The Japanese manufacturers can sometimes be a bit of a mean bunch. They can produce some cracking versions of their performance cars, with more power or less weight, but then keep them all to themselves in their home market. The odd few find their way to our shores via grey import, or in virtual form in the garages of Gran Turismo, but we get stuck with the standard versions in our showrooms. Not so the Nissan 370Z Nismo!
Nissan 370Z Nismo
What Is It?
The 370Z Nismo is a tuned version of Nissan’s popular 370Z. In-house tuner Nismo (short for Nissan Motorsport) have taken a look at the 3.7-litre V6, rear-wheel drive coupe and applied some of their motorsport know-how to its internals. Japanese and North American buyers have been able to get their hands on the 370Z Nismo for a while but this version has been retuned to suit European roads and drivers’ tastes.
The standard 370Z is hardly a slouch. Its V6 produces 328PS and 363Nm and is good for 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds. The Nismo 370Z ups the power to 344PS and the torque to 371Nm, with the 0-62mph time dropping to just 5.2 seconds.
370Z Nismo’s bodykit offers aero improvements
What’s Special About It?
On the face of it those figures aren’t very impressive but there’s more to Nismo’s work than just increased power. There’s a sports exhaust for a start, magnifying the howl from the V6. Then there are the bright red motorsport specification brake callipers, as well as upgraded hoses and brake fluid that they’ve pinched from the GT-R’s parts bin. That should allow the 370Z Nismo to withstand a beating on the track.
The wheels are 19-inch forged alloys and are wrapped in track-day spec rubber for more grip, while the chassis has been re-tuned to cope with the demands of European roads.
Even the bodykit on the 370Z Nismo has been designed with function in mind. The front bumper improves airflow under the car so it can go round corners more quickly. The new rear spoiler is also said to improve aerodynamic performance.
On the inside there are lashings of alcantara and leather with the electric sports seats covered in Nismo badging and red stitching. And, of course, as this is a limited edition there’s a numbered Nismo plate on the dash.
19-inch forged alloy wheels with motorsport-spec brake callipers
How Much Is It?
No word on prices just yet. We also don’t know how many are going to come up for sale. What we do know is that the Euro-spec 370Z Nismo will be making its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show.
