ZilviaBot

04-08-2009 02:25 PM



The Nissan 370Z coupe has created quite a buzz in the market after being on sale for only a few months. The 332bhp coupe even has the ability to challenge to the more expensive Porsche 911 996. While the 370Z is very serious and sporty,the fun part has been missing. Now, this has been taken care of by the upcoming convertible version. The wind in your hair experience would always be welcome.

The 370Z convertible made it’s debut this week’s at the New York Auto Show. The show will also mark the debut of the US version of the Nismo 370Z S-Tune (Anthony photographed the Japanese S-Tune at the Tokyo Auto Salon back in January!)




Nissan has resisted the change towards hard tops and has carried on with a conventional soft top in the interests of weight savings. This sets it apart from the premium category of convertibles like the Infiniti G37 and the BMW Z4 that sport fancy folding hard-tops.






Power comes from the familiar 3.7 liter VQ37VHR V6 (VHR indicating Very High Revving) that makes 332 bhp (247kW), 270 lb-ft (366 Nm) of torque and revs all the way to 7000rpm! Expect similar performance although the added weight might slow it down by a few tenths for the sprint to 60mph. The transmission is the standard 6-speed “SynchroRev Match” or a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifts. The SynchroRev match system takes care of the problem associated with downshifting where it blips the throttle to match the speeds of the engine and the transmission.












The ‘Affordable performance’ theme of the 370Z coupe is expected to be carried over to the convertible and the 370Z is expected to cost a few thousands over the coupe which starts at $29,930. This price is just $1,420 more than the 2008 Nissan 350Z.

We do know that the 350Z was not the perfect driver’s car and neither were the proportions of the convertible easy on the eye not to mention a car more suited for your wife or girlfriend. Nissan has taken care of the first bit with the 370Z and looking at these images released by Nissan , the second bit seems to have been taken care as well. Gone are the awkward proportions of the older model replaced by cleaner lines that results in a prettier car with the top down at least.


Related Nissan 370Z Posts
Branew Nissan 370Z Pictures
Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 MCR Nissan 370Z






PRESS RELEASE

All-New 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Adds Open-Air
Excitement; Features Power Auto-Lock Top Design

Less than a year after the introduction of the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe – a
vehicle that reset the bar for affordable sports car design and performance – comes
its dramatic new stablemate, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster. The seductively styled
Z® Roadster offers everything the hardtop Z® Coupe does – and more. As in more
classic open-air sports car driving excitement. More sun, moon and stars. And more
refinement than any Z® convertible that has ever come before – including a standard
automatic latching power top and Nissan Intelligent Keyâ„¢. Also offered are an array
of technology and convenience features, including the first-ever Z® Roadster-
available heating and cooling ventilated net seats, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone
System, satellite radio and advanced Nissan Navigation System. The 2010 370Z
Roadster is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan retailers nationwide in late summer.

“As expected, the 370Z Roadster delivers an exhilarating connection to the air, wind
and environment on top of the new Z® Coupe’s exceptional levels of performance,”
said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan
North America, Inc. (NNA). “But perhaps unexpected for a car this sporty is its
greatly enhanced refinement and quality – as seen in features such as its one-touch,
auto-locking convertible top and beautifully crafted interior.”

A Truly Authentic Roadster
The 370Z Roadster’s most obvious departure from the 370Z Coupe is its convertible
top. The soft-top roof was designed with an emphasis on three key areas: to provide
a sleek silhouette matching the new Z®’s stunning styling with the top up or down, to
offer easy single-action open-close operation, and to provide an enjoyable top-down
experience with reduced wind turbulence and all-climate driver/passenger comfort.

With convertible top in the closed position, the design provides a sophisticated
sloped-back appearance, the perfect balance between the soft top and the Z® body
design. The shortened windshield and aerodynamically rounded rear deck enhance
the Z®’s kinetic and dynamic character lines. When in the down position, the
convertible top is concealed beneath a full body-color hard tonneau cover, which
extends forward to help create the Z® Roadster’s classic “double cockpit” style
interior.

The standard black cloth convertible top features a fabric inner liner, which provides
a quality appearance and helps reduce noise intrusion into the cabin, along with an
enlarged (versus the previous generation Z® Roadster) glass rear window with an
integrated electric rear window defroster. The top operation takes approximately 20
seconds start-to-finish and is controlled by either a center console-mounted switch or
by a button located on the doors. The automatic latch system secures the top to –
or releases it from – the windshield header without driver intervention. The shape
and position of the glass wind deflector, located between the fixed headrest bars, has
been optimized to reduce turbulence into the cabin.

Like the new 370Z Coupe, the Z® Roadster’s new exterior is more aggressive in
appearance and lighter and tighter in structure than the previous generation. The
wheelbase is nearly four inches shorter (100.4 inches versus 104.3 inches) and
overall length is reduced by 2.6 inches (167.2 inches versus 169.8 inches). The new
Z® Roadster features an aluminum hood, door panels and trunk for reduced weight.
At the same time, the body structure was extensively revised, improving rigidity and
stability. The 370Z Roadster includes additional structural reinforcement (over the
370Z Coupe), including in the A-pillars and side sills.

The Z® Roadster’s exterior design incorporates the look and feel of the new Z®
Coupe, including its signature long nose/short cockpit proportions, vertical door
handles and distinctive new headlight/taillight treatment, which features a fierce
“boomerang” shape. High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon headlights
with auto on/off feature are standard.

The 370Z Roadster is offered in seven exterior colors: Solid Red, Magnetic Black,
Brilliant Silver, Platinum Graphite, Pearl White, Monterey Blue and a special premium
color, Black Cherry.

Inside the stunning exterior, true to its sports car heritage, the Z® Roadster’s interior
is completely driver-centric, with its three-layer design grouping items by how a
driver sees information, operates the controls and is held in place – so drivers feel
completely connected and engaged whenever and wherever they drive, top up or
down.

The Z® Roadster features high back black woven “Carbon” cloth seats with 8-way
manual driver’s/4-way manual passenger’s seat adjustments. Touring models
include unique leather-appointed “net” seats with 4-way power/4-way manual
operation on the driver’s seat (4-way power on the passenger’s seat). These
second-generation net seats are exclusive to the Z® Roadster and have integrated
heating and cooling functions – ideal for open air driving no matter what the outside
temperature. Adjustable front seat Active Head Restraints are also standard.

The Z® Roadster’s 2-seat layout includes a deeply scooped instrument panel with a
full-length center console separating the driver and passenger’s seat. The
instrument panel retains the traditional Z® 3-pod cluster with oil temperature,
voltmeter and clock, while the speedometer and tachometer now include an “initial
sweep” function, coming alive when the car is first started.

The sporty steering wheel is a new “oval” 3-spoke design, which offers baseball-style
stitching, improved thumb grips and palm rest areas for improved feel on long
drives. The surface of the leather-wrapped wheel is “shaved” to provide a more
kidney-like shape to better fit in the hand. The manual transmission shifter is
specially padded to improve the accuracy of diagonal shifts and to feel softer in the
hand for forward and backward motions.

Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan Intelligent Keyâ„¢
with Push Button Ignition, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature,
power door locks with auto-lock feature and a center console box with a non-
intrusive cover design.

Other features include automatic climate control, two 12-volt power outlets, three
cupholders (two in door panels, one in center console) and an AM/FM/CD/AUX 4-
speaker audio system with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls.

The Touring model adds a 6CD Bose® audio system with eight speakers (includes
dual subwoofer) and MP3/WMA playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription
required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink®
Universal Transceiver and aluminum-trimmed pedals. This is the first time
Bluetooth® and satellite radio have been available on a Z® convertible.

The optional Navigation Package includes the touch-screen Nissan Hard Drive
Navigation System with XM NavTraffic® real-time traffic information (XM®
subscription required, sold separately), 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music
storage and playback and a USB fort for iPod® connectivity. The new navigation
system offers a number of enhancements (versus previous Nissan Navigation System
designs), including four times higher screen resolution, wireless music player audio
streaming capability (via Bluetooth®), on-board Zagat restaurant ratings database,
an in-dash DVD player and XM NavWeather® weather information display (XM®
subscription required, sold separately).

The 370Z Roadster interior is available in Black cloth or for 370Z Touring Roadster
models, a choice of Gray, Black or Wine leather-appointed net seating.

Open Air, Open Roads – An Unbeatable Combination
Roadster or Coupe, the new Z®s share one of the most advanced drivetrains
available for affordable sports cars today. The Z® Roadster’s long list of cutting edge
performance-focused technologies includes a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter
DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL), choice of 7-speed
automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual with available “SynchroRev
Match” (the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission),
refined 4-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel vented disc brakes (with
available Nissan Sport Brakes).

“The new 370Z Roadster lives in the same sweet spot of performance, style and
value that the Z® Coupe does,” said Castignetti. “Open air driving just begs for open
roads and the new 370Z Convertible is the perfect companion.”

Compared to the previous generation 350Z Roadster, the new Z® convertible picks
up 26 horsepower and 2 lb-ft of torque (332 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft
of torque @ 5,200 rpm, compared with the previous 3.5-liter V6’s 306 horsepower @
6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft of toque @ 4,800 rpm).

Along with its larger displacement, the 3.7-liter engine gives better power delivery all
the way to the 7,500 rpm redline, improved low-end power and more high-end
torque, creating an entirely new driving experience. Key to the enhanced
performance is the VVEL system, which is able to optimize intake valve open/close
movements, allowing the needed air to be sent promptly to the combustion chamber
at the precisely optimized time. Since the VVEL system can adjust to open the
valves slightly, it improves fuel efficiency by reducing camshaft friction and fuel
waste. It also provides cleaner emissions by allowing for quicker warm-up of the
catalyst and by stabilizing combustion when the engine is cool.

The 2010 Z® Roadster is offered with a choice of two new advanced transmissions –
a close-ratio 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic. The 6-speed manual is available
with SynchroRev Matchâ„¢ (included in the optional Sport Package), which allows
drivers of any skill level to experience professional-like gear shift performance. The
SynchroRev Matchâ„¢ function automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when
shifting to the exact speed of the next gear position, essentially “blipping” the
throttle to smooth out any up/down shifts. This not only allows the driver to focus
more on braking and steering, it improves vehicle balance and smoothness by
reducing the typical “shock” when the clutch is engaged. The system can be
deactivated with a button next to the shifter for drivers who prefer less vehicle
intervention.

The available 7-speed automatic includes Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and
Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and is designed to offer quick, manual-like shifting
when operated in manual mode.

Drivers can use the standard paddle shifters or the shift lever. The 7-speed’s wide
gear ratios offer improved fuel efficiency, while the Adaptive Shift Control is designed
to adjust to the driver’s driving style.

Estimated fuel economy for the 370Z Roadster is 18 mpg City/25 mpg Highway for
both the 7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions – increases of 1 mpg
City/2 mpg Highway for the automatic and 1 mpg City/1 mpg Highway for the
manual transmission versus the 2009 350Z Roadster.

The Z® Roadster also utilizes the Z® Coupe’s advanced 4-wheel independent
suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension (which replaces the lower multi-
link setup in the 350Z) uses lighter forged aluminum arms and a lightweight rigid
aluminum-alloy cradle, along with a lighter stabilizer bar with a 35 percent improved
lever ratio. The 4-link rear suspension is also stiffer and lighter, with the rear cradle
entirely integrated into a single part. “High response” shock absorbers are utilized
on each corner for improved ride comfort.

The standard 370Z Roadster wheel and tire package features 18×8.0-inch
front/18×9.0-inch lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/50R18
front/P245/45R18 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires. Available as part
of the optional Sport Package are 19-inch RAYS forged lightweight aluminum-alloy
wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A P245/40R19 front/P275/35R19 tires.

The Z®’s standard 4-wheel vented disc brake system includes Anti-Lock Braking
System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
The optional Sport Package includes Nissan Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-
inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors (versus 12.6-inch front/rear standard rotors)
with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers.

Steering is provided by a vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion
design. Unwanted steering kickback and vibrations are reduced with the addition of
a solenoid valve that acts like a damper when there is a harsh impact load. A
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is standard.

The Nissan 370Z Roadster’s list of standard safety features includes the Nissan
Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with
seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact
supplemental air bags; door-mounted curtain air bags; and seat belts with
pretensioners and load limiters.

Other standard equipment includes Active Head Restraints, Zone Body Construction
with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, Vehicle
Security System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Two Well-Equipped Models
The new Z® Roaster is offered in two well-equipped models – 370Z Roadster and the
370Z Touring Roadster. The Touring model includes the heated and cooling leather-
appointed power net seats, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, Bluetooth® Hands-free
Phone System, 8-speaker Bose® audio system, XM® Satellite Radio (XM®
subscription, sold separately) and aluminum-trimmed pedals.

Only two option packages are offered (Touring model only): the Sport Package, with
19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, Nissan Sport Brakes,
SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip
Differential; and the Navigation Package, with Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation
System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and USB connectivity.

[Source: Jalopnik, AutoBlog]



More...