The Japanese automaker Nissan has just released pricing information regarding their factory tuned, Nismo version of the latest interpretation of the Z car. With an MSRP of only $39,130 “The new NISMO Z is a tuner and Z enthusiast’s dream – straight from the factory,” said Pat Steiner, Director of Specialty Vehicles, at Nissan North America. “With its dramatic exterior, custom interior, sport-tuned performance and under $40,000 price, this new NISMO Z is possibly the best ‘bang-for-the-buck’ sports car available today.”
The Nismo treatment consists of more than just body mods. Thanks to a free flowing exhaust and reprogrammed ECU the Nismo 370Z makes 350 HP 276 lb-ft of torque, that is 18 HP more than the standard 370Z Coupe’s 332 HP and 270 lb-ft of torque. The Nismo Z will only be offered with the company’s close-ratio 6 speed manual transmission with the heel-toe replacing SynchroRev Match. The chassis receives some additional bracing thanks to a reinforced strut tower brace. The Nismo car rides on unique 5 spoke RAYS forged aluminum alloy wheels measuring 19 inches in diameter and wrapped with Yokohama ADVAN Sport high-performance rubber. Inside of the rims, Nissan engineers have utilized a set of the company’s sport brakes and there is a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential in between the rear ones.
The most striking aspect of the Nismo car is the functional and fully integrated aerodynamic enhancing body kit that is made up of an extended nose complete with canards at each corner for improved down force and a fully integrated chin spoiler to keep air from getting underneath the vehicle at speed. The modifications don’t stop at the vehicles exterior, inside you will find a pair of red and black racing buckets wearing the NISMO name across its back. There is also a special edition NISMO tachometer in the gauge cluster and a smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel complete with red stitching. The one item that will truly set the Nismo Z apart from all imitators is a small tag that identifies the car as a genuine product of Nissan Motorsports.
If you’re a true concept car aficionado, then you might have heard the name Lars Mårtensson pop up in a quite a number of conversations you’ve had with your peers. If you don’t know who he is, then allow us to give you a brief introduction. Mårtensson is a Swedish design professional who has made quite a name for himself for designing a number of different manufacturer’s concept cars into something straight out of his own creative imagination.
One of Mårtensson’s creations is the Datsun 240Z concept car, a car he rendered based on the original Datsun 240Z, one of the earliest and most successful Japanese cars to hit American shores back in the 70’s. Mårtensson’s decision to take a stab in creating a 240Z concept came as a response to reports that two Nissan cars, the 350Z and the 370Z, were created in the mold of the original 240Z.
The name Nissan is become synonymous with the word Nurburgring; the pair is popping up everywhere, most recently when the Japanese automaker’s first true super car, the GT-R, lapped the German racetrack in just 7 minutes and 26 seconds. Shifting gears over to Nissan’s newest Z car, while we here in the U.S. get the 370Z Nismo as a factory tuned option, Nissan owners in Europe get to drive a special Nurburgring Edition. This special edition 370Z will be limited to only 80 units and will be priced at €50,400.
The Nurburgring Edition is inspired by the Z cars that recently participated in the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race. The cars will be painted in Premium Ultimate Yellow and will feature special decals, the factory exhaust will be swapped out for a more sonorous Cobra system and there will be a numbered plaque to identify each model. However the nicest feature will be the 19 inch OZ alloy wheels. The modifications will only be superficial; the 3.7 Liter V6 goes untouched, still making 331 HP. A nice touch from Nissan is that with every Nurburgring Edition comes a €150 gift card, redeemable at the ‘Ring.
When I found out that Top Speed would be getting a 2010 Nissan 370Z in our test fleet I was excited to say the least. I have been a Nissan fan since I found out about drifting and an owner for the last five years. You could say that I love Nissans. So although I had dreams of clutch kicking the new 332 HP VQ in the Z car, and run up and down the 6 speed gearbox, taking full advantage of the new Syncro RevMatch transmission that is said to be able to replace the need for heal-toe while down shifting. I am proud to say that the updated Z car is the first car I’ve ever gotten to take on the Top Speed Test Track. Unfortunately, being a first timer I could only muster up the courage to stand on the throttle at corner exit. I can confirm that the Nissan 370Z has no problem stepping the back end out. > More
The Japanese tuning house Zele International has come up with a slew of upgrades for the Nissan 370Z. Upgrading the styling with a unique aero kit consisting of new bumpers, spoilers and side skirts. A Bembo big brake upgrade to slow down the Nissan built sports car and their FZ-Titan muffler to finish off the Z acoustically.
We here at Top Speed have some interesting news that could destroy every preconceived notion you’ve ever had about hybrids. Infiniti already announced that they would like to start introducing hybrid power trains into their larger models, as was demonstrated with the Infiniti Essence concept car. The first vehicle that could see the gas electric benefits could be the Nissan Fuga, or Infiniti M here in the U.S., as early as this year and sold as a 2010 model. The beauty of the trickledown effect is that the same technology could find its way into Nissan’s newest Z car, the 370Z. This would mark the first time that an automotive manufacturer will mass produce a high performance hybrid sports car.
A hybrid 370Z would be powered by a similar, if not the same, VQ37VHR 3.7 Liter V6 combined with a lithium ion battery pack produced by a Nissan-NEC partnership. This revolutionary hybrid battery will produce nearly twice the energy density of the battery packs used by current models, meaning a longer lasting much more powerful charge. The system would employ a double clutch setup with the first placed between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor with the other clutch connecting the electric motor with the drive wheels.
The hybrid 370Z is projected to get about 35 MPG in mixed driving as opposed to the gas burning 23 MPG, and would even feature an EV mode for around town cruising. Is it likely that Nissan will follow through to become the first makers of a high performance hybrid; we will have to wait and see in 2011?
5Zigen Japan, has the aftermarket exhaust market cornered for the new Nissan 370Z with their handcrafted ProRace SP hot pipes. The SP is a full cat-back dual exhaust made from durable stainless steel that can be yours for $1,900. If you want one, just ask for part number SP-1004.
Still not sure, check out the video after the jump to see and hear for yourself.
Japanese tuners Fujimura Auto have released a new aero kit for the Nissan 370Z to take Nissan’s latest Z car design and give it a bit more attitude. Included is a complete ground effect kit that is complimented by a set of carbon fiber mirrors.
The Nissan 370Z is a product of bad timing. No matter how cool Nissan makes the car (and Downshift Rev Matching is pretty damn cool), when the world’s cupboards are bare, sports car sale suffer. Nissan originally wanted to sell 30,000 units of the 370Z globally, but that now been reduced to 10,000 - the number Nissan originally hoped to sell in Europe alone.
NISMO is Nissan’s in house motor sport development program; their interpretation of the next generation Nissan Z car will debut in New York. Upgrades include a 350 HP version of the VQ37DE, an aerodynamically enhanced body and a set of lightweight 19 inch forged alloys.
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