2009 Nissan 370Z – Road Test
From minor but insistent Lamarckian enhancement does greatness accrue.*
BY JOHN PHILLIPS
*We once heard William F. Buckley Jr. say that, and it sounded cool.
At the Z car’s U.S. introduction 40 years ago, Datsun wisely chose not to employ its domestic “Fairlady” moniker, which Yutaka Katayama knew would have been tantamount to calling, say, the Corvette the “Cocker Spaniel.” Since then, the hyphen that originally separated the “240” from the “Z” has vanished, 1.3 extra liters of displacement have more than doubled the original engine’s output, an actor briefly made Mr. K a red-bespectacled TV star, and the car’s price has swollen by about $27,000.
Nissan refers to this latest Z as an “enhancement,” likely largely a male enhancement, rather than a whole new car. The company is being modest. The wheelbase is shorter by 3.9 inches, width is up 1.1 inches, length is down 2.7 inches. The larger engine (same V-6 as in the Infiniti G37) produces 332 horsepower, a bonus of 26, and it sits 15 millimeters closer to the pavement, which is now hugged by a true unequal-length control-arm front suspension. Although Nissan’s engineers had to add nearly 200 pounds of safety and regulatory bric-a-brac, the car is only 33 pounds heavier than the 350Z we tested in June of ’07, in part because the hatch, A-pillars, and doors are now aluminum. We know, because we attacked them with a “Big Sky” fridge magnet.
Keep Reading: 2009 Nissan 370Z – Road Test
This Week in Photos: 11-23-2008 – 11-28-2008
Closing off the month of November it’s time for our ‘This Week in Photos’ post. This week check out photos of the new 2010 Porsche Panamera, 2010 Mazda3 5-door, 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible, GM HydroGen4 Concept, edo competition Ferrari FXX, Zwickenpflug BMW M3 Coupe, and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK.
Click through for a full week’s worth of galleries.
Volvo S60 Concept (View Photos):
edo competition Ferrari FXX (View Photos):
2010 Mazda3 5-door (View Photos):
2010 Porsche Panamera (View Photos):
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Black – Live from 2008 LA Auto Show (View Photos):
Zwickenpflug BMW M3 Coupe (View Photos):
Lumma Design CLR X 650 (View Photos):
Carlsson RS-Design Kit for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (View Post):
GM HydroGen4 Concept (View Photos):
ABT Sportsline Audi Q5 (View Photos):
2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK (View Photos):
PPI Audi R8 Razor GTR (View Photos):
Marangoni M430 – Alfa Romeo Mi.To (View Photos):
Usain Bolt Drives the Ferrari F430 Spider (View Photos):
2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible (View Photos):
Buzz Garage: Nissan 370Z
The new 2009 Nissan 370Z is faster, lighter, more powerful and every bit better than its predecessor – the Nissan 350Z. Unveiled at the 2008 LA Auto Show, the 2009 Nissan 370Z is the first full redesign of the Nissan ‘Z’ lineup since its introduction in 2003.
Power for the new 370Z will come from a 3.7L VQ37VHR engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) that makes 332-hp with a maximum torque of 270 lb-ft. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that will allow for a 0 to 60 mph time in the low 5 second range and a top speed that is electronically limited to 155 mph. The Nissan 370Z is also available with a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters as an option. Estimated fuel-economy comes in at 18/26 mpg (city/highway).
The new 2009 Nissan 370Z will hit North American dealerships in January 2009 with prices starting at $29,930. It will be offered in two trim-levels including 370Z and 370Z Touring which adds heated leather-seats, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, Bluetooth, 8-speaker Bose audio system, XM Satellite Radio, cargo cover and aluminum pedals. Nissan will offer two packages including a Sport Package and the Navigation Package. Sport Package adds 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, aerodynamic front and rear spoiler, larger Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match and Viscous Limited Slip Differential. The Navigation Package adds a hard drive-based navigation system, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive and iPod connectivity.
Keep checking back here for the latest coverage on the 2009 Nissan 370Z. Have something to say? Start a discussion in the Comments section below.
Posts on the 2009 Nissan 370Z:
11-19-2008: LA 2008 Live: 2009 Nissan 370Z pricing announced
11-16-2008: LIVE: 2009 Nissan 370Z unveiling in LA
11-11-2008: 2009 Nissan 370Z officially produces 332-hp
11-10-2008: More details surface on Nissan 370Z NISMO S-Tune Packages
11-05-2008: 2009 Nissan 370Z spotted in Europe during Nissan press event
11-01-2008: Leaked image of 2009 Nissan 370Z NISMO pops up online
10-30-2008: Video: 2009 Nissan 370Z in action in Need for Speed Undercover
10-29-2008: 2009 Nissan 370Z to join Need for Speed Undercover
10-29-2008: 2009 Nissan 370Z: First official pictures
10-23-2008: 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster coming to the 2009 New York Auto Show
10-20-2008: Video: 2009 Nissan 370Z in action, interior fully revealed
10-14-2008: Edmunds drives the Nissan 370Z, official pics coming Oct. 29th
10-09-2008: Spy Shots: 2010 Nissan 370Z interior fully revealed
10-08-2008: Spy Shots: 2010 Nissan 370Z, baby GT-R heads to Nurburgring
09-30-2008: Nissan to position 370Z as Porsche Cayman, Audi TT competitor
2009 Nissan 370Z:
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