Thursday 9th February 2012

Nissan 370Z facelifted...

...but new nose is no news, because it's not for the UK

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The Nissan 370Z's gaping, fanged maw has been smoothed over in a refreshed version of the Japanese sports coupe that's been unveiled at the Chicago motor show - but the new look is a US-only modification.

There are other tweaks to the US 370Z, too, but the most significant of those are tweaks to the suspension on Sport Pack models that are actually the same as the standard UK tuning set-up. So unless you particularly dislike the European 370Z's nose, you needn't get too upset that we won't be receiving these latest updates - as we've already got 'em...

It is a shame we don't get the US's NISMO version, however - because that brings a full 350hp to the party, whereas we have to manage with 'just' 328hp.

As for why we're not getting the design tweaks, your guess is as good as ours. You might think that poor sales would be to blame, but that doesn't seems to be the case: Nissan only shifted around 2,500 Z cars in 2011, but that still makes it the fourth most popular 'sports' model in the UK according to the SMMT.

So why isn't Nissan bringing the refreshed design over here? It remains, for the moment, a mystery.

 

 

[scholesy]

Maybe Nissan don't fancy investing until they see how the sales of the Toybaru GT86 eat into sales of the 370z, there will be some sales stolen by the cheaper car, even though they are not directly competing, maybe Nissan will instead try to offer the 370z at a lower price point to steal some of the thunder of the (comparative) bargain that is the GT86? My two cents

[elementad]

Glad its only for the US because it looks too fussy now with those lights. And the wheels look too swirly.
Much prefer the euro version. This one actually LOOKS Americanised now

[TheOrangePeril]

Maybe they saw in the US that sales were (comparatively speaking) slower than the three-fiddy and wanted to hark back to that rudeboy to remind consumers of the current design's predecessor?

[New Scot]

Maybe they have unsold stock in field/s somewhere to clear first?

[fido]

The back end doesn't look quite right, as though it's been inflicted with the automobile equivalent of hemorrhoids. A bit more squared off like a CRX would look better IMO.

[davidcharles]

you know, i can't remember the last time i saw a 370z...used to see 350z's all the time....shame, nice car

[SmartVenom]

If this is the fourth best selling sports model then what comes above it? Am surprised as you don't see many 370zs.

[Ali_T]

It's different?!

As for what's selling more, I'd imagine Z4, SLK and MX5.

[jon-]

scholesy said:

Maybe Nissan don't fancy investing until they see how the sales of the Toybaru GT86 eat into sales of the 370z

for that to be a problem people would actually need to be buying the 370z first

[Parsnip]

The Euro spec one does look much better - the fangs add a bit of character to a car which (other than the rear lights) I am not a huge fan of.

[frosted]

jon- said:

for that to be a problem people would actually need to be buying the 370z first

I saw a purple one around Wimbledon today , come to think of it haven't seen my new z4s around

[Andrew[MG]]

They should have called it the Nissan 328

[russy01]

Andrew[MG] said:

They should have called it the Nissan 328

What and they should have called the 350z the 276, then the 300 then the 313????

[Midshipracer]

Andrew[MG] said:

They should have called it the Nissan 328

370 refers to the engine capacity not BHP -_- think this its true of all of them. Well at least z31 - to present.

[muppet42]

Still not a fan of the way the 370 looks, the 350 was a far neater design in my opinion. To me, its follow up just added lots of fussy little design features and awkward looking bulges - the loss of the fangs at the front's an improvement I reckon. Not the worst looking sports coupe in the world but certainly not a pretty sight.

Edited by muppet42 on Thursday 9th February 17:07

[Andrew[MG]]

russy01 said:

Andrew[MG] said:

They should have called it the Nissan 328

What and they should have called the 350z the 276, then the 300 then the 313????

I was meaning a play on the Ferrari 328 name

[Gixer_fan]

The report would be more complete with a vid of the car being subjected to some Harris sideways action........

[Polarbert]

I'd love one of those. Not too bothered on the face lift or not but I think they are cracking cars.

[gmh23]

Looks quite boring now, far less aggressive than before.

How come no-ones mentioned a used 911 yet?

[filski666]

they made it look like a GT86