Nissan's mighty 370Z sports car now has a soft-top sibling. The dramatic 370Z Roadster, designed from the outset as a convertible, is ready to join the awesome GT-R and thrilling 370Z Coupé to complete Nissan's sports car offering. Lower, leaner, lighter and faster than its predecessor, the new Roadster celebrates 40 years of the Z.
"When work started on the 370Z some four years ago we decided from the outset that there would be a drop-top version as well as the coupé, so both were designed and engineered side by side. As a result we have been able to ensure the Roadster is notably stiffer than its predecessor to guarantee there has been no compromise in the area that matters most in a sports car: dynamic performance." says Pierre Loing, Nissan's European Vice President for Product Planning.
At a glance
- Distinct design
- Shorter, lighter and faster than outgoing model
- All new infotainment system and latest technology SATNAV
- Structurally stiffer
- Available with automatic option for first time in South Africa
- Just 20 seconds from hood up to hood down
- Thrilling performance
- Wind deflector minimises turbulence
- 6 Airbag system, with innovative side curtain airbags
Overview
Sports car fans who have been waiting patiently for the new 370Z Roadster to arrive in South Africa will have to wait a little longer before they can enjoy the full wind-in-the-hair sensations... a further 20 seconds.
That's all it takes to transform the 370Z from snug roof up two-seater to a dynamic roadster. And lowering and raising the fully automatic soft-top can be completed with one push of a button with no fiddly latches to open or close.
The new 370Z Roadster has been designed from the ground up as a convertible, promising no dynamic compromises in its on road behaviour. As a result, it offers the same dramatic performance, road holding and rear-wheel drive handling as the highly acclaimed 370Z Coupé, but with the added bonus of fresh air fun.
Like the Coupé, it is powered by the latest version of Nissan's multi award-winning 3.7-litre V6 engine now developing 245kW. And also like the Coupé, it's available with two transmissions: a seven-speed automatic and the six-speed manual with Synchro Rev Control the only manual transmission in the world with automatic downshift rev matching for perfect racing gear changes. Every Roadster is comprehensively equipped as standard with the sporty 19-inch alloy wheel, engine stop/start button, electrically adjustable leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, remote phone and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, wind deflector and Bi-xenon lights.
The 370Z Roadster also comes standard with a premium digital 6 CD/MP3 audio system, with 8 Bose speakers, 2 sub woofers and IPOD compatibility
Also now available as an option on both the Coupé and Roadster is Nissan premium infotainment and advanced 40GB Satellite Navigation system with a user friendly interface and high quality WVGA touch screen. Features include DVD playback, USB and auxiliary inputs for audio and video, 9.3GB storage for music recorded from CD and Bluetooth® audio streaming.
Nissan 370Z in detail
Design
Some convertibles look better with the roof down and some with the top in place. The new 370Z looks at its best whether the hood is up or down. By starting design of the Roadster at the same time as work began on the Coupé, Nissan designers have been able to ensure the soft-top version has a sophisticated silhouette with better, more natural, integration of the hood into the overall design.
The distinctive result echoes the ‘Z character' with a blend of sweeping curves and aggressively short overhangs while the shape of the roof itself flows more naturally into the rear of the car when the roof is in place.
When lowered, it tucks away under a body-coloured hard tonneau cover which combines with the glass wind deflector mounted between the reinforced seat surrounds behind the occupants to reduce wind turbulence at speed, allowing occupants of the ‘double cockpit' to enjoy fully the sounds and sensations of open air performance motoring.
Other design cues already seen on the Coupé have transferred to the Roadster. They include the distinctive boomerang LED rear and arrowhead front lights, while familiar ‘Z' features such as the vertical door handles, twin tail pipes and ‘Z' badges in the side repeaters are also present.
Inside, the driver-focused cabin also boasts many features now synonymous with the Z, such as an engine stop/start button, floor hinged throttle pedal, wide and soft pads mounted on the central transmission tunnel to protect occupants' knees during enthusiastic driving, a centrally placed tachometer and three separate hooded dials - now including an oil temperature gauge - sitting centrally on the top of the dashboard and angled towards the driver.
Significant changes have been made to the design of the Roadster's roof. It is now fully automatic and there's no longer a need to latch it manually into place. The roof can be lowered at speeds up to 5 km/h.
Switchgear to open and close the roof has been logically placed on the centre console between switches for the heated seats, while the roof can also be lowered from outside the car by pressing and holding the door locking button for three seconds. It takes just 20 seconds for the roof to be raised and locked into place or lowered out of sight beneath its tonneau.
The fabric hood has been given a smooth inner lining partly to hide the hood frame and partly to reduce noise levels, while the system uses a new hydraulic pump that's silent in operation in place of the electric motor used previously
“A lot of time, effort and engineering expertise were invested in the development of the new roof for the 370Z Roadster. We wanted to make sure that the roof functioned as well as it looked. It is now completely integrated into the design of the vehicle and operates quickly and smoothly,” said Freddie Louw, Senior Manager Product Planning at Nissan South Africa.
Chassis
Like the 370Z Coupé, the new Roadster is a more focused sports car. It sits on a wheelbase shorter by exactly 100mm (2550mm vs. 2650mm) while the front and rear track widths have been increased by 15mm and 55mm respectively. At the same time, the car's centre of gravity has been lowered: the engine and transmission are 15mm lower than before, while the seating position has been reduced by 10mm. The result is a car that feels eager and more responsive... more ‘glued' to the road.
Overall, the 370Z Roadster is 4250mm long, 1845 wide and 1325 high.
The suspension layout follows a tried and tested formula with double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear end, but both have been extensively revised. They are lighter yet stronger than before but with greater lateral stiffness to minimise the effects of camber change.
Forged aluminium alloy links at the front are lighter than used previously, while the revised subframe - a high vacuum diecast alloy cradle - delivers a similar weight saving. Other changes at the front include reinforced steering arms and bigger front hub bearings while the hollow anti-roll bar is not only lighter but also significantly stiffer.
Weight savings at the rear come through lighter aluminium alloy castings, but the major changes are to the increased stiffness of links and the cradle itself. As at the front, larger hub bearings and a stiffer yet lighter anti-roll bar complete the picture. High response shock absorbers help provide a compliant ride.
Overall weight has been reduced by a substantial 62kg over the 350Z Roadster, despite the new car having greater standard equipment. The weight saving can be partly explained by the use of aluminium for the doors and bonnet, as well as the fact that the 370Z was conceived from day one to be a convertible, meaning the car's architecture needed less reinforcement.
High levels of handling and overall refinement are among the benefits of a more rigid body structure. Torsional stiffness at the front of the Roadster has increased by 40 percent and at the rear by 45 percent. Vertical bending stiffness at the rear has been improved by a massive 60 per cent - all helping to deliver an enhanced dynamic performance.
Hydraulic speed sensitive rack and pinion steering has also been revised to provide more communicative feedback and better response around the dead ahead position. The system delivers greater agility around town and enhanced stability at motorway speeds.
Braking performance, too, has been enhanced with larger diameter ventilated discs front and rear and the adoption of a variable ratio brake pedal which provides more movement for easier control at low speeds, but a firmer pedal at higher G. The new system has greater resistance to brake fade under sustained usage while new pad material helps reduce stopping distances at the same time as lowering brake dust and reducing brake squeal. The brake pad material has been upgraded allowing for an increased lifespan while accommodating the everyday driving impact of the South African roads.
A full complement of electronic safety aids includes the latest generation ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
Engine and drivetrain
At the heart of the Roadster is the latest version of Nissan's potent 3.7-litre 24 valve quad cam V6 VQ engine, with Variable Valve Event Lift (VVEL) technology.
By optimising valve timing the engine produces 245kW, an increase of five per cent, while torque rises to 363 Nm. With VVEL the engine is six per cent more fuel efficient and, by ensuring optimum air/fuel mixture at all times, it is more responsive, too.
VVEL is compact and mechanically comparative simple with just 13 moving parts, half that of some rival systems. As the valves themselves control the intake phase, response to throttle inputs is immediate. In tests, Nissan engineers have recorded response times up to 32 per cent quicker than rival variable valve systems that retain conventional valve springs.
There are two transmission options on the 370Z Roadster, a six-speed manual and a new seven-speed automatic. When equipped with a manual gearbox, the 370Z emits nine per cent less CO2 than its predecessor at 265g/km, a figure which rises to 12 per cent for the automatic at 257g/km. Fuel consumption is 11.2l/100km for the manual and 10.9l for the automatic.
Top speed for the Roadster equipped with either manual or automatic gearbox is 250km/h (governed), while acceleration to 100km/h is achieved in 5.5 seconds in the manual-equipped car and 5.8 in the automatic.
When the manual gearbox is used in S-Mode (standard on GT Pack), Nissan's new Synchro Rev Control (SRC) technology is automatically engaged. SRC ensures that engine revs are always at the optimum level when the driver is changing gear, delivering perfect ‘heel and toe' changes every time.
Sensors on the clutch and on the gear lever itself monitor driver actions to blip the throttle on down shifts and maintain constant engine revs when changing up. As the sensors detect clutch pedal movement, the SRC system is primed, coming into operation when the gear lever is moved. By matching this information to vehicle speed, SRC knows whether the driver is slowing for a corner or changing up through the 'box.
For the first time in South Africa the Z Roadster is available as an automatic and Nissan has developed a sporting transmission that perfectly matches the character of the car. While it can be driven as a conventional automatic, enthusiastic owners are more likely to regard it as a clutchless manual, using either the centre shift lever or steering wheel paddles to change gear.
A high level of lock up prevents automatic up shifts in manual mode at high revs at the same time as reducing high fuel wastage caused by torque converter slip. Its settings also allow strong engine braking and instant engine response under acceleration. The more traditional D-mode is suited to more relaxed driving, around town - with obvious benefits in terms of fuel consumption.
Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) automatically blips the throttle on down shifts in manual mode to smooth gear changes still further.
Equipment
Generous standard equipment levels are a feature of the standard 370Z Roadster and also includes climate control, auto-dimming rear view mirror, automatic interior temperature control with in-cabin micro-filler, power heated leather seats with slide resistant cloth inserts, a viscous limited slip differential and an energy absorbing steering column
“The 370Z Roadster brings all the fun and exhilaration of an open top without compromising the awesome dynamic performance of the 370Z Coupé. Offering plenty of standard features and state of the art equipment, the 370Z Roadster will be more desirable than ever,” said Johan Kleynhans, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Director at Nissan South Africa.
Recommended retail pricing:
Prices include a 3 year/90,000km Service Plan and 3 year/100,000km Warranty.
*Special order
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