Legit at last -- the Nissan 370Z

After mock-ups in Japanese car mags, spy shots taken at test facilities and speculation over the car’s name, the successor to the Nissan 350Z is finally here in all its official glory. This is the 2009 Nissan 370Z coupe, so called because it has a 3.7-liter V6 engine nestling between those distinctive headlights.

That same engine, which is in the Infiniti G37 (Nissan’s luxury coupe), has 330 horsepower. Although there’s some tuning leeway, the 370Z should have a similar rating. The G37 also has the option of a seven-speed automatic transmission, so expect that to be a choice alongside a six-speed manual.

This is the first full redesign of the Z line since the fifth generation came out in 2003. The generation-six 370Z is said to be slightly wider and shorter than its predecessor, which is good for two reasons. First, because it will enhance the car’s stance, making it even more fun to drive. And second, because the trend is usually for successive generations of cars to get bigger, put on more weight and lose the original spirit. By bucking this trend, it shows that Nissan still cares about the driving enthusiast.

Which is no doubt why the company has been working with the makers of the next big video driving game, “Need for Speed: Undercover,” in which players can drive a virtual version before the real model hits the showrooms in the early part of 2009 (the convertible version is due later as a 2010 model). Apparently, Nissan has been making sure that the digital car has the same characteristics (as near as possible, without real physics getting involved) as the road-going machine.

The Los Angeles Auto Show, taking place in November, will be the first place to see the 370Z in three dimensions.

-- Colin Ryan

Photo credit: Nissan

Comments

[anonymous]

The game is actually Need For Speed Undercover

[Greg S. Wiley, Jr.]

I'm just disgusted by the final design. Ive been keeping to date with the new 370z, and who ever made the final design is hideous. I only like the interior... the new design reminds me of a Crossfire.... enough said...

[ease]

Ugly! I know that technology has allowed designers to be able to design those complex shaped tail lights but just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD! It still doesn't stand up to the original design even though it was itself derivative but at least it's distinctly a 240Z. This one could be a cross between a Miata, Porsche, Crossfire, Maxima...take your pick. Come on guys, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just take a page from the new Mini Cooper or the Ford GT.

[Noway]

I would date my ex girlfreind if she bought me a car like this!

[356man]

Barf! 911's rule.

[Travis Y]

Just go and buy a G coupe. In about 3 more changes that is what this car will look like. Boomerang lights for all Nissans I guess. I will have to see it in a few weeks at the L.A. Convention Center. Mazda6 looks good on the TV but I will see for myself. I am still getting used to the Suburu WRX makeover. Altima is still the best looking Nissan, not to mention the one most people should be driving anyway. 25 mpg or leave it at the dealerships folks. Can't wait to see the Nissan Hybrid System. Hybrid and small motors with turbo are the future.

[Gern Blanston]

Perhaps THE worst design element of the outgoing car is the hideous vertical door handles.. for some unfathomable reason, they're keeping this abomination? The interior looks like a nice upgrade, the exterior is still offensive. I really wanted to like this car, owning 3 Z's back to the mid-70s.. but I won't be buying one of these.

[Chris Le]

Being a owner of a 350Z and a big nissan fan, I gotta say the 370Z is the most dissappointing design by Nissan.

* The front bumper looks like my gold fish mouth (not cool).
* As some people already suggest, the back end does looks like the ugly Crossfire, and incomplete.
* The new rims, looks small and doesn't have the present as the old rim.
* Overall, the new Z has lost it muscles and s-e-x appeal. It seems like it was designed by Hyundai, with the attempt to be European.

The only good thing about this 370Z is that it will ensure that my 350Z will retain it value.

[tomterrific]

I've been upset with the Nissan since the 300zx twin turbo which I had. The 350z doesn't hold a candle to the previous car. I wanted to like it but I rented one for a week and it was loud, rough, cheap and disappointing. I bought a new '08 Audi TT which is a great sports coupe. I can't imagine the 370 would get my attention.

[Pasadena'd]

This is the Z car I was hoping for when they announced the 350 way back when. It harkens back to its lineage, the 70s variety, of which I'm forever a fan of. It's all about that up-sweep in the B column. Lovely. And the skirt spoiler in the front is as sexy as the one on my dad's 280Z way back in '78.

The 350 was confused, bloated looking and boring. It's sterile compared to this one. The 370 plays off of the iconic Z from the seventies, so my sympathies to those younglings who think hot looking cars didn't exist before the 1990s. Do yourself a favor and Google "DATSUN".

I thought I had weaned myself off of cars when I started riding motorcycles (if you really want "fast", get a motorcycle), but this the 'Z' that could bring me back into the 4-wheeled fold. My last car was a 2000 BMW M3 coupe.

[TOny]

I think its a better looking car and has moved from an elongated vw bettle to a semi porsche look

[Ernie]

I think the new 370 looks great inside and out, much better than the previous 350. Especially like the very 1970s up-swept B-pillar and the fender flares are much more harmonious now

[Osborne]

Was that SupermotoXL headlight design or they rip his design off? I saw it few years back. His design is awesome! But on 370z? yuck. oopss unless that was him behind that car.

[SoGlad]

Thanks Nissan! I was so worried that the 370 was going to make me want one and no longer love my '04 350z Track Model . . NOT!
My brother's 240z was cool (yes, a DATSUN), and sorta-fast for back then, with the mod's it had. The '84 300 Turbo I had was nice and almost "awesome" (for back then) until I kicked the boost up from 6 lbs. to 16 . . then it TRULY was awesome!

The twin-turbo 300 was "powerful" per-se with it's 300 or so hp (only 13 more than the 350), but MAN did it gain weight! (HP and weight are directly interchangeable for those that don't know . .) Sure, you could up the boost on those and get a wild ride, but the interior was so cramped, especially if you're 6'2" like I am.

I was reluctant to buy the 350z because it had no turbo option, but when I saw the weight reduction, and the beautiful styling, I went for it. Sure, the Track Model cost about 15 grand more, but worth it with all the goodies. A few dollars and a few mod's later with just bolt-on's, I'm having SO much fun and still all-motor and eating M3's, Hemi's, 'stangs, and all but the wildest turbo-cars for lunch . . . buuuurrrrp. ..

Thanks again Nissan, for upping my resale value! (NOT that I want to sell or anything . .) The GT-R doesn't even LOOk as good as the Z, but if you've got 70k or more to blow and want a factory "race car," go for it . . I probably would, for the performance (but not the looks).

[Rodneywiseguy]

This Z is a gorgeous classic...now slap a Twin Turbo in it, and have a v8 version too...:)

[Tama]

Don't you guys think that that headlights design looks like NEMIXIS supercar? it is copycat?

[PaulRT]

I agree with the postiive comments. It's much more conventional, which is a good thing. It's not the most original design, nor is it the most beautiful, but at least it's not bizarre. The original Z was made at a time when anything with a pointy front looked like a Ferrari, so it really stood out. I had one and there were lots of problems with the design. What helped it was, virtually all the other cars were so bad then, except the more expensive Euro makes. The Z since the late 70's have been bizarre. The version after the early 70's models were bloated - an old man's GM-style car. Then it morphed into some bizarro pod with wheels in recent form. Word like "weird and heavy" and "chunky and unusual" came to mind rather than "sexy". It's frankly hard to understand the aesthetic mindset of people who think the new one is "hideous" and the recent older versions are much better. This pretty much follows the conventions of what a front-engined sports car generally should look like, similar to many classics and it also uses a lot of the current conventional (not flamboyant), styling cues.

[THOMAS46]

Sorry to say... ick. I wanted to love the 350z roadster and was one car deal gone wrong from owning one. After a BAD dealer experience I ended up spending 10K more on a BMW. I was hoping the redesigned Nissian would be my next car but, as seen here... NO.

[Johnsy]

While I agree with Gern Blanston that those hideous vertical door handles are the car's most grotesque feature (they put me entirely off the 350Z) and surely don't enhance this design, on first glance I think this car looks great! Will have to see it at The Show to be sure, tho, because when I first saw a photo of the old AMC Pacer it looked cool, too, and certainly was not when seen in three dimensions. Fix those door handles Nissan, you've got a bunch of perfect replacements in the parts bin for the old Pathfinder rear doors, flush-fitting and nearly invisible. Who in your design studio keeps insisting on these ugly accessories?

[Anthony]

Coolest thing about great (peculiar) designs is that half the world love it to the core and the other half utterly hates it.

[deforge]

i'm a fan of 350z, but oh god, this is just terrible.

[ZCarFan]

Nissan has overdone it this time. The sleek, sporty, personal fit of the driver seat in the 370Z will never compensate for the ugly backside on this model. Nissan should have just cut the car off at the rear of the back fender wells and attached a 5th wheel for pulling a trailer, because this thing reminds me of a tractor trailer cab without the box trailer attached.

I've owned a number of Datsun "Z" cars in the past, and always loved the long, lean, streamlined machine that they were. Like an arrow piercing the wind, the "Z" cars were fun to drive, and fun to look at. Taking the wax off the curves was almost as much fun as driving the car, which btw could maneuver better than the same year corvette.

The rear of the "Z" cars have always been short, and somewhat boxy looking, but the rear of this Nissan 350Z is ridiculous and ugly! This car looks like half the car is missing. Fat and sassy is definitely not a seller for me.

Bring back the lean, mean, streamlined "Z" machine, and forget this remake of the Volkswagen.

[Steven Weinstein]

I have no idea where Nissan thinks there going.. I have owned most of the original 240Z models.. (I almost purchased a 1969 Fairlady Z in Japan but thought it might be tuff to drive a right hand drive car in the US)They were a blast to drive. I waited 9 months for my pre-order 350Z and kept it for 48k miles going thru 5 sets of front tires along the way.. This car just dosn't cut it.. The G37 appears to be a much better car.. WHY?? I've finally given up on Nissan and now own a Porsche 997 Targa 4 Should have made the move years ago..

[John]

If Nissan wanted to sell a million cars ,all they'd have to do is make 240z's.

[H. Lang]

The best looking sports car bar none was created by Porsche in 1973. With its clean exterior lines and uncluttered interior, the car was beautifull. Too bad Porsche couldn't retain more of a purist format. Too much clutter in the new ones. I really loved owning and driving that car.