A shorter wheelbase, wider track and more power spell out quicker handling and better acceleration – in fact, more fun. This is the Nissan 370Z, successor to Nissan's most successful sports car ever, the 350Z.
Shorter, wider body
Instantly recognisable as a Z coupe, the new 370Z gets Nissan's latest 3.7 liter engine in a more compact car with a shorter wheelbase – we did criticize the 350Z for its long wheelbase, which not only made the car look less than it might have. Also, the long wheelbase resulted in more weight on the front wheels, and a slightly slower turn-in. In fact, we said it would be better if 4 inches were cut out of the wheelbase, and this is what they have done with the 370Z.
Overall, though, the 350Z competed well with European sports cars, and the 370Z will do even better. At a glance, the 370Z looks shorter and tauter than the 350Z, but has the same hallmark styling. At the front is the wide, almost square grille, with no sign of a bumper, swept back headlamps and a fairly long hood.
Like the old 240Z, the 370Z has swept up side windows, but does not have swept up rear fenders. Instead, the sides are more or less flat, apart from the large front and rear wheel arch eyebrows that stick well out from the body. There is the usual fastback, but now the doors go right back almost to the wheelarches, and there is a neat little spoiler built in.
Twin exhausts and diffuser
Also up with the trend are the widely spaced twin exhausts, and the rear end shaped as a diffuser to get the air away quickly from beneath the car.
Overall, the 370Z looks the sports car it surely is, though some of the detailing is a bit fiddly. For example, the headlamps are rear lamps are both angled L-shape, this presumably being as near as they could get to a Z.
Also, the front grille has an extra strip across the top, and angled dividers to separate the air flow coming in between engine and brakes. Could be neater.
Good looking sports car
Even so, the 370Z is a good looking sports car, and thanks to the wheelbase being 4 inches (100mm) shorter at 100.4 inches (2,550 mm) than on the 350Z, the new car will respond more sharply through the bends.
To ensure that you get your fun on the straight bits as well, Nissan has adapted its latest 3.7 liter V-6 to a more sporty life, with a lot of new components including variable valve lift and timing to give good top end power with mid-range pulling power.
330 bhp and 270 lb ft of torque
Nissan quotes 331 bhp for the new engine, although the actual figure may be slightly different according to the test procedures in different markets. Peak power is developed at around 6,600 rpm, and the red line is at 7,000 rpm. Maximum torque of 270 lb ft (366 Nm) is developed at just below 5,000 rpm.
As standard, the engine is coupled to a six-speed manual box which has an innovation in the form of an electronic control that sets the engine speed at the correct level when you change gear.
Synchronised throttle control on gear shifts
No more fun heeling-and-toeing with this semi-automated box. Instead, you just shove the lever into the gear you want, and as you do so, the controller will blip the throttle to raise the engine speed to the exact speed needed for the the lower gear. When changing up, ithe Synchro Rev Control slows the engine speed down to the exact level as well.
The alternative is Nissan's new seven-speed automatic box controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The interior is similar to the 350Z, and includes that excellent instrument pod which moves up and down with steering wheel adjustment.
We'll find out more about the gearboxes, and add all the other details when they are released at the launch of the Nissan 370Z sports car.
