing for instant engine response and a broader torque curve, while optimizing fuel efficiency and complying with ever-tightening emission regulations.

The tested vehicle featured the 7-speed automatic transmission equipped with the downshift rev matching option for blisteringly quick downshifts and great power delivery. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual on-road response, literally at any speed and in any gear. With the engine meting out instant and hard acceleration, all you have to do is floor the throttle pedal to the carpet. In manual mode, the shifts are quick and precise while both of your hands can rest on the steering wheel throughout. It’s a shame we did not get to test the manual tranny though, with the Synchro Rev Match feature that is said to feel like an additional power boost.

Under the skin
A great chassis is one of the main prerequisites to building a capable sports car. The Nissan 350Z sported a stiff but heavy chassis with near-perfect weight distribution and inherently excellent handling. The all-new 370Z take the handling game further and moves the threshold farther by combining a stiffened body shell, reduced weight, a well-sorted sport suspension and the latest in stability control gizmos for greatly improved handling.

The first striking feature is the near-to-flat cornering, followed by massive levels of grip and great steering feel. This car is made for cornering and inspires great confidence, allowing you to slide the tail and throttle steer into the corner. Greatly reduced unsprung weight helps improve reaction time, both to driver input and road conditions, making it one hell of a sharp drive.

On the inside
The cabin of the Nissan 370Z is a step ahead over its predecessor, both in terms of quality and ergonomics. Genuine leather, chamois and techy materials set off a funky dashboard design that wouldn’t look out of place in the latest Play Station games. Enthusiasts will surely appreciate the aggressive seat bolstering, kneepad on the center console, floor-mounted pedals and the perfectly placed gearshift knob.
As with the old Z, adjust the great-to-grip steering wheel for tilt, and the entire instrument cluster moves along, giving you a good view of the gauges. And yes, the intrusive strut tower brace that ate into the cargo area in the 350Z has been - thankfully - replaced with an aluminum tube behind the seats.

At the wheel
Very few cars manage to generate the feel of ONENESS with the driver, that fine link between man and machine, stuff that really makes the driver feel utterly connected to the chassis and where all of the information from the road is transmitted through the steering or the seat of your pants. The New Nissan 370Z is on of those cars. While engaging and fun to drive in the city, the car truly comes alive on twisty roads, where its exciting blend of power, handling prowess and massive grip make for an exhilarating drive. The new brakes are commensurate with the power and provide strong, fade free action corner in, corner out. All of the above really calls for a proper track test, let’s see if the folks at Nissan are game!

The performance figures are mighty impressive, as the Z sprints from standstill to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds, and manages an EVO-like quarter mile time of 13.3 seconds. It also manages to out-brake some more serious machinery, making it a complete sports car for the true enthusiast.

Our verdict
Nissan has built yet another great sports coupe, following the tried and tested recipe and improving upon several key points of performance, handling and styling. Sportier looks, a stiffer chassis and more power surely make the new Z a better performing, better looking and more desirable car overall.

There is good news in the styling and interior of the car, once again resulting in a more grown up and accomplished sports coupe with a driver-oriented cabin. And, if all of the above ain’t gonna cut it for you, Nissan’s tuning and motorsport arm NISMO offers a range of styling and performance upgrades to create your ultimate ride.

The Z Dynasty lives on!