Nissan 350Z

Launched: Nissan 350Z

Right from day one, Nissan's 350Z has been one of those cars pretty much on the button - a hero machine with all the looks, speed, handling and brawn to fit the Z car legend. Not that that's stopped the wizards at the Nissan Technical Centre in Japan from thinking up ways to improve the mix. Here's their latest offering: a 350Z with a stronger, newtech, 3.5-litre V6 to raise the bar again.

More power. Absolutely nothing wrong with that in a car like the 350Z, of course, which to date has run with an effective, if noisy, 3.5-litre V6 punching out 206-221kW. In the new regime, it's the same, only different. The new HR series V6 (the VQ35HR unit from the V36 Skyline and Infiniti G35) is said to be 80 percent new, despite boasting exactly the same bore/stroke and capacity (3498cc) as before. The trick is that it spins 500rpm higher to 7500rpm, and grunt is now raised to a uniform 230kW for both manual and auto Zs (hitherto, the auto's always been detuned). End result: the 350Z's now faster and raunchier than ever.

But wait, in top domestic 350Z in Japan, seen here, torque actually drops from 363Nm to 358Nm, and the new V6 is not especially more economical or more eco-friendly than before, either, and sits taller in the engine bay, hence the need for the bulging new bonnet.

On the road, however, the new unit more than delivers. It broadens the 350Z's already big and bruising performance, and low-to mid-range torque, especially, now feels dramatically stronger. It's another gutsy, free-revving Z engine, with terrific throttle response. It might not be the absolute last word in refinement, but makes the 350Z an enthralling car to drive fast, nonetheless.

At low speeds, there's still that lovely V6 rumble, but as the revs climb the bass note changes and there's no denying it gets boomy. The 350Z gets different, stiffer engine mounts and a re-routed exhaust compared to the V36 Skyline, and this makes the driving experience noisier but altogether more involving.

In town, the new V6 is impressively smooth and tractable, but it's when it hits the 4000-5000rpm mark that it really comes alive. Take it further, right up to that 7500rpm redline, and the groundswell of power, speed and g-force is mighty indeed.  It makes you wonder what it will be like when Nissan bores this V6 out, tacks on twin-turbos and drops it in the new Skyline GT-R. Devastating, is probably the answser.

The 350Z, meantime, handles as well as ever, with a meaty on-road feel, crisp turn-in, high grip and delicious sideways action if you're determined enough when the VSC button's turned off. Steering is perfectly weighted and communicative, letting you place the Z just where you want it in the corners and inspiring real confidence. New damping successfully cuts down on small, high-frequency vibrations to improve the Z's rather iffy ride, and the new Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres cut down road noise. As you discover, the 350Z is still not an especially refined car in the Audi TT mould, but there's a simple, honest feel to it. What else? The facelift also brings new colours (like this 'Passionate Premium Orange'), new interior trim, and active headrests to help prevent whiplash. Local spec and pricing will be announced in the next month or so, but the changes for '07 appear to strengthen the 350Z's already convincing case.

GODZILLA'S COMING
Fitting snugly into the 350Z engine bay, Nissan's new generation VQ35HR V6 is an evolution of the long-running VQ35DE.

While sticking to the same configuration, bore/stroke and 3498cc capacity, the HR engine features an array of new internals to reduce weight, lower friction and push maximum revs up 500rpm to 7500rpm.

The HR has a stiffer block, lightweight pistons and con rods, and bigger crank journal and pin to enable it to rev higher. To boost driveability, it gets continuously variable valve timing control (CVTC) on the intake side, and electromagnetic valve timing control (e-VTC) on the exhaust side. The current V6 has only variable timing on the intake side.

The spec continues with new symmetrical intake and exhaust systems and, as part of the power shift up to 230kW, engine compression ups from 10.3 to 10.6. It's a big list of changes for an engine which comes with similar emission and economy ratings as the old DE.

Nissan isn't saying, of course, but this V6 is expected to be taken out to 3.7-litres, fitted with twin-turbos and dropped into the new Skyline GT-R to produce 330kW.

NISSAN 350Z VERSION NISMO:
Nissan's motorsport arm (NISMO) and special vehicles division (Autech) have clubbed together in Japan to build this special 350Z, which goes beyond aftermarket wheels, tyres and aero bits.

Dubbed 'Version NISMO', it gets a massively stiffened-up body and exclusive suspension tuning, and its aerodynamics reference Nissan's titlewinning 350Zs running in Japan's Super GT Championship. Unlike previous aggressive go-faster Zs, the Version NISMO comes as a complete package that you can order at your Nissan dealership. The ask in Tokyo is $46,793 for the six-speed manual, or $47,798 for the five-speed auto, making the manual some $4749 up on the standard ST.

It certainly looks the business, hunkered down wearing attractive RAYS wheels (18-inch fronts, 19in rear), while the bumpers/sills/spoiler treatment add spice to the mix without looking over the top. Driving the NISMO, it takes nano seconds to realise it has been put together by folk who know what they're doing. There's a real solidity and integrity to the suspension and steering feel. Yes, it's a lot tauter than the standard Z, and you miss some of its handling fluidity, but the cornering limits are clearly much higher. It goes hard, feels beautifully balanced and invites you to push deeper.

With wider, stickier Bridgestone RE-01R tyres than the normal Z, the NISMO has phenomenal road-holding. Even so, in the wet, with the new 230kW V6 fully fired up past the four grand mark, it's easy to break traction and have the yellow VSC light blinking furiously. It'll drift, yet this is a benign chassis and far easier to catch and hold than a 911.

It's a great tool, the NISMO Z - agile, grippy, expertly sorted, and with unique leather interior trappings, too. Some will bemoan the fact that it gets the standard engine, as opposed to something hotter. That aside, it works - it really does.