The New Nissan 370Z: A Refreshed Classic
As I stepped into the new Nissan 370Z, I couldn't help but notice that there were only two things I didn't like about the previous model. The first was the suspension cross beam in the rear luggage compartment, which totally compromised the space and is now gone. I'm glad to see that this design flaw has been addressed. The second issue I had with the 350 was a very nasty plastic cubby hole in the center console, which is also gone. It's clear that Nissan has taken feedback from owners like me into consideration when redesigning the new model.
One of the most significant changes made to the new 370Z is its weight reduction. The car now weighs 50 kilograms less than its predecessor, making it not only more fuel-efficient but also more agile on the road. In addition to this weight decrease, the new engine has been upgraded with 16 more horsepower, making it an even more formidable opponent on the road.
I have to say that I'm absolutely in love with the design of the new 370Z. The slashes and kicks that make up its profile give the car a tighter and meaner look than ever before. Just take a glance at the swoopy profile – you can't help but be drawn to it. And when I got to test the car, I was thrilled to discover that it's not just aesthetically pleasing, but also packs a punch under the hood.
My testing took me to the beautiful city of Reims in northern France, which hosted the French Grand Prix back in 1953. It was here that British driver Mike Hawthorn became the first ever World Champion, taking on the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio in an epic battle for the ages. The circuit itself is incredibly quick, with only two very long straights connected by a section of fast corners. You can no longer drive the whole circuit as it ends into a dead end, but that doesn't make the experience any less heroic.
The driving experience on the 370Z was truly exhilarating. With its powerful new engine and agile handling, I found myself battling for sixth place against some very talented drivers in a field of five masters. There were moments when I felt like a young upstart looking across at the bigger heroes, but ultimately, it's all about enjoying the ride.
The 370Z is now limited to 155 miles per hour on public roads, which while still very fast, is significantly lower than its predecessor's top speed of over 180 miles per hour. However, this speed limit doesn't detract from the car's performance or enjoyment factor – it's still an incredible drive that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.
One of the standout features of the new 370Z is its engine. The powerful 3.7-liter V6 puts out a healthy 326 brake horsepower, which gets the car from 0-62 miles per hour in just four seconds flat. This is thanks largely to the car's ability to tickle the throttle at any speed, giving you a surge of power that feels like a bullet train accelerating away from you.
The prices for the new 370Z are incredibly competitive, with starting points under $27,000 – which is $10,000 less than a similarly powered BMW Z4 and $17,000 less than a Porsche Cayman S. It's clear that Nissan has aimed to make the 370Z an affordable option for those looking for a high-performance car without breaking the bank.
So, how does the new 370Z compare to its predecessor in terms of handling? While it doesn't quite feel as frisky or responsive as the 350 did, this is largely due to the balance seeming to grow up a bit and become more refined. The nose still points nicely when cornering, making it an enjoyable drive that's both fun and manageable.
One of the nice touches on the new 370Z is its inclusion of features like heated seats and a six-disc CD changer in the GT pack version. It also comes with a clever system called Cobra Control, which allows you to adjust engine revs without needing to manually shift gears – a feature that I've always wanted in a manual transmission car.
As I sat down to watch the racing footage from the French Grand Prix back in 1953, I couldn't help but feel like Mike Hawthorn would have loved this new 370Z. The way it handles, the power and speed of its engine – it's all just so reminiscent of the classic racing cars of yesteryear. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll see a 370Z take to the track and show us what it's truly capable of.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe only two things I didn't like about the 350 said the first was a suspension cross beam in the rear luggage compartment totally compromised the space and that's gone and the other was a very nasty plastic cubby hole in the center console and that's also gone so what are they changed on the rest of it well for a start the new Zed is 50 kilograms lighter and has 16 more horsepower and I love the designs new slashes and kicks that make the car look tighter and meaner just look at that swoopy profile and tell me you wouldn't like one to test the car we've come to somewhere very special a place I've been keen to visit before it completely crumbles from view this is Reims in northern France which hosted the French Grand Prix back in the day and it was right here back in 1953 the Britain's first ever world champion was involved in so-called race of the century when the dashing young eye caught on and head-to-head with a legendary Juan Manuel Fangio the circuit was incredibly quick being little more than a triangle consisting of two very long straights connected by section of frightening Lee fast you can no longer drive the whole circuit as this dusty loop ends into a dead end but you can't help but all of them heroic to the drivers that use decimate monstrous machines through these sweeping corners on edge skinny little tyres poor phone and fan Joe battle for sixth in the left of his five master swapping the lead on virtually every straight but they young upstart occasionally looking across to these big hero I'm giving you a cheesy smile they roared towards speeds of nearly 200 miles and they're just a little tiny fly screen to protect them from the elements now we can't head towards that sort of speed because we're on public roads be because this this and is now limited to 155 miles an hour but I can't appreciate is the exit of powerless new 3.7 liter v6 has it serves up a healthy 326 brake horsepower which gets the cars at 62 in just five point four seconds that it's the engines grunt that impresses most just tickle the throttle at any speed and you surge forward like a bullet train prices start at just under 27,000 pounds which is 10 grand cheaper than a similarly powered BMW z4 and 17,000 less than the Porsche Cayman S that sounds like incredible value provided the car handles to find out we have to dieter from the circuit and head for some bends despite all the improvements the 370 actually doesn't feel quite as frisky or responsive as the 350 did that's not really a bad thing this is more overall grip it's just that the balance seemed to grown up a bit become a bit more refined the nose though still points in the cornering nicely when you want it to once you start peddling the power the rear formal shroud pay 30 grand for the GT pack version and as well as things like heated seats and a six-cd changer you get sick Cobra control all my life I've healed and towed on down changes to match the engine revs but now by just pressing this little button the first time ever on a manual gearbox does an autoplay we just break over the lever Oh strike a second game here if first gear that's fantastic oh how fangio Northam will have loved an auto bleep every time they raped and into those long strains let's go down to the gearbox double D clutching and Eagle and towing to make sure they didn't burst the transmission or blows in truck that's brilliant so who won the race well my quorthon is caused by just one second after 2 hours and 45 minutes of racing and celebrate he headed the local hotel with a bottle of champagne in one hand I'm a pretty girl in the other I reckon this sand should pop open your bottle of bubbly as well from where I'm standing this 370z looks like a surefire winner I can hear how much parrots got oh don't bite me please look like me please don't bitethe only two things I didn't like about the 350 said the first was a suspension cross beam in the rear luggage compartment totally compromised the space and that's gone and the other was a very nasty plastic cubby hole in the center console and that's also gone so what are they changed on the rest of it well for a start the new Zed is 50 kilograms lighter and has 16 more horsepower and I love the designs new slashes and kicks that make the car look tighter and meaner just look at that swoopy profile and tell me you wouldn't like one to test the car we've come to somewhere very special a place I've been keen to visit before it completely crumbles from view this is Reims in northern France which hosted the French Grand Prix back in the day and it was right here back in 1953 the Britain's first ever world champion was involved in so-called race of the century when the dashing young eye caught on and head-to-head with a legendary Juan Manuel Fangio the circuit was incredibly quick being little more than a triangle consisting of two very long straights connected by section of frightening Lee fast you can no longer drive the whole circuit as this dusty loop ends into a dead end but you can't help but all of them heroic to the drivers that use decimate monstrous machines through these sweeping corners on edge skinny little tyres poor phone and fan Joe battle for sixth in the left of his five master swapping the lead on virtually every straight but they young upstart occasionally looking across to these big hero I'm giving you a cheesy smile they roared towards speeds of nearly 200 miles and they're just a little tiny fly screen to protect them from the elements now we can't head towards that sort of speed because we're on public roads be because this this and is now limited to 155 miles an hour but I can't appreciate is the exit of powerless new 3.7 liter v6 has it serves up a healthy 326 brake horsepower which gets the cars at 62 in just five point four seconds that it's the engines grunt that impresses most just tickle the throttle at any speed and you surge forward like a bullet train prices start at just under 27,000 pounds which is 10 grand cheaper than a similarly powered BMW z4 and 17,000 less than the Porsche Cayman S that sounds like incredible value provided the car handles to find out we have to dieter from the circuit and head for some bends despite all the improvements the 370 actually doesn't feel quite as frisky or responsive as the 350 did that's not really a bad thing this is more overall grip it's just that the balance seemed to grown up a bit become a bit more refined the nose though still points in the cornering nicely when you want it to once you start peddling the power the rear formal shroud pay 30 grand for the GT pack version and as well as things like heated seats and a six-cd changer you get sick Cobra control all my life I've healed and towed on down changes to match the engine revs but now by just pressing this little button the first time ever on a manual gearbox does an autoplay we just break over the lever Oh strike a second game here if first gear that's fantastic oh how fangio Northam will have loved an auto bleep every time they raped and into those long strains let's go down to the gearbox double D clutching and Eagle and towing to make sure they didn't burst the transmission or blows in truck that's brilliant so who won the race well my quorthon is caused by just one second after 2 hours and 45 minutes of racing and celebrate he headed the local hotel with a bottle of champagne in one hand I'm a pretty girl in the other I reckon this sand should pop open your bottle of bubbly as well from where I'm standing this 370z looks like a surefire winner I can hear how much parrots got oh don't bite me please look like me please don't bite\n"
