Friday 24th June 2005

Nissan to update 350Z

Coupé replacement due in 2009, tweaked Roadster in 06

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Replacement on way for 350Z

Nissan is to update the 350Z.

Barely has the chunky coupé established itself as a must-drive car for petrolheads, than news emerges that Nissan is working on its replacement. There will also be a face-lifted 350Z Roadster launched early in 2006, according to Auto Express.

The new car, due in 2009, uses the current 350Z as its base and adds a more driver-focused chassis and greater grunt. The mag reports that Nissan's Olivier Paturet said he wanted the next Z to be more hardcore and aimed squarely at Porsche buyers.

Meanwhile, the tweaked roadster gets new headlamps, LED tail-lights, a revised front bumper and more toys all at no extra cost.

[MarkoTVR]

[quote=PistonHeads]....and greater grunt[/quote]

Now that's more like it, always should have had more. 350bhp would have been nice, would also match the name.

[Fire99]

Yep i agree..
Will save us folk having to buy supercharger or turbocharger conversions for them..

Ive seen a couple at Santapod with 19 inch split-rims and with standard bodywork they look very tasty..

More power would be great!

[the pits]

bollox

what we need is the new skyline! Come on Nissan pull your finger out! Don't do a 'Ford' and create a legend only to forget about it.

[tuttle]

Also feel it would be a shame to lose the Skyline name. In recent years it has added more (well deserved,imo) power to the Japanese auto manufacturers arm.A solid reputation,well performing all rounder GT with a large & loyal 'fanbase'.It's the sort of car many would like to see continue & develop.I think Nissan tried to do the cross-over with the final G35 skyline,which the Z250 took many visual cues from.Surely theres room in the market to develop both the Z & Skyline range.

[klassiekerrally]

Seems like they've learnt from the past, don't go the way they did with the 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, making the cars fatter and uglier...
Great!

[blackangel]

Bring back the Skyline. I can't understand why they stopped, it had such kudos from press and punters. I thought they were selling well too.

Blackangel

[bad_roo]

Saw the new GTR at a filling station a few miles from the Nurburging last month. Should have taken a photo.

It wasn't disappointing.

[cb1118]

yeah...I think they should make the 350Z more powerful..(or at least equal power to the Skyline GTR)

I always like the style of the Z-car (fairlady), but the power and the weight of the car really let me down
(I love the convertible one)

I mean, come on, for such power & weight, I would buy the bigger 3000GT. It is more comfortable in long road trip than the Z-cars.


**but everyone must remember the history in Japan automotive

the first 300HP sportscar from Japan is the 300Z
and the first year of introduction, there were many fatal accident in the highway, obviously causing by street racers.

so Japan government passes the law with a regulation that all Japan manufacturers only can make car up to 280HP.

This is the same law that causes the trouble in the oversea market of Japan sportscar.

Supra, 3000GT, RX-7, 300ZX, and even the Japan's Godness NSX all come and gone and lost market to rivals with higher power output figure (but carry similar price tags)

recently the Japan regulation has changed the law to allow more powers for oversea models

for example,
we can't buy 320HP version EVO in Japan, HK, South East Asia, & Australia (all are 280HP)
but in North America, there is a tuned version with 320HP package.
....sigh....


addition information
HONDA is holding back the new design NSX because they know they must make something like 400HP to compete in the Supercars market.

and also the newest GTR35 from NISSAN is holding back, too
(they also want to make a 400HP)
**if they can't deliver a 400HP car to the world market, it may become a joke......since Skyline has been called "GOD of WAR" in Japan.
I don't think a 280HP is capable of holding that name anymore.