Freakin' Awesome Drive: the new Nissan 370Z Coupe!

I totally had automotive nirvana driving this gem of a sportscar that redefines the Nissan brand at 'just' RM370k whereabouts (on-the-road with insurance).

Alright, so what if it doesn't make the right (as opposed to politically correct) sporty soundtrack or have the badge of its Stuttgart arch-nemesis of which it is benchmarked against. In the UK, most auto mags have face-off this latest Z-car with the Cayman 2.9 with PDK. Forget that, in Malaysia, none of that matters since a brand-new Cayman S (3.4 with DFI + PDK) with some of the 'right' options ticked will cost almost double the Nissan 370Z!!!

At one point, I was driving 2.5 hours non-stop in the Z through a set of twisties and highway sweeping corners I got morphed into the car. I was at one-with-the-car. Serious. I thought that the Audi TT coupe was great in the way your buttock could 'feel' the road. This is even better! I was doing faster corners I had never thought I was capable of. Relaxed and composed.

The chassis balance was superb while suspension set-up was just right. Makes daily drive livable and comfy, yet poisely planted. The 370Z tracks corners brilliantly with the rear axle following incisively and faithfully. The way its steering whispers back to you into a bend is a finesse in its own Japo way, which the large "Z" emblem constantly reminds you. Yet in its entirety, it is all more Conti-esque in weighting and feel. The rack may not have the talkativeness of a Porsche's but I would say it's more than adequate. The rear donuts may step out a little bit should you push them near their limits, but it's all natural (even with stability programme on by default at all times), unlike the more robotic and 'synthetic' R35 GT-R.

I liked the way the gear knob vibrates too, as you caress it in your left palm. A sense of connectivity, reminiscent of my dad's Datsun 120Y of the late 70s, but in a different kind of way (that it doesn't oscillates on idling!) On the off side, the few gripes I have with the new 370z is the metallic gnashing sound of the clutch upon initial take -off, the often louder-than-desired noises (of water splashing, pebbles 'denting' sound of metallic knocks and rolling tyres) through the rear wheels arches. Looking quite tacky are fuel & coolant LEDs orange 'blips' and digital multi display info, residing within the left-most instrument cluster pod. Rest assured for all its cons here, the superb Bose sound system more than made up for them, especially the part about annoying decibels seeping through rear wheel arches.

Needless to say, Nissan's pioneering Synchro Rev worked flawlessly, much like a twin clutch 'box (which affords uninterrupted torque transfer upon swapping cogs), only here blipping of revs minimises torque dip as you downshift. Worked great for me since I never got the hang of this heel-and-toe shifting. As a result, you could actually feel more instantaneous traction as you drop a gear or two into corners.

At the end of my test period, I had wanted to 'carjack' the tester and not return it to ETCM. It also made me wanna trade my Cayman 2.7 for the new 370z...any demo unit in red or yellow going for a song? For me at least, I think it badly needs a Nismo muffler with a more 'show-off' soundtrack, or HKS or whatever aftermarket tuners have to offer to dump waste gases at the rear more emphatically!

New Nissan 370Z launched in Malaysia

In less than a year since their world debut in Tokyo, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has now introduced the all-new fully imported NISSAN 370Z sports car tonight.

Now in its 40th year, the Z became an icon of global sports car passion with more than 1.7 million units sold since the 1st generation S30 model debuted in 1969. The all-new 370Z continues Nissan’s philosophy of design, performance and technical innovation, offering authentic performance, true sports car handling and athletic, agile design.


“The all-new Nissan 370Z builds on the best features of both the 1st and last generations Z-cars – respectful but retro, simple yet sophisticated, and unmistakably Z” , said Dato’ Dr. Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd at the media event.


The all-new Nissan 370Z’s enhanced performance characteristics are a result of its shorter wheelbase, reduced weight and the adoption of the larger, more powerful VQ37VHR 3.7-litre V6 engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift). This power unit is the latest manifestation of Nissan's award-winning VQ engine series, which Ward's Autoworld proclaimed as one of the 10 best engines in the world. The VQ37VHR puts out 333ps and 363Nm for ultra-smooth delivery of power, better throttle response, better fuel efficiency and cleaner emissions.


Mated to the engine are two transmissions that perfectly complement the former’s high output and refinement. Malaysians have the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission and a newly developed 7-speed automatic with manual shift mode. The manual transmission is the enthusiast driver’s delight, being the world’s first SyncroRev Match control system which automatically blips the throttle to simulate heel & toe shifting.


The all-new Nissan 370Z, which made its global debut in December 2008, has already been recognised with prestigious awards in the field of design and performance such as the Ward Autoworld’s Interior of the Year Award for sports cars in April 2009 and the Edmunds’ Inside Line 2009 Readers’ Most Wanted Awards last June.


Offering high performance in superlative comfort, with high quality and a shape to please the eye, the all-new Nissan 370Z easily takes its place among the handful of the world’s top sports car offerings in Malaysia.


The selling price for the all-new Nissan 370Z starts from RM354,400 excluding road tax, insurance and registration related charges. Prices are valid in Peninsular Malaysia and subject to change without prior notice. Both vehicles come with a 3-year or 100,000km warranty whichever comes first.

The all-new Nissan 370Z can be exclusively viewed at selected Nissan showrooms in Malaysia from 19th August 2009 onwards.

Nissan UP_SHIFT_its Z_car to 370z for 2009

Click on images to enlargeWhile our fellow Malaysian sportscar enthusiasts are busy lapping up used Nissan 350Zs in reconditioned form with JDM-specs (grey AP imports), Nissan Motor Co. has just revealed the latest incarnation of its iconic Z-car for 2009 model year.

Unlike the dramatic transformation of the R34 Skyline GT-R to R35 GT-R, Nissan seemed to have taken the evolutionary path for its new Z-car, with much of the 350Z' basic shape retained. In fact, I initially reckoned the all-new Z of being like what Audi has done for its A4 transition from B6 to B7. However, dimensions-wise, the new 370Z has actually defied the usual convention of a successor model outgrowing the older model.




Case in point, the new Z's wheelbase is actually about 100mm shorter than the 350Z, compacted by moving the rear axle forward on Nissan's FM platform. In tandem, the overall length of the new Z has shrunken by about 68mm. Thankfully, both width and track have been increased by 33mm and 55mm respectively. In line with this wider-profiled sportier intent, the new 370Z coupe also sits lower by 75mm.



I suppose the real deal with the new 370Z lies beneath its metal sheets, especially with the now upsized VQ-series V6 engine displacing a larger 3.7-litre. Nissan's VQ37VHR engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) is rated at 332 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 366 Nm of torque @ 5,200 rpm, compared with the previous 3.5-litre V6's 306 hp @ 6,800 rpm and 363 Nm of torque @ 4,800 rpm. Approximately 35% of the engine parts are new versus the previous motor. Along with its larger displacement, the new engine is claimed to give better power delivery all the way to the 7,500 rpm redline, improved low-end power and more high-end torque. The new 370Z has also shed 46 kg over the model it replaces, with Nissan engineers revising the coupe's body structure and improving front body torsional rigidity by up to 30 percent.

With higher power output, a lighter body and a new 7-speed automatic transmission or a close-ratio 6-speed manual, the new 370Z should be significantly quicker than the outgoing model, but no official performance figures are available at the time of writing. A more compact lengthwise dimension plus a wider, lower squat should improve agility and handling.







In overview, Nissan revived its iconic Z-car lineage with their reinvented 2002 model. Now - 6 years later - for the successor Z, nearly every piece and component has been rethought or redesigned. With greater use of lightweight body materials (the bonnet is all-aluminium), new engine with more horsepower and improved fuel efficiency, a new 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters - or the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the 6-speed manual - and a reworked higher-quality interior, Nissan seemed destined for greater presence - along with the monstrous R35 GT-R - in the sportscar arena.