Monday 11th February 2013

Nissan 370Z Nismo - it's official!

Nissan finally unwraps its super 370Z, confirming power and performance figures

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A couple of weeks ago, we brought you an early peek at Nissan’s new Nismo-tuned 370Z. Although the company hadn’t yet released details of the model, they gave us a sneak preview at the launch of the Juke Nismo, which revealed that the new model would be getting a 344hp version of the standard car’s 328hp 3.7-litre V6, as well as significant aerodynamic and suspension upgrades.

Nismo gets GT-R's brake hoses & fluid

Well, Nissan’s  now officially taken the wraps off the 370Z Nismo, and in doing so, it's given us more detail on the new model. That V6 gets a special Nismo dual exhaust system and ‘Nismo tuning’ (most likely a tweak to the ECU’s map) to achieve that 16hp power increase over the standard car, as well as a torque increase from 244 to 273lb ft. The result is a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds, and while that’s only a tenth of a second faster than the standard car’s, Nissan promises that the improved throttle response will make more of a difference than the on-paper figures would suggest.

As, indeed, should the Nismo’s race-inspired aerodynamics. The jutting front bumper is a love-hate thing (one PHer suggested it makes the Nismo look as though it's belming, and not without reason) but both it and the aggressive rear diffuser work together to help improve airflow under the car. Together with the chunky rear spoiler, Nissan says, the whole lot should give the Nismo levels of grip that approach those of the GT-R. What’s more, it’ll be allied to an ‘extensively re-engineered suspension and chassis setup’, which Nissan claims will enhance stability and handling. The Nismo’s brakes have been looked at, too, with  high-rigidity brake hoses and high-performance brake fluid, both coming from the GT-R.  

Nismo > TRD? Seems that way

It’s a pretty comprehensive upgrade package, then. And, it has to be said, one that’s somewhat more convincing than the TRD package announced last week for the GT86. Indeed, the 370Z Nismo rather shows what a car the GT86 TRD could have been; even though it’ll cost more, it sounds like it’ll offer far more too, making the £6,000 charged for the TRD feel rather hollow.

Which brings us neatly onto the thorny issue of price. There’s no official word yet, but in the same way as the standard 370Z undercuts Porsche’s Cayman – the car Nissan would like to consider as one of its main rivals – by about £10,000, so we can expect the Nismo to do the same to the Cayman S. In other words, expect it to cost around £40,000, if not a touch less.  

[MissChief]

Now I consider myself a man of the world, fairly well versed in the Queens English, but will admit to not knowing what belming is. And neither does my iPad.

[scrubchub]

MissChief said:

Now I consider myself a man of the world, fairly well versed in the Queens English, but will admit to not knowing what belming is. And neither does my iPad.

Just what I thought!

Like the car, mind...

[Skylinecrazy]

Impressed with Nissan at the moment.

[otolith]

MissChief said:

Now I consider myself a man of the world, fairly well versed in the Queens English, but will admit to not knowing what belming is. And neither does my iPad.

Google image search for belm.

[hyperblue]

MissChief said:

Now I consider myself a man of the world, fairly well versed in the Queens English, but will admit to not knowing what belming is. And neither does my iPad.

(Belm image removed)

Edited by hyperblue on Sunday 17th March 14:27

[405dogvan]

I'm liking it mostly but there's a few crap notes...

"It gets the GTR's hoses and fluid" - isn't that a bit like saying "my girlfriends ankles look like Beyonce's"?

They're hoses and fluid FFS, nice to have but not exactly a massive selling point surely!?

Bit like the eBay seller who reminds you his rusty Rover has the same engine as an Elise - it's true but is it a selling point?

[SAndals]

405dogvan said:

Bit like the eBay seller who reminds you his rusty Rover has the same engine as an Elise - it's true but is it a selling point?

Dammit - knew I was doing something wrong, trying to sell my Elise saying it has the same engine as a rusty old Rover.

[CypherP]

Yes please.

[Si_man306]

Very very nice. Never bought a new car but this is going to be hard to resist.

[MrGeoff]

Nice to have an official Nismo model in the UK but just buy a second hand older model, fettle with it and you will have more power. Still a cracking car, mine puts a smile on my face everytime I get in it and always a rare sight on the roads.

[vtecblack]

too little, too late.

[Captain Muppet]

This is the closest I've got to fame*

Captain Muppet from the other thread said:

The thing that stops me wanting a 370Z is the lights. Massively overstyled for my taste.
This particular one looks better to me, although I get the impression that the front bumper is belming at me.

* except that time I met Princess Diana

[ZesPak]

Around 40k you say? Hmm this or the Golf R Convertible

Loving it, nissan!

[JuniorJet]

Too slow for that sort of money...

[Skylinecrazy]

JuniorJet said:

Too slow for that sort of money...

What brand new car for the same money is faster?

Edited by Skylinecrazy on Monday 11th February 14:51

[ZesPak]

JuniorJet said:

Too slow for that sort of money...

Really? How many new RWD sports cars are there on the market today that can beat it at that price?

Elise? Almost as expensive yet a lot slower.
Cayman? Much more expensive.
BRZ/GT86? A lot slower.
SLK/Z4? More expensive OR a lot slower.

...

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 14:52

[SuperchargedVR6]

I can't keep up with this language any more. Clearly I'm not "down with the kids" enough. So pulling a stupid face that isn't quite full-on gurning, is called Belming?

I can't keep up with new model releases either. If it wasn't for PH, I'd be none the wiser if I saw this driving down the street.

Who knows, the next model might finally sport 100hp/litre and match the badging!

[Stu R]

I like it, even if it is reheated leftovers.

[otolith]

ZesPak said:

Elise? Almost as expensive yet a lot slower.

??

You'd get a current supercharged S for that money - Lotus claim 60 in 4.2 and 100 in 11.2 seconds.

Almost as expensive but a lot less luxurious and aimed at a completely different market, I could go for.

[ZesPak]

otolith said:

??

You'd get a current supercharged S for that money - Lotus claim 60 in 4.2 and 100 in 11.2 seconds.

Almost as expensive but a lot less luxurious and aimed at a completely different market, I could go for.

I stand corrected, couldn't find anything on UK pricing, here the price is a lot higher. But indeed, spec, comfort and practicality will no doubt suffer in favour of driving experience.