370Z: Can drive on water...?
The first official images of Nissan’s glamorous new Z car have been revealed ahead of its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
The 370Z, named after its 3.7 litre V6 engine, is Nissan’s first ground-up redesign of the 350Z introduced here in 2003.
The company says its new model will be available at dealers from early next year, and full specifications will be revealed on November 19th. Expect pricing to start close to the current model’s £27k in spite of a distinct improvement to the 370Z’s perceived ‘quality feel’.
The pictures reveal a swoopy new style that evokes the classic Zs even more strongly than the outgoing coupe, with an aggressively kicked up window line, powerfully flared wheelarches and striking new light clusters. Other changes include the loss of the current model’s ‘power bulge’ and its side indicators, while the wheels have been upgraded to 19ins alloys – and as the pics show there’s an all new interior.
The car’s overall dimensions appear to have changed too, with a shorter, squatter and wider stance indicating there maybe worthwhile upgrade in dynamic ability. As well as shorter overhangs there has been a reduction in wheelbase and a broadening of the 370Zs track, but we’ll have to wait for factory specs to confirm the details.
The changes have been made possible by the use of a new platform for the latest Z – shared with Nissan’s Infiniti G37 from which the 370Z also gets its V6 powerplant. This engine makes 316bhp in the Infiniti coupe, but previous media speculation has indicated the Z-car might do a little better – perhaps with up to 330bhp.