Nissan 370Z NISMO
is a curious car - despite its drift scene looks, the chassis doesn't quite deliver the thrills or the ability of, say,
a Porsche Cayman
, while the naturally aspirated 3.7-litre V6 runs out of puff just as you want it to start breathing like Nissan brand ambassador Usain Bolt at full chat. It feels a bit strangled.
More ventilation, less of the tea-tray rear wing
Which is why when Nissan's press release detailing a package of updates for its MY15 370Z Nismo dropped into the PH inbox this morning, it piqued our interest.
Four major points to note: looks, interior, chassis and engine.
Those Fast & Furious visuals have been toned down a touch, with the bluff front end of the previous 370Z NISMO - complete with vast expanse of featureless white plastic - replaced by a finer-boned face. Some may say it's fussier, but the larger air intakes, extra slashes, black headlamps with new LED running lights and Nissan motorsport department's now signature red touches have wiped the gurn off the older 370Z NISMO's face.
At the back it's the same story. More slashes in a rear bumper that still frames two overly large and not all that noisy tailpipes, and the obligatory red touches. The tea tray rear wing is gone. Inside, the 370Z NISMO is treated to a new pair of 'Spinal' seats. Sounds painful, but they're designed to offer "improved support and rigidity using a shell that's lighter and stronger than the previous metal frames."
It means the awkward driving position should be improved - it's unknown if the wheel still doesn't adjust for reach.
Fangs for the memory, etc - Z's bumper now toothless
Chassis wise, the revisions to the fastest 370Z (a significant amount of) money can buy are limited to revised spring and damper rates at the rear, so don't expect it to suddenly go running rings around even a base-spec Cayman - especially at a rather porky 1,535kg.
Nissan does claim that along with wheel arch liners and new carpets, the tweaked rear suspension setup actually delivers more refinement. Which is just what we didn't want. With that muted exhaust system, the NISMO is a bit too quiet - it doesn't bark like its looks might suggest. The 3.7-litre V6's 344hp output remains, as does the meaty six-speed manual 'box and 5.2-second 0-62 time. There's no mention of money, but expect the £37,015 price tag to linger, too - £10K more than the entry-level 328hp 370Z.
A little after a year since it went on sale, the latest improvements are by and large welcome for the new looks and those seats, but we're hesitant to predict they'll noticeably change the Nissan's character or ability.
The 370Z NISMO is an old-school sports car in a world of modern machinery; a typewriter to a silicon chip. That doesn't mean we don't appreciate the raw and honest sensations the car delivers, but just that ultimately, the original 370Z NISMO was outclassed by much cheaper and much more able competition.
Well, you knew the BMW M135i/M235i comparison was coming at some point...