It has been a long time coming folks, but it’s here at last. Nissan has finally released the first official images of the all-new 370Z coupe, giving us a preliminary glance at the iconic RWD sportscar ahead of its global debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month.
So now that it’s here, what do we make of it? Well firstly, those fender flares are simply mammoth. Definitely a good thing in my books (and I’m sure most of you sports car junkies out there will agree). What’s likely to be more divisive, however, are those arrowhead-shaped head and tail light clusters. Inspired by the headlights of the US-market Maxima, they seem a little awkward on what is an otherwise svelte bodyshape. The two vertical strakes in the front airdam also look a little out of place, but not nearly as weird as they did in those renderings from earlier this year.
The interior is a vast improvement on the current 350Z’s hard plastic cockpit, and there’s more than a whiff of prestige about the cabin’s appearance. Nissan’s signature sat-nav system has been fully integrated into the Z’s dashboard and it provides a nice centrepiece to the rest of the interior, while the trademark trio of gauges on the top of the dash carry over from the current model.
It’s well-sorted proportionally, and with the grunty and smooth 245kW 3.7-litre V6 and sophisticated suspension set-up from the V36 Skyline hiding beneath that sheetmetal, it’s bound to be a fantastic performer. Yes, the looks may take some getting used to, but you may as well start learning to love it. The 370Z is here at last, and it ain’t going away.
Stay tuned for more news on the 370Z. We’ll have more information, pics and perhaps even some video in the lead-up to the Z’s launch at LA. Until then, keep that dial firmly locked on to TMR.
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the 370Z is definitely growing on me.
The bumper I can do without and those wheels are a little fussy but heck, the aftermarket will provide remedies for all that. The headlights aren’t too great, but I don’t really think they’re all that bad. I’ll need to see one in the flesh before I make up my mind though.
I just noticed that the window sills now slant slightly to the rear too, making the car look a lot more nose-heavy than it actually is. Nice touch.
Is it just me or is the roofline trying to look like a 911?
What I don’t like:
* Front grille fangs
* “Sucked in cheeks” on the side of the front bar
* Sharp edged Headlights and tail lights
* Sloping (melting?) rear hatch
* “Lobster Claw V2″ wheels
* Fold at the beginning of the side skirt
* Smaller rear windows
* High mount brake light surround
* Location of the rear badging on the bumper instead of the hatch
* “Afterthought” exhaust tip surround
The only design element of this car that I really like is the rear quarter panel. I like how it flows out to those pumped rear guards.
The interior of the car looks fantastic compared to the 350Z (which was very low rent) but the centre console between the gauges and shifter looks like it came out of a Murano or Pathfinder.
its a bit of 911 (the roof), GTR and 260z (the window kicks) and Crossfire (the way the rear diffuser tucks in at the back….kinda…
It’s trying to look like a fastback coupe. They just both happen to be one.
I like it a lot. All of it…except the wheels. A stunner, and bound to look even better in the flesh.
Yars, not sure I could live with those lights (don’t understand why Nissan thinks an iconic car needs to be ‘quirky’).
Just give us a great shape, and lights front and back. That’s all that’s needed… (oh yes, that, and a ritual drowning of anyone from ‘marketing’ who says “we need to jazz it up a bit here”).
The Insider
I just don’t like the front headlight designs…. should bring back more design cues of the s30 240z eg the round headlights
I think the 350Z-370Z transition is a bit like the 240Z-260Z-280Z transition, but in two steps instead of 3.
What I’m seeing is a fussy design instead of clean lines. And in return for lumping us with something unfamiliar, the desginers have offered us old school pumped guards. Nice touch, but not enough. The 350Z, 300ZX and the 240Z are by far my fave Zs.
Maybe its not the car for you then Charlie ?? YA THINK?
I reckon it looks ok, but I predict they will tone down the lights and “fangs” with a facelift in 2 or 3 years.
The only thing that I don’t like, which is shared with the 350Z, is the huge round bum.