New 370Z Roadster + NISMO 370Z

[News_Stig]

Hot on the heels of the G37, comes the Nissan version!

This is the Nissan 370Z Roadster, which was officially unveiled tonight, ahead of tomorrow's New York motor show.

The convertible Nissan 370Z has an electrically powered soft-top rather than a folding hard-top, in order to keep weight down and reduce complexity.

Nissan says the roof was designed with three aims: to provide a silhouette that matches the coupe's, to offer a roof that opens and closes at the push of a button and to keep wind turbulence to a minimum.

The black cloth top is lined with an inner fabric to reduce noise intrusion, while the rear glass window is larger than on the 350Z Roadster, and also heated. It takes approximately 20 seconds to open or close and is operated by a button located on the centre console or door handles.

To ensure occupants are kept comfortable roof up or down, the seats have heating and cooling functions.

A Touring Roadster trim is also available, and adds kit such as a Bose CD audio system, digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and aluminium trimmed pedals. While standard Roadsters are only available with a black cloth interior, Touring buyers can choose between grey, black or white leather.

Touring buyers can also opt for a sports package, which includes 19-inch forged aluminium wheels and a limited slip differential, and a navigation package.

The 370Z Roadster is available in seven colours: red, black, silver, platinum, white, blue and black cherry.

Powered by the same 3.7-litre V6 as the coupe, the Nissan 370Z Roadster puts out 327bhp and 268lb ft of torque. Buyers have a choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox

The 370Z Roadster will go on sale in the UK in the late summer of this year, with prices starting from around £30,000.

Nissan NISMO 370Z

The Nissan 370Z Roadster was unveiled in New York alongside a NISMO version of the 370Z, which won't go on sale in the UK.

It is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 with 345bhp and 276lb ft of torque. Although this is only moderately more than the standard car offers, Nissan says a reconfigured exhaust system improves upper end power output. The NISMO 370Z is only on sale with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Other performance enhancing features include retuned four-wheel independent multi-link suspension, a viscous limited slip differential, uprated brakes, a strut brace to improve body rigidity and a set of performance dampers.

The car runs on 19-inch forged aluminium wheels and featuress several aggressive styling tweaks, including an extended front nose, larger side sills and a new rear bumper and rear spoiler design.