The Nissan 350Z, or ‘Fairlady’ as it’s known in Japan, is set to be replaced next year by an all-new model sporting a larger displacement engine and a dramatic new take on the car's look. The current car’s combination of a front-engine RWD layout and a torquey V6 has won it numerous accolades across the globe, and it’s a formula engineers won’t be mucking around with for next-gen model. Our new spy photos and video show the car at its clearest yet.
The new Z looks to be somewhat shorter and trimmer than the current car, accentuating the flared wheel-arches. Also new is the rear quarter panel area around the hatch, where the window line sweeps upward, giving the car a bit of a familial resemblance to the sword-like design of the GT-R. A rear diffuser that surrounds the exhaust tips gives the car a more finished look from behind, while up front the more aggressive air-intake area and downward-sloping nose bring to mind the current Nismo car.
New interior shows a marked improvement in quality over current 350Z
A pre-production coupe was previously spotted with the new badge, shark fin-style headlamps similar to those on the 2009 Maxima and LED daytime running lights. The tail lights of the prototype spotted here also reflect the new styling ethos. The power-bulge in the hood of the current 350Z, necessitated by the slightly taller deck height of the VQ35HR engine is gone, and the twin character lines of the original 350Z have returned as well. A more rounded profile to the side mirrors wraps up the changes, with the dominant lines still very closely resembling the current car.
The 370Z moniker indicates Nissan’s new 3.7L VQ37VHR from the G37 Coupe will be powering the next Z car. Thanks to VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology and a higher rpm than the previous VQ35, the new mill develops up to 330hp (246kW) and 366Nm (270lb-ft) of torque in current applications, with potentially even more available, and should make for some scintillating performance numbers for Nissan’s new sports car. Nissan thinks it's enough to contend with the Porsche Cayman, and it's already said it will be targeting the German company with the new model. If you look closely at the spy video below you'll notice Nissan was testing the 370Z back to back with a BMW Z4m Coupe, and a Porsche Cayman S.
The new 370Z will debut at next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
Reader Comments
Fri Apr 4 2008 1:13 PM
Gus says
What an awesome car. I just with the cabrio had a back seat. If it did, I might have bought this instead of the Mustang.
Toyota, where are you in this segment???
Fri Jul 11 2008 3:41 PM
CK says
Toyota and Sport got divorced a few years ago. So they are not allowed to make sportcars anymore ;)
Sat Jul 12 2008 2:50 PM
slim says
pretty cool. to me there's a lot of anticipation for the 370z. given the performance of the GTR and all. makes you wonder what nissan will with a car half it's price. when they started developement of this car they said they shooting for boxter s/caymen s. if so then BAM! this is the car to have.
funny that this dude got this video while driving a 350z.
Sun Jul 13 2008 9:47 AM
Suggs says
How 'Convenient' the pne who caught the new 370 just 'Happened' to have a camcorder running at the exact moment - and was driving a 350 as Slim said
Anyone else thinking this was a deliberate leak by nissan themselves.
Tue Jul 15 2008 6:47 AM
V1sc1ous says
@Suggs
How would you ever know? You're just speculating, and there's no way of ever verifying it, so why bother?
Fri Aug 1 2008 6:18 AM
Nissan-Master says
370Z I think will be not worse than 350.
Wed Oct 8 2008 11:29 AM
Gus says
I think this car looks good. Definitely a distinct style.
Definitely one of the few great affordable sporty cars out there...
Wed Oct 8 2008 11:50 AM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says
Looking at the car in profile I fail to see the dramatic new look! Is it just me?
As for the performance of the car, it'll be fantastic for sure considering the current one is just a blast to drive.
Wed Oct 8 2008 2:19 PM
NoNameDenton says
Looks more hatch-y (not a word) to me
Wed Oct 8 2008 7:46 PM
Gus says
Look at the windshield pillar, looks exactly like the GT-R...
Thu Oct 9 2008 12:20 AM
azlan says
its looks about the same beacause the 350z looked great in the first place, dont mess with whats already good and what they have done with this one its awesome =D.
Thu Oct 9 2008 6:58 PM
Gus says
It's a nice evolution of the current car. Still very distinctive. Kind of like a Japanese Audi TT...
Fri Oct 10 2008 2:36 AM
bugarino says
so, "dramatic" styling means.......ugly?
Geeez....I didn't think the Z car could get any uglier.
Guess I was wrong.
Sat Oct 11 2008 7:35 PM
Hike15 says
why do we need to hear it
it probably sounds just like a g37
Tue Oct 21 2008 3:44 PM
giovannigambini says
Anyone want to buy my lazy, overweight, unemployed wife for about $35K so that I can have some happiness with a new 370Z? :-)
I have heard rumors that they are going to release a hardtop convertible similar to the G37. I hope so, I would buy it over the G. (More affordable price - remember unemployed wife)
Thu Oct 23 2008 12:37 PM
danDAN says
giovannigambini - brilliant
pretty sure I saw a Cayenne mule at one point there
Wed Oct 29 2008 9:40 PM
grant says
I am so disappointed. The rear end looks like a hyundai tiberon. Traslated= ugly. The headlights are also extremely ugly. If they were shooting for the caymen market, it should look like it belongs in that class, not like the leftovers from the hyundai factory tossed on the back of the old 350z. Sure the performance will be there, but all I want to do when I look at this car, is find a new car to dream about, cuz this thing is not appealing at all.
Sun Nov 16 2008 7:42 PM
Go370Z.com says
If you guys want to see new pictures, videos, specs and chat about the 370Z please join us at our Nissan 370Z Enthusiasts forums at
http://Go370z.com
Zya There!
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