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By Chris Chilton
01 December 2008 02:00
Nissan's Zed car is back and that new 370Z moniker indicates a bigger 3.7-litre V6 – up from the old car's 3.5 and lifted from the Infiniti G37. Yet thanks to the extensive use of aluminium throughout, the new 370Z weighs exactly the same as the current 350Z. Time to find out if this make the new Nissan 370Z as good as a Porsche Cayman. Read on for CAR's first drive.
Nice of you to notice. Check out those swollen rear arches and pinched waist. The current 350Z never looked quite right – the rear end was a mess and the flanks lacked definition – but the 370Z answers almost every aesthetic criticism while still retaining the distinctive look of the Zed we’ve loved since 2003.
It’s not just cosmetic stuff either. The wheelbase is 100mm shorter than before to improve agility and the doors, bootlid and bonnet are fashioned from aluminium to peg the kerbweight at 1480kg, exactly what the old car weighed. Nissan reckoned this was needed to offset a 100kg increase resulting from meeting more stringent crash standards.
It’s the same in spirit, but the components are different. The platform is new – albeit one adapted from the old car’s – and also underpins the latest Infiniti saloons, coupes and convertibles.
The Nissan and Infinitis share the V6 engine too, which displaces 3.7 litres, up from 3.5 litres, hence the extra 20 in the name. It kicks out 331bhp, up from 309bhp and 269lb ft of torque, delivering said steeds to the limited slip-equipped rear axle via a six-speed manual gearbox or new seven-speed automatic. Other markets have had auto versions before, but this is the first time Brits have been offered a two-pedal version.
>> Click 'Next' to read more of CAR's first drive of the new Nissan 370Z
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judah777 says
RE: Nissan 370Z (2009) CAR review
There is much talk about the new 370Z being heavier, lighter or actually weighing the same as the 350Z. Apparently, the “weight” issue has to do with Nissan having re-engineered the new model to meet the latest safety standards. This begs the obvious question; has anybody ever seen a Euro NCAP crash test video for a 350Z?……has the new 370Z been tested by any such safety regulatory body (anywhere in the world), and if so , then where is the video footage of the test results. Now I realize that most us do not really like to sit around thinking about how well a sports car will protect us in a crash, but it is something worth giving some thought to when we consider the speeds modern performance cars can easily achieve. I have searched EuroNCAP’s website and I cannot find a video crash test of any of the popular sports cars; not Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar...not even the latest Mazda MX-5 or RX-8….nor the 350Z/370Z. If anyone knows where I can find / view video footage of the crash tests of any of these cars please let me know.
02 February 2009 08:36
kkirkou says
Although I don't like the color, I think it looks fantastic and I declare myself a fan, which I never thought I would be for a Datsun. This car looks completely different from the previous 350Z and is very close to the current 911, only better!
05 December 2008 20:23
Robby1977 says
Whilst I still love it, it is a colour sensitive design. I hate the look of it in the 'felt tip pen' colours, blue, and this colour what ever it maybe (custard? teenage spot puss?) In the original first pics you posted (grey?) I thought it looked fantastic. Oh, and still think the door handles look rubbish, like something you'd see on an American fridge freezer! Maybe I'm being picky, still a lot of car, a lot of bang for the money, and still very glad they make it.
01 December 2008 21:21
morepowerigor says
cool, and it should be tons cheaper than the Porsche...Shame none of this chutzpah has rubbed off on Renault yet.. Good that they have kept the weight the same, but it makes me wonder how badly the old version crashed if they've added 100kg to comply with current crash regs?
01 December 2008 18:44
supercarrambler says
I rather like this, but then I remember the Mini Marcus (which this has a uncanny resembalance) and the original 240/260 Z cars with fondness. Maybe Nissan should take a leaf out of many a manufacture and change their name back, Datsun just has a better ring to it
01 December 2008 15:53
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