29.10.2008
Full details of the car will be released on 19th November, but the pictures suggest that it’s considerably more compact then the 350Z and it has a real aggression about it – although interestingly they’ve resisted the temptation to draw design details from the phenomenal GT-R.
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About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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18 Comments
Mark Williams
October 29, 2008Actually had a proper look at one of these a few years back. Quality of the interior was appalling and the single strut rather than a gas-brace for the bonnet smacked of cost saving too.
Then we fired it up and went for a 10 mins spin and I forgot all about the quality niggles. Just wasn’t practical enough in the end but for the money yes was very tempting.
Easy to see why they sold so many.
Mark Williams
October 29, 2008Actually had a proper look at one of these a few years back. Quality of the interior was appalling and the single strut rather than a gas-brace for the bonnet smacked of cost saving too.
Then we fired it up and went for a 10 mins spin and I forgot all about the quality niggles. Just wasn’t practical enough in the end but for the money yes was very tempting.
Easy to see why they sold so many.
Daytonafan
October 29, 2008First impressions like this more than the 350Z.
Daytonafan
October 29, 2008First impressions like this more than the 350Z.
Mark Williams
October 29, 2008Agreed.
Mark Williams
October 29, 2008Agreed.
Dave Knott
October 30, 2008I must say, I’m disappointed at the design. The 350Z design is much more cohesive as a whole. Admittedly, the 350 does have a bit of a lardy arse, but proportions on the 350Z are generally very good – especially in side profile.
This though, has weird “slashed” head and tail lights that look contrived, and the rear window line looks at odds with the bloated rear haunches.
The improved interior quality will be very welcome (and desperately needed), but unless they radically reduce the car’s weight, I fail to see how a shorter wheelbase is going to transform the car. The 350Z benefits from quite a long wheelbase – which helps controlability while sliding. Drifting has always been a 350Z forte – let’s hope this 370Z still slides as well as the 350…..
Dave Knott
October 30, 2008I must say, I’m disappointed at the design. The 350Z design is much more cohesive as a whole. Admittedly, the 350 does have a bit of a lardy arse, but proportions on the 350Z are generally very good – especially in side profile.
This though, has weird “slashed” head and tail lights that look contrived, and the rear window line looks at odds with the bloated rear haunches.
The improved interior quality will be very welcome (and desperately needed), but unless they radically reduce the car’s weight, I fail to see how a shorter wheelbase is going to transform the car. The 350Z benefits from quite a long wheelbase – which helps controlability while sliding. Drifting has always been a 350Z forte – let’s hope this 370Z still slides as well as the 350…..
Steve
October 30, 2008From what I hear Nissan have concentrated on making the 370Z lighter. It is slightly shorter, wider and more powerful than the 350Z and Nissan are gunning for Porsche’s Cayman (revised version to be launched next Feb).
So just like the GT-R being compared with Porsche’s 911 Turbo, it looks like Nissan have similarly high ambitions for their new Z.
I for one look forward to finding out how they’ve done, which I am sure will keep us debating the whole ‘upstart-Nissan taking on Porsche’ issue all through those quiet winter months.
Steve
October 30, 2008From what I hear Nissan have concentrated on making the 370Z lighter. It is slightly shorter, wider and more powerful than the 350Z and Nissan are gunning for Porsche’s Cayman (revised version to be launched next Feb).
So just like the GT-R being compared with Porsche’s 911 Turbo, it looks like Nissan have similarly high ambitions for their new Z.
I for one look forward to finding out how they’ve done, which I am sure will keep us debating the whole ‘upstart-Nissan taking on Porsche’ issue all through those quiet winter months.
Kermit79
October 30, 2008I will reserve judgement on the design until I see one in the metal. I think the most interesting thing on this will be if the price stays around the same mark, or whether Nissan decides that the Cayman challenger can move a little closer in price to the Porsche…which I think will be a mistake. Either way it is better looking than the Cayman, which I think looks like a frog perched on a lilypad from the arse-end.
Kermit79
October 30, 2008I will reserve judgement on the design until I see one in the metal. I think the most interesting thing on this will be if the price stays around the same mark, or whether Nissan decides that the Cayman challenger can move a little closer in price to the Porsche…which I think will be a mistake. Either way it is better looking than the Cayman, which I think looks like a frog perched on a lilypad from the arse-end.
codesurge
October 30, 2008While they haven’t drawn design cues from the R35 GT-R, what they have done is to incorporate elements from the Z-cars of the past. The shortened rump and side window profile seem to have been migrated over from the 240Z.
codesurge
October 30, 2008While they haven’t drawn design cues from the R35 GT-R, what they have done is to incorporate elements from the Z-cars of the past. The shortened rump and side window profile seem to have been migrated over from the 240Z.
Pedro Sousa
October 30, 2008I rekon it looks great! Much closer to the original 240z.
They should price it like GT-R vs 911 turbo: Half the price of a Cayman!!! That should do it
Pedro Sousa
October 30, 2008I rekon it looks great! Much closer to the original 240z.
They should price it like GT-R vs 911 turbo: Half the price of a Cayman!!! That should do it
Mark McTavish
November 2, 2008Smaller and lighter…both positives. I’m not sure I see the reason for increasing the engines displacement?
Surely staying with the same (or smaller) displacement and employing some new technology (direct injection?) would allow them to increase performance whilst also improving emissions/fuel consumption etc.
More performance doesn’t need increased displacement…
Looks quite nice, certainly growing on me since I first viewed it a couple of days ago. The rear arches make the body work appear as if it has been stretched over the drive train…which is always a good look on a car of this nature.
Mark McTavish
November 2, 2008Smaller and lighter…both positives. I’m not sure I see the reason for increasing the engines displacement?
Surely staying with the same (or smaller) displacement and employing some new technology (direct injection?) would allow them to increase performance whilst also improving emissions/fuel consumption etc.
More performance doesn’t need increased displacement…
Looks quite nice, certainly growing on me since I first viewed it a couple of days ago. The rear arches make the body work appear as if it has been stretched over the drive train…which is always a good look on a car of this nature.