It’s officially official: the new 370Z is out. As expected, the new Z car is lighter, stronger, shorter and faster than its predecessor. Coupe sales will begin in North America by January 2009, followed by a new 370Z Roadster for the 2010 model year. Exact pricing has not been confirmed, but Nissan says it will remain around $30,000.
Compared to the 350Z’s four trim lineup (regular, Enthusiast, Touring and Grand Touring), the new generation Z will only be offered in two versions: 370Z and the 370Z Touring. For both models, Nissan offers two option packages: the Sport Package and the Navigation Package.
The 370Z is powered by a 3.7-liter VQ37VHR engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) rated at 332 hp at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed 7-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC). Estimated fuel economy from the six-cylinder is 18 mpg City/26mpg Highway for both the 7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions.
The exterior of the car has been sharpened with "boomerang" HID headlights and taillights, revised front-end, and wider wheel arches. The interior uses upgraded materials. It still keeps the retro look from the original Z-cars, including the tri-gauge dash.
We may not be the only ones excited about the new Nissan 370Z. This car was caught driving in the Los Angeles area possibly by some Nissan employees out for a joyride ahead of the car’s debut at the LA Show. Then again, these weren’t spy shots. It had to be pretty well staged if the GTR World got to pop the hood and the back hatch.
Looking at the completeness of the car and it’s Tennessee manufacture’s plate (Nissan North America’s headquartered out of there,) this is likely a car that will be used as a press demonstrator during the show. From these pics we can see other changes to the Z car besides the head and tail lamps. This shows there are a lot of little improvements on the 370Z like the upgraded interior and a crease in the roof that matches the one in the hood.
As a reminder: the 370Z will be powered by a 3.7-liter version of the Nissan VQ six-cylinder that is currently in use in the G37 coupe and sedan. As reported earlier in the week, the engine will deliver 332 hp.
It’s time for us to apologize. We sample factory material, expert analysis, manufacture’s websites, industry rumors and other blogs, but sometimes we still just can’t get it right. Our predictions had the Nissan 370Z rated at 330 hp, and today we got the news that the official rating is 332 hp — we understand if you never want to read this site again.
As part of the specifications for the LA Auto Show lineup, Nissan revealed official details about the car. The new 370Z features a shorter wheelbase, greater use of lightweight body materials, larger engine with 26 more horsepower, a new 7-speed automatic transmission and the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the 6-speed manual transmission.
The same release revealed the full list of manufacture’s debuts for the 2009 LA Show. The list includes: Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Ford Mustang, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid concept, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Kia Borrego FCEV concept, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda 3, Mercury Milan/Milan Hybrid, MINI E, Nissan 370 Z, Nissan Cube, Porsche Boxster and Cayman, Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid concept and Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI.
A couple weeks ago we got our hands on the pic of Nissan’s in-house tuner’s kit for the not-even-out-yet 370Z. We were surprised to the point of almost disbelief that NISMO would already have a design and/or engineering package for a car that had not yet hit the streets. But now we have more details that confirm NISMO’s handiwork.
There are two different packages: NISMO S-Tune Aero Package and NISMO S-Tune Performance Package. NISMO S-Tune Aero Package it is focused on improving the aerodynamics, which comes in the form of a new front spoiler, side skirts and rear spoiler. The Nismo S-Tune Performance Package is focusing on on better performance by adding a new exhaust system, Nismo wheels 19", S-Tune suspension and improved brakes.
We haven’t had exact word on how quickly this will be available, but from the amount of information available now, it seems owners will not have to settle for a stock 370Z for very long.
The 370Z will make its official debut later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the first official images have already hit the press. But those came from a studio, where Nissan got to put the car in whatever light it wanted. Now we’ve got pics from a European press event, so we can confirm the car is just as cool in real life.
As a reminder, one of the biggest differences between the 350Z and the 370Z is the engine. The 370Z get upgraded to a 3.7-liter version of the Nissan VQ six-cylinder that is currently in use in the G37 coupe and sedan. The engine delivers 330 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque.
It will likely take a year for Nissan to replace the full 350Z line with the 370Z, so it won’t be until the 2010 model year that the 370Z roadster will be at dealerships. There shouldn’t be too many surprises from the design of the ragtop version. Just like the current roadster, the lines will remain relatively the same as the coupe. The 370Z roadster will feature a fully automatic fabric roof and has been structurally reinforced to be much stiffer than the current car.
The basic technical parts will be shared with the coupe version: the 340 hp 3.7-liter V6, six-speed transmission, the rear-drive chassis, and a the two-seater cabin. The model changeover may also add a few thousand more to the current base of about $36,800.
Although we’ve only had our hands on the official pics of the new Nissan 370Z for a few days, Nissan may be trying to pull a double punch. We caught this picture going around the web of a NISMO (Nissan’s factory tuner) modified 370Z.
Unfortunately we don’t have any data regarding this vehicle but we can see that the picture features a new body kit consisting in new side wheels, rear wing spoiler, a redesigned rear bumper with integrated exhaust system and rear air diffuser as well as a new set of high performance alloy wheels.
We knew NISMO would have eventually worked its magic on the new 370Z, but are they already ready even before the 370Z debuts at the LA Auto Show? Or is this an amazing photoshop job?
Yesterday we reported that the 2009 370Z is being launched as part of the new Need for Speed: Undercover. And here’s the proof.
If you can’t wait for next year to take the 370Z for a test drive at the dealership, the game will be out in North America on November 18 and in Europe on November 21.
The 2009 Nissan 370Z hasn’t had its official debut, so how can we be looking at pics of the convertible? Simple, Inside Line was able to get some information on the new droptop Z and have assemble a pretty convincing picture.
Unlike the G37 Convertible that features a retractable hardtop, the future 370Z Roadster will come with a power-operated soft top. Nissan wants to keep the 370Z as reasonable as possible, and a lower cost, lighter weight fabric roof makes the most sense. Like the coupe version, the future 370Z Roadster will come with a 3.7-liter Nissan VQ engine currently used in the G37 Coupe. The engine will be offered with a choice of seven-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission.
Expect to see the the real convertible in April at the New York Auto Show.
For the last several years, most of the news out of Nissan revolved around the GT-R. In the meantime, development of the 2010 Nissan 370Z went on largely unnoticed. Now the final prototypes are out and our spy shooters caught this exclusive footage.
Unlike the cobbled-together prototypes that appeared years ago, this 370Z wore production bodywork. The boomerang-shaped headlights are the most obvious change up front, although the grille appears to have some small changes as well. The unique headlights first appeared on the 2009 Nissan Maxima, so expect to see them on additional Nissan models in the future.
From the side, the 370Z has a much flatter roof line that mimics the design of the GT-R, while a reshaped rear-quarter window adds to the effect. Then there are the bulging wheelwells that give this Z an even more aggressive stance than the current models. The rear end gets only minor changes that include a new set of taillights and a mildly revised fascia.
As the name implies, the 370Z will get a 3.7-liter V6 good for around 330 horsepower. A six-speed manual will continue as the standard transmission, but a new seven-speed automatic will be optional as well. Interior shots reveal a new set of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, so the automatic could become an even more popular option.
Set for an official world debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2010 Nissan 370Z looks like it will continue to deliver serious sports car performance in an even smaller and more unique-looking package.
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