Safety: The 350Z comes standard with front airbags and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters. A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission is standard, and a five-speed automatic is available. Similar to the engines found in the Nissan Maxima and Altima 3.5 SE, the Z's engine has variable valve timing and an electronically controlled throttle. Powertrains and Performance: The front-engine, rear-drive 350Z features a newly developed 3.5-liter V6. Dealer-supplied high-performance parts will likely appear in the fall of 2002. The 350Z's only optional feature is a DVD-based navigation system and side airbags. Those interested in comfort should take a look at the Touring model, as this has an upgraded audio system with a six-CD changer, power and heated seats, and leather trim. For even more performance, the Track model has front and rear spoilers, 18-inch lightweight wheels and upgraded brakes. Performance models get these items plus Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), a tire-pressure monitor and 18-inch wheels. Going with an Enthusiast model adds high-intensity discharge headlights, cruise control, traction control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a limited-slip rear differential. Base models come with items like an automatic climate control system with air conditioning 17-inch wheels antilock brakes with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) power windows, locks and mirrors a CD player and remote keyless entry. Five trim levels are offered: base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track. The new platform also gives the 350Z a high level of stiffness and rigidity.īody Styles, Trim Levels and Options: For now, only a two-seat coupe is available, though a roadster will be available by February 2003. Compared to a '91 300ZX, it's about the same length, but with a better weight bias and a much longer wheelbase. It boasts a compact engine compartment, a long wheelbase, wide wheel tracks, short overhangs and a 53:47 front-to-rear weight bias. Therefore, the Z isn't a true front mid-engine car, but the gains from this platform are tangible and real. The engine isn't fully behind the front axle (as in a Honda S2000), however. Compared to most front-engine cars in which a considerable amount of engine weight is placed over the front wheels, the 350Z's engine is located further rearward behind the front wheels. FM stands for front midship and refers to the positioning of the engine. The 350Z is built on Nissan's new FM platform. There will be plenty available (about 30,000 units the first year), and they have price tags not much more than your average Ford Explorer's. Nissan also wants it to be accessible, meaning less like the '90-'96 car and more like the original 240Z that got the whole party started. T-tops aren't available and there is no 2+2 variant. This latest iteration stays true to the sports car formula: two seats, front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive and a tidy size. So now, almost a decade later, the Z is back, as is Nissan. Its styling wasn't perfect, and the hardware underneath was mostly 240SX, but it was enough to get Nissan's top execs - as well as the public - excited about another Z. Created in secret by a team of designers at Nissan's Southern California studios, this orange-painted car relied heavily on cues from the first-generation 240Z. At the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Z Concept appeared. Within the depths of Nissan, however, the eternal light wasn't quite extinguished. Sales slid and Nissan pulled the plug on the 300ZX in 1996. A strong yen also caused the Z's price to skyrocket. By the mid-'90s, however, the sports car market was shrinking. Later in the model year, a twin-turbo 300ZX went on sale with 300 horsepower. The car had a 222-hp V6 and a completely new body and interior. In 1990, Nissan debuted an all-new 300ZX. Though it became increasingly heavier and more luxurious, the Z continued to sell well throughout the '70s and '80s. Horsepower was set at 150 and the car's list price was $3,526. Prospective owners had to wait nearly six months to get one. Light, nimble, sporty and affordable, the original 1970 Datsun 240Z sports car was the company's first big success in America. Introduction: Few Nissan products have a more loyal following than the Z.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |