9 February 2011
In 2009, there's something refreshing about a six cylinder normally aspirated rear wheel drive sports coupe.
Forty years after the original 240Z was unleashed on the world back in 1969, with its aggressive but attractive coupe styling, the latest incarnation of Nissan's Z car maintains the spirit of the original, with hints of the old 240Z cleverly woven into the DNA of the twenty first century 370Z.
Despite an unmistakable resemblance to the outgoing 350Z, the new 370Z is completely new. The new bodyshell is sharper looking with more muscular rear haunches, is wider, lower and shorter.
Initial visual impressions are of a well proportioned sports coupe, combining out and out muscular brute strength with the finesse of a well-honed thoroughbred, depending upon which angle it is viewed from.
Interior styling is up to date and hi-tech, but with subtle retro design cues.
Instrumentation is dominated by a huge tacho visible through the steering wheel, flanked by a smaller fuel/temperature gauge and info display to the left and speedo to the right.
Another three dials take centre stage above the centre console, much like those in the old '69 240Z, hinting that this is a sports car with heritage.
One small criticism here is the rectangular digital display panels housed in the the left hand instrument on both sets of dials.
These look out of place alongside a couple of old school analogue round dials. Sure, they're easy to read but this is one instance where we wouldn't mind seeing form taking precedence over function.
The two low slung double stitched leather seats are well contoured and supportive. The driver's seat has supportive thigh bolstering and is more body hugging than the wider passenger's seat. Mounted almost centrally in the car for optimum weight distribution, both seats are heated, with 8 way adjustment for the driver and 4 way for the passenger.
Weight is kept to a minimum with aluminium bonnet, doors and tailgate.
The 245kW all alloy 3696cc V6 engine, producing a nice fat 363Nm of torque is longitudinally mounted, driving the rear wheels through either a six speed manual or seven speed automatic transmission via a lightweight carbon fibre composite driveshaft.
With the adoption of VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology, improvements to power, efficiency, fuel consumption and emissions have been achieved.
Our test car was fitted with the newly designed seven speed automatic transmission which can be driven as a conventional automatic or as a clutchless manual, using either the centre mounted shift lever or magnesium paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
Unlike many other auto's fitted with a tiptronic feature, the manual mode in the 370Z feels very close in feel to a true manual 'box.
This is thanks to a high level of lockup, allowing for strong engine braking and instant response under acceleration. Apart from drivability and driver enjoyment advantages, fuel wastage normally associated with torque converter slip is minimised.
A feature of both the manual and auto transmissions is Nissan's innovative SynchroRev Mode, which ensures that engine revs are always at the optimum level when shifting either up or down.
When shifting down, SynchroRev Mode blips the throttle when in manual mode to smooth out gear changes, ensuring correct engine revs and maintaining vehicle control and stability.
An intelligent keyless entry and start system, Bluetooth phone connection, auxiliary jack input are standard fitment, along with a quality Bose 8 speaker sound system.
From the driver's seat, once the push button starter is engaged, the 3.7 litre V6 barks into life and the real sense of occasion begins. Performance is brisk, and handling from the rear wheel drive coupe is delightfully predictable, in an ear to ear grinningly manner.
The only real brick bat for an otherwise floral festival of bouquets is road noise from the rear of the cabin. Maybe it's because you sit almost directly over the road pounding 275/35R 19's, but a bit more insulation material would be more than welcome, despite the extra few kilo's it might add.
At $71,200 for the manual and $73,200 for the auto, the 370Z offers more power, more style, more agility, more rigidity and more safety than the 350Z it replaces, but has less wheelbase, less height, less weight, uses less fuel and costs $4,500 less dosh.
Is there another 2 door sports coupe that offers this level of bang for buck? We can't think of one.