In one of the most anticipated launches of the SA motoring environment this year, Nissan is thrilled to introduce this latest generation of the iconic Z-car sports coupe, the all-new Nissan 370Z, to expectant motoring enthusiasts across the country. The new 370Z is set to continue the global success story of the Z car, a model which in its rich history has racked up sales of 1.7-million units to date, making it one of the highest-selling sports car of all time, with good reason.
A SHIFT_ in true sports car performance
With the task of upholding forty years of proud Z-car heritage as we move towards the close of the first decade of this new millennium, Nissan’s latest 370Z has been crafted using the same exceptional engineering standards and performance know-how which has catapulted the latest R35 GTR to the forefront of the hypercar pecking order. In fact the new model draws notable styling cues from this ultimate incarnation of a red-blooded world-beater, most instantly obvious is the front splitter and air intake which unequivocally links the 370Z and GTR to the same family, the new breed of Japanese sports car, while the powerful proportions flowing behind this dominant face perpetuate and indeed further enhance the legend of the Nissan Z.
Built by Nissan’s highly talented team of craftsmen and engineers, the new Nissan 370Z blends time-honoured recipes with high-tech manufacturing techniques and materials to create the epitome of the modern sports coupe. This vehicle’s overtly sporting nature is matched only by the meticulous attention to every performance-oriented engineering detail to deliver an overall package which is pure performance art.
“It has been forty years since the debut of the first-generation S30 in 1969. Six years since the launch of the 350Z. And now the Z has experienced a full model change that represents a quantum leap. Without doubt, the Z is the world’s best-selling sports car of all time. Z fans worldwide, an irreplaceable asset for Nissan, share the same passion and expectations. And we couldn’t let them down. We made sure to build “Z-ness” into the new 370Z, but also “newness” – a new design and new performance. We guarantee that it will offer ample thrills and surprises,” explains Shinjiro Yukawa, Chief Product Specialist.
Exciting new engine and choice of two sports-optimised transmissions
The new 3.7-litre V6 beneath the sculpted, flowing bonnet is a latest-generation petrol motor packed with potency and permeated throughout with sheer technological prowess. It provides a wholesome 245kW of power and the broadest possible spread of torque throughout its 7500 rpm operating rev range thanks to the application of even further advanced Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) technology, which despite the heavyweight dyno results make the new motor even more efficient than the previous-generation V6 which propelled the 350Z. This fourth-generation VQ motor delivers 6% more power while achieving a marked 11% reduction in fuel efficiency over previous high-performance petrol engines.
This impressive swell of power catapults the new Nissan 370Z from rest to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds for the manual variant, while the 7-speed automatic blitzes the benchmark sprint in 5.6 seconds. Both gearboxes will run the 370Z right up to it’s electronically-limited 250 km/h top speed with relative ease.
In addition to more power, Nissan engineers have examined the vehicle as a whole in minute detail to realise
the astonishing result that is the 370Z. Weight-saving initiatives include a carbon-fibre composite radiator mounting and prop shaft, improving the engine’s ability to rapidly achieve optimum revolutions while providing an even stronger, more rigid pathway for that substantial amount of twisting force being channelled to the driven rear wheels. The end result is that this, the most powerful Z-car ever comes in at a weight 80kg less than the car it replaces, despite Nissan adding significant new safety features and an even plusher, more luxurious driving experience.
Those successful, adrenaline-hungry and individual customers looking for genuine sports car credentials now also have a choice of transmissions to have fitted to their 370Z. An all-new sports-optimised 7-speed automatic combines the traffic-easing convenience of a self-shifting vehicle with the ultimate driver involvement of a paddle-shift semi-automatic. Perfectly complementing the everyday nature of this new breed of sports car, this transmission features automatic rev-matching on downshifts and a shift program specifically tailored to perfectly respond to the needs of the enthusiast driver once free of the traffic grind, it’s seven ratios and effortless operation in fact improving the fuel efficiency of the automatic 370Z marginally over the 6-speed manual without detracting from the purity of involvement.
Those who insist on the granular control of a clutch pedal and stick shift, Nissan has reinvented this traditional shift mechanism with the world’s first SynchroRev Matching 6-speed manual transmission fitted to the 370Z. The perfect downshift is one which stabilises the vehicle entering bends at full commitment by matching engine revs with road speed so that the reengagement of the clutch has no unsettling effect on the rear end, and was previously only achievable (and even then, sporadically on the road) by drivers with exceptional levels of hardcore experience. The manual transmission on the new 370Z delivers the same levels of peerless dynamic execution to a much broader driver base by providing this ideal downshift every time thanks to an electronic “blip” of the throttle administered at the perfect moment on both up- and down-shifts. This ingenious solution can be disabled at the touch of a button for the everyday commuting scenario.
Top drawer dynamics
That seductive new form clothes a chassis which has been honed with an unflinching focus on besting the best sports cars the globe has to offer, and the 370Z chassis is now shorter for even sharper agility, lower for improved body control in all situations, and wider for generating even more lateral grip than ever before.
What’s more, the 370Z features ideally-calculated weight distribution. Bucking the commonly-held belief that a 50/50 split front to rear is the optimal, this vehicle is built to a 53/47 weight distribution formula, which places more weight over the front wheels on turn-in to maximise grip and therefore helm response, which then shifts to a near-perfect 50/50 distribution as the driver unleashes the power on the exit of the corner, firing the vehicle onto the next straight with natural, controlled grace and precision.
On the limit control is further enhanced by reduced unsprung mass thanks to high-strength aluminium suspension components, while the use of the same material in the hatch and roof structures contribute to a further optimised centre of gravity. Electronic Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) systems ensure that even when pushing the limits of this vehicle the driver is kept as safe as possible thanks to sensors monitoring all four wheels, and a software program which will react instantly to quell potentially life-threatening slides.
A comforting cabin
Inside the new 370Z features a modern cabin architecture with strong ties back to its performance car roots. Cabin materials have been substantially improved and every surface the driver or passenger touches feels built and finished to the highest standards of quality. A premium entertainment system featuring eight Bose speakers and two subwoofers has been purpose-built for the 370Z, and blends seamlessly with the flow of the new cabin, while in its own small way contributing to the dynamic prowess of the vehicle by shaving a full 1.6kg of weight! This system also incorporates an iPod dock as well as full integration with the Bluetooth connectivity system for making and receiving mobile phone calls without ever touching your cell itself.
The comfortable but grippy sports seats feature leather upholstery with high-grip cloth inserts, all crafted to Nissan’s unimpeachable global quality standards, and both seats feature full electrical adjustment as well as built-in heating elements for those chillier early morning starts. A full complement of six airbags deploy in the event of a collision to protect the occupants as much as possible. All of this is accessed via a Nissan Intelligent Key for the first time, which makes opening and setting off in the new 370Z an entirely keyless pleasure every time.
Adds Associate Product Chief Designer George Yanaka; “In concluding, the “Z” experience is not simply about driving or riding in the car but also about truly enjoying all of its unique and beneficial features. I do not believe that a “Z” can be rightfully called a sports car if it does not provide people with an uplifting feeling, which is why I’m very pleased when people are able to spend an enjoyable time riding in the car, even if it is only for a short while.”
Unbridled passion, undeniable value
The meticulous attention to detail, high-tech components, quality materials and outright dynamic excellence packed into the striking form of the new 370Z cement it as a superb buy. The fully-laden latest generation sports car enters the SA market at a price point only marginally above that of the highly successful 350Z it replaces!
Considering the added safety features, enhanced quality all around, and precision-crafted performance package, the 370Z manual is practically peerless at R499 000, with the convenience of an automatic available at only R516 200. So not only can the successful, energetic, and thrill-seeking target customer enjoy one of the finest sports cars ever made in the 370Z, they can also revel in their own purchasing savvy at selecting the best car for the best price.
SHIFT_ into the new era
Nissan’s latest 370Z sports car is an exceptional statement of the SHIFT_ methodology embodied by Nissan as a global brand. Rather than competing with established benchmarks, its sets the new yardstick by which its competitors will be measured. It is, in every way, the physical realisation of a whole new breed of sports coupe.
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